GHG Emissions, Commercial, Sourcing Renewables  -  June 6, 2024

Polestar Adopts Renewable Fuels for Ocean Freight

Polestar is lowering its supply chain emissions by integrating renewable fuels on its ocean freight routes, which account for around 75% of the automaker's total transportation emissions.

Through the utilization of B30 Biofuel, which contains 30% Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME), emissions from these shipping routes can be reduced by approximately 20-25% compared with conventional sulfur fuel oils.

Polestar took steps to decarbonize inter-continental inbound ocean freight for production materials and spare parts distribution, which are now running on 100% FAME fuel, reducing GHG emissions by 84% compared to fossil fuel. The FAME fuel is based on renewable sources, including waste cooking oil, and avoids feedstock related to palm oil or palm oil production.

The automaker is now also operating its Vehicle Processing Center (VPC) in Belgium on 100% renewable electricity. The VPC acts as a finishing and preparation point for vehicles before delivery to European customers, including charging them with renewable electricity.

With production of Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 increasing, the renewable fuel will initially be used for approximately 65% of the outbound ocean freight of produced vehicles from Asia to Polestar’s VPC in Zeebrugge, Belgium. Polestar also plans to integrate renewable fuels on freight from North America during the second half of 2024, with production of Polestar 3 expanding to South Carolina.

“This is an important step in Polestar’s goal to reach climate neutrality by 2040,” said Jonas Engström, Head of Operations at Polestar, in a statement. “Becoming truly climate neutral means eliminating all greenhouse gas emissions across our operations, and all phases of our cars’ life cycles, including emissions from the supply chain. As we enter an accelerating phase of growth with our model line-up and manufacturing footprint expanding, there is an extra emphasis on the need for sustainable logistics solutions.”

Polestar recently published its Sustainability Report for 2023. GHG emissions per sold car were reduced by 9% during 2023 compared to 2022.

Read These Related Articles:

• Polestar Combines Production Growth with 8% Emissions Reduction
• Polestar Lowers Emissions By 6% For Each Car

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