How Volvo’s Commitment to Sustainability Is Shaping the Future of Construction Equipment

The construction industry has always had a significant environmental footprint, as the machines used for construction projects are often large sources of greenhouse gasses, noise pollution, and energy consumption.

However, as global awareness of climate change and environmental degradation grows, there is increasing pressure from governments, regulatory bodies, and the public for industries to adopt more sustainable practices. The construction sector is one of many that have been scrutinized.

Since this pressure to adopt sustainable practices has increased, it has been up to construction equipment manufacturers to rise to the occasion and implement changes to their machines to make a difference.

Producing construction equipment with sustainability in mind will not only reduce the industry’s environmental impact, but it will also help ensure compliance with stricter environmental regulations and standards being implemented worldwide.

Embracing sustainable practices will allow construction equipment manufacturers to contribute to global efforts to combat climate change and promote environmental stewardship.

How Volvo Has Committed to Sustainability

Of all the construction equipment manufacturers, there is one industry-leading company that has truly set an example when it comes to sustainability: Volvo. 

Volvo has dedicated a huge amount of time, money, and energy to holding itself accountable across all aspects of its business to become more sustainable and pave the way for real positive change. The following are some of the main ways that Volvo has committed itself to sustainability in recent times:

1. Volvo’s science-based targets commitment

One of the primary ways Volvo has committed itself to sustainability is by pledging to reduce its carbon impact to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

To keep on track with this reduction in carbon output, Volvo is using science-based targets to achieve net-zero value chain emissions by 2040. In addition, Volvo has committed to a shorter-term goal of cutting emissions in half in its own operations, facilities, and manufacturing processes by 2030.

In the construction industry, most emissions are referred to as “indirect emissions,” which are created when the machines start to be used after leaving the factory.

By 2030, Volvo also aims to achieve at least a 30% absolute reduction in these indirect emissions from its products, as their indirect emissions account for the highest proportion of the company’s carbon emissions.

2. Volvo’s shift to a circular economy approach

Another way that Volvo has demonstrated its commitment to reducing its environmental impact is by shifting toward a more circular economy approach, which it has been able to do through CE Parts, its recycled parts business. 

With CE Parts, Volvo dismantles older machines of various makes and models and evaluates 30 to 60 parts that can be rebuilt, remanufactured and sold back into the market.

While this process is more commonplace in the automotive industry, it is much rarer for construction equipment. However, it saves up to 80% in CO2 emissions compared to those that come from producing a new part. 

In addition to reducing emissions, prolonging the use of these parts contributes to the conservation of precious resources. Plus, with over 30,000 items in stock, CE Parts has made significant strides in increasing customer uptime by fulfilling demands for spare components and parts.

3. Volvo’s pioneered electric solutions

To reach the goals of carbon emission reductions and increased sustainability, Volvo has been working on improving its electric solutions. It has been leading the way with a broad range of electric technologies across different construction segments.

Volvo has committed to having at least 35% of its machine sales be electric by 2030, and already offers one of the largest electric ranges of all the major construction equipment manufacturers. In fact, Volvo is the first company to have shifted its entire compact range to electric.

Since 2012, when Volvo began working on its first concept electric machines, it has introduced numerous hybrid and fully electric machines to the market. These days, Volvo is invested in three main streams of electrification: battery electric, hydrogen fuel cells, and renewable biofuels.

4. Volvo is revamping its facilities

In order to support its aim of providing more sustainable solutions to customers and to meet its overall sustainability goals, Volvo has inaugurated new facilities at its plants in Changwon, South Korea and Braås, Sweden. 

Investing a total of $40.5 million into these facilities, Volvo has managed to build a new battery pack production facility. Its production facilities have expanded to accelerate its phased shift toward electromobility for its articulated haulers. 

In addition, at the Changwon facility, Volvo has partnered with LS Electric to install solar panels that will provide approximately 55 GWh of renewable energy a year. This shift to reliance on solar panels will make it possible for Volvo CE’s Korean branch to reduce its CO2 emissions by about 21,000 tons annually, which is roughly the equivalent of planting 1.5 million pine trees per year. Volvo has plans to run this site on 100% renewable energy by 2026.

5. Volvo’s commitment to transparency

Another way Volvo is leading sustainable change is by disclosing the industry’s most extensive catalogue of product carbon footprint (PCF) reports. In doing so, Volvo has made it easier for customers to understand the emission levels of different products and take steps to reduce their environmental impact. 

These reports cover every aspect of each product’s carbon footprint, touching on everything from the extraction of raw materials to component manufacturing and machine assembly to recycling and end-of-life. The reports confirm that electric machines are the more sustainable option compared to conventional diesel machines.

How Great West Equipment Prioritizes Sustainability as a Volvo Construction Equipment Dealer

If you would like to contribute to the betterment of our planet by supporting a construction equipment manufacturer with a total commitment to sustainability, and you need a reliable Volvo Construction Equipment dealer, Great West Equipment has you covered.

At Great West Equipment, we sell a wide selection of Volvo’s best and most environmentally friendly construction equipment. We also share Volvo’s commitment to sustainability because we believe in doing everything possible to make the world a better place. 

We are committed to reducing our toxic emissions, meeting and exceeding environmental regulatory requirements, preventing hazardous spills, decreasing operational waste, maximizing energy efficiency and conservation, recycling lubricants and filters, promoting the use of remanufactured parts, and reducing paper in our day-to-day activities.

If sustainability and environmental impact are factors that you prioritize when searching for new or used construction equipment, one of our experts would be happy to guide you in the direction of the equipment we carry that has a minimal environmental footprint.

For more information about why we are the best Volvo Construction Equipment dealer, or to learn more about our efforts in sustainability, call Great West Equipment at 1-833-730-0613 or contact us here.