Volvo scores 10 out of 24 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

Volvo Info

Rank a Brand score:

10 out of 24
Please scroll down the score report.

Brand Owner: Geely Automobiles
Head Office: Gotenburg, Sweden
Sector: Automotive
Categories: Passenger Car
Free Tags: Luxury, Popular, XC, C, S, V

Widget

EMAIL BRAND

Volvo Logo

Find out how green, fair and transparent your favorite brands are.

Compare Other brands

BRAND NAME Brand_name_botline

PERFORMANCE Brand_name_botline

Last Updated: 19 December 2011
Last Verified: 19 December 2011

Volvo Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

8 out of 16


1. Has the brand formulated the objective to reduce its CO2 emissions from its own operations (including owned production facilities), by at least 30% in 2020 compared to 1990 CO2 emission levels?	Volvo supports the greenhouse gas reduction commitment of 30% by 2020 (Volvo Group is the conglomerate of which Volvo Cars is a part).	SOURCE
2. Has the brand disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations', including owned production facilities?	Volvo Cars has published its carbon footprint on total emissions (direct and indirect emissions) from 2006 to 2010. (see p. 28)	SOURCE
3. Has the brand already reduced or compensated its CO2 emissions from its own operations (including owned production facilities), by at least 10% in the last 5 years?	Volvo Cars has published its carbon footprint on total emissions (direct and indirect emissions) and has achieved a reduction of 49,4%(see p. 28). From 2008, all electricity purchased in Europe for operations of the Volvo Car Corporation derives from hydroelectric power or wind power. Consequently, there are no CO2 emissions from electricity production.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand disclose a full carbon Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of its main car models or series, so that the carbon emissions caused by the car production (from raw materials to final product) are also transparent?	Volvo funds LCA analysis's through their Volvo Research and Educational Foundations (VREF), however no information on the Life Cycle of Volvo cars have been found.	SOURCE
5. Does the brand plan to achieve an average CO2 emission of 130 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower for its European car fleet prior to 2015?	In its GRI report 2010 Volvo states that the EU regulations will be a tough challange for Volvo cars, but that it will enhance motivation for new technology (See p. 20). However, Volvo does not mention any specific plans.	SOURCE
6. Has the brand achieved an average CO2 emission of 160 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower for its European car fleet?	Volvo has a CO2 emissions average of 157 g/km for its European fleet (See p. 4).	SOURCE
7. Has the brand achieved an average CO2 emission of 150 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower for its European car fleet?	See remark for climate change policy question 6.	SOURCE
8. Has the brand achieved an average CO2 emission of 140 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower for its European car fleet?	See remark for climate change policy question 6.	SOURCE
9. Has the brand achieved a 4% CO2 emission reduction of the car fleet average in the last two years?	Volvo Cars has achieved a 13,7% CO2 emission reduction for its European car fleet between 2008 and 2010 (See p. 29).	SOURCE
10. Has the brand achieved a 10% CO2 emission reduction of the car fleet average in the last five years?	Volvo Cars has achieved a 18,7% CO2 emission reduction between 2006 and 2010 (see page 29).	SOURCE
11. Does the brand sell a car that has a CO2 emission of 100 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower?	Volvo Cars sells the C30 1.6D DRIVe that has a CO2 emission of 99 g/km.	SOURCE
12. Does the brand sell a car that has a CO2 emission of 90 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower?	Not found on Volvo Cars website. The C30 1.6D DRIVe has the lowest CO2 emission of 99 g/km (see previous question).	SOURCE
13. Has the brand developed a prototype car that has a CO2 emission of 70 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower?	Volvo is set to release a plug-in hybrid in 2012 which will operate at 49 grams of CO2 per kilometer. Several other models are expected in the future. It is not clear how the use of electricity of the car contributes to additional CO2 emissions. So not clear if the 70 g/km is met with this prototype. (See p. 29-30).	SOURCE
14. Does the brand sell a hybrid, electric or fuel cell car on the European market?	The Volvo plug-in hybrid V60 will be launched on the market in 2012. The Volvo electric C30 has been launched in the only the Netherlands and only for a select group of customers.	SOURCE
15. Has the brand announced that a full electric or fuel cell car will be brought to the European market by 2012 at the latest?	The Volvo electric C30 has been launched in the only the Netherlands and only for a select group of customers (see link, in Dutch).	SOURCE
16. Does the brand clearly give the carbon emission or fuel efficiency rates for all models on its website?	Volvo Cars reports on the CO2 emission of each individual car series for the brand websites of sales countries. Click link to see for example the technical specifications, including information on CO2 emission, of the Estate V70.	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

2 out of 5


1. Does the brand disclose the smog forming exhaust gas emissions rates per km for at least its main car series?	Volvo discloses an overview of NOx, VOC and PM as a total (See p. 28-29). However, not for every car serie.	SOURCE
2. Does the brand report on the emission of air pollutants from its own operations, including owned facilities?	Volvo Cars has enlisted the quantity of VOC, NOx and SOx emitted by its own operations (see p. 29).	SOURCE
3. Are the materials in each new car model of the brand at least 85% recyclable or reusable?	Volvo states that 90% of the material used in Volvo cars can be recycled and 95% can be recovered (See page 30-31).	SOURCE
4. Can at least 90% of all new and redesigned car models of the brand be reused or recycled, and does the brand have a plan to phase out PVC?	Volvo cars states that 90% of the material used in Volvo cars can be recycled and 95% can be recovered (See page 30-31). Phase out plans for PVC are not mentioned.	SOURCE
5. Does the brand have clear achievements and targets to increase the use of recycled and biodegradable materials in its car fleet?	Volvo uses recycled materials and has a goal to expand this, but no clear targets and timelines are mentioned (See p. 19).	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

0 out of 3


1. Does the brand (company) have a Code of Conduct (CoC) for own factories and suppliers, which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labour, no child labour, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace?	Volvo has a Code of Conduct (CoC) that applies to all employees of the Volvo Group. Suppliers and other business partners are "encouraged" to adopt the principles (but not required). The Code of Conduct does, however, mention these four labour standards.	SOURCE
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1) a formal employment relationship; 2) a maximum working week of 60 hours including paid overtime; 3) a living wage; and 4) to form and join labour unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, to develop parallel means?	Volvo Cars has a Code of Conduct (see also remark for the question above) that applies to all employees of the Volvo Group. Suppliers and other business partners are only encouraged and not required to adopt these principles. The Code of Conduct also does not clearly describe the workers' rights mentioned.	SOURCE
3. Does the brand annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?	Volvo Cars has listed all company-owned production sites in the 2009 report (p. 49), but it does not state the production volume of each site. Volvo also made an overview of supplier countries, mainly low risk countries. No report was found on the labour conditions policy for the high risk countries. Nothing is mentioned in 2010 report.	SOURCE