Volkswagen has announced that it will be partnering with German start-up Revoltech to explore the use of industrial hemp as a sustainable material for its vehicles.

The firm states that the hemp-based LOVR material (short for leather-free, oil-free, vegan and residue-based), could see use in its vehicles from 2028. The 100% bio-based hemp is said to be produced from residues of the regional hemp industry, the cultivation of which is done for the food industry. It further can be produced on existing industrial plants and recycled or composted at the end of its service life in an automobile.

The hemp fibres and a fully bio-based adhesive are combined using a special technology and processed to become a surface material, and the resultant material is fully recyclable or compostable once it has reached the end of its service life. Volkswagen states that it can further be manufactured on existing industrial plants, thus enabling swift scalability and making it suitable for use in large-scale production.