VW working on synthetic leather made from hemp

Volkswagen is working with German startup Revoltech on a hemp-based substitute for leather upholstery to help further lower the environmental impact of its vehicles.

The new material could see use in VW models by 2028, the automaker said. VW claims the hemp-based material can be produced at existing factories, and can be recycled or composted at the end of its useful life.

Volkswagen tests hemp-based synthetic leather

The material is made from residue of hemp cultivated for the food industry that would otherwise have no practical use, according to VW, which also claims the material is vegan and oil-free, unlike the synthetic leather upholstery some automakers put forth as a vegan alternative to animal hides.

“In our search for new materials, we are very open to new ideas from many different industries,” Kai Grünitz, head of the VW brand’s Technical Development unit, said in a statement.

Volkswagen tests hemp-based synthetic leather

Automakers have started moving away from leather for reasons of sustainability. Volvo plans to go leather-free in all of its EVs by 2030, while Kia plans to phase out leather in the future as well. Beyond leather, Polestar has experimented with various natural and recycled materials to address the environmental impact of manufacturing, which becomes a much bigger consideration in EVs that produce zero “tailpipe” emissions.

The leather industry is pushing back against claims that alternatives are more sustainable, though. In January the trade group One 4 Leather issued a statement claiming leather had a lower carbon footprint than the synthetic upholstery being proposed for EVs. Its argument was that cattle are already being raised for milk and meat, so use of hides is effectively upcycling material that would otherwise be wasted. That seems like more of an argument for eating less beef and drinking less milk than continuing to cover car interiors in cow hides, though.