“Offsetting is a cop-out”: Polestar plots climate neutral course for 2030

Swedish EV brand and Volvo subsidiary Polestar announced on Wednesday its “Polestar 0” project, a plan to make the world’s first “truly climate neutral car” by 2030 by eliminating emissions in the production line rather than simply offsetting emissions by planting trees.

Polestar published its first annual review on Wednesday, in which it said all parts of its supply chain must move to begin reducing emissions that can be mitigated, either directly or indirectly, without resorting to offsetting solutions.

“This means that all parts of Polestar’s supply chain are to reach our targets without resorting to offsetting by tree planting or other schemes relying on the CO₂ intake of crops,” the company declared.

“Offsetting is a cop-out,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO. “By pushing ourselves to create a completely climate-neutral car, we are forced to reach beyond what is possible today. We will have to question everything, innovate and look to exponential technologies as we design towards zero.”

The first step for Polestar is all about transparency and will start with a product sustainability declaration to be published for all Polestar models, starting with disclosing the carbon footprint as well as traced materials on the company website and in Polestar spaces.

This transparency will naturally follow for all future Polestar models.

Over the next few years, more disclosure parameters will be included, such as the use of recycled and renewable materials, while the company also pointed to its Polestar Production Centre in Chengdu, China, which is 100% powered by renewable electricity and attained a Gold status in LEED ratings earlier this year.

“We’re electric, so we don’t have to worry about combustion engines producing toxic emissions – but that doesn’t mean our job is done,” said Fredrika Klarén, Polestar’s Head of Sustainability.

“We will now work to eradicate all emissions stemming from production. Now is a historic and exciting time for car makers, an opportunity to seize the moment, do better and dare to build the dream of climate-neutral, circular and beautiful cars.”

“Consumers are a huge driving force in the shift to a sustainable economy,” Thomas Ingenlath added.

“They need to be given the right tools to make informed and ethical decisions. This makes things very clear. Today, Polestar 2 leaves the factory gates with a carbon footprint. In 2030 we want to present a car that does not.”