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Volvo Offers First-of-its-Kind Environmental Product Declaration

25 February 1999

Volvo Offers First-of-its-Kind Environmental Product Declaration

    ROCKLEIGH, N.J., Feb. 24 -- No one doubts that it is
important for cars to be as safe as possible, but what good are safety
features if a car poisons the air we breathe and the water we drink?
    A new offering from Volvo provides consumers with specific information on
the environmental impact of its new S80 sedan in every phase of the life
cycle: design, production, use and recycling.
    For example, Volvo indicates the amount of energy used in the production
of each car, the amount of carbon monoxide emitted through the exhaust pipe
during the operation of each vehicle, and the labeling of plastics in each
vehicle for easy recycling.  Then, a bar graph depicts how "green" those
activities can be considered.  For the Volvo S80, energy use receives a score
of 46, carbon monoxide emissions score 93, and plastics labeling earns a
perfect score of 100.  All information has been certified by Lloyd's Register
Quality Assurance (LRQA), an independent organization most known for its
certification process connected with international quality standard ISO 9000.
    The information, packaged in a consumer-friendly brochure known as the
Environmental Product Declaration, is also certified by Lloyd's as the first
of its kind in any industry.
    "Volvo expects other companies throughout the business world will realize
the importance of educating its consumers, and follow suit with their own
product declarations," according to Hans-Olov Olsson, President and CEO of
Volvo Cars of North America.
    The brochure becomes available to the North American market both on-line
(http://www.volvocars.com) and on paper in late March.
    Volvo's environmental care officially began in 1972 when the company was
the first in the automotive industry to declare its commitment during the
first United Nations Conference on the Environment.  Since then, Volvo
introduced the 3-way catalytic converter and the revolutionary Lambda Sond(R)
sensor, eliminated all asbestos and harmful CFCs from vehicles, created an
environmental education web site for high school science teachers
(http://www.environment.volvocars.com), trained employees and earned acclaim
for its efforts worldwide.  Last month, Volvo entered a unique environmental
education partnership with Columbia University and further initiatives are in
the works.