In 1945, we established an exchange system for remanufactured spare parts. Today, this exchange system is bigger than ever and now includes everything from gearboxes to injectors to electronic components – all carefully restored to our original specifications. But why spend time and effort remanufacturing used parts when modern production methods mean we could make a brand new part in no time at all? Well, a remanufactured part requires up to 85% less raw material and 80% less energy compared with a newly made part. It can save around 300 tonnes of aluminium and 800 tonnes of steel per year, which is equivalent to reducing approximately 4,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. Well worth the effort, we think.

When developing the car, different types of plastic, magnesium and aluminium were used extensively in the design. These materials were chosen not only because they were light, but because they were readily available and, most importantly, recyclable. This was a car built to last – at least in one form or another. One other forward-thinking feature of the LCP 2000 was its ability to run on any oil fuel, e.g. rape seed oil. But a car that smelled faintly of fish and chips as it drove past was not to everyone’s taste.

The LCP 2000 is now proudly on display in the Volvo Museum. But the project continues to inspire the way we build our cars with sustainability and the environment in mind. Today, metals, oils, fluids, rubber and certain plastics corresponding to at least 95% of the weight of a Volvo car can be recovered, while 85% can be recycled. Volvo Cars’ Environmental Strategy now encompasses the car’s environmental impact throughout its entire lifecycle – from development, use and service to recycling when the car is scrapped and the cycle begins again.