Sustainability, commitment to the environment and the circular economy are aspects that are playing an increasingly important role in our daily lives, even without us being aware of it. Until a few years ago, they were generally taken into account but without having so much weight. With the passage of time and the growth of social awareness in these areas, they have become crucial when it comes to designing the manufacturing processes of countless products.
Among them are also, of course, automobiles. In this sense, brands do not stop researching and looking for solutions so that their cars are increasingly sustainable, beyond emission-free propulsion systems. An example of this is the Czech firm Skoda, which not only focuses on the functional nature of its vehicles but also in the sustainable field.
That is why Enyaq iV users who opt for the 'ecoSuite' Design Selection can have the seats of their vehicle upholstered in leather tanned with olive leaves. For this, skins are used that would end up as waste from the meat industry in landfills, as well as olive leaves that, under normal conditions, would not be used once they fall to the ground by themselves. And it is that Skoda emphasizes that trees are not cut to obtain said leaves.
Unlike the conventional tanning process, which uses chemical products, in this case the leather is processed with a special extract from the aforementioned leaves. In addition, this extract contains a substance that olive trees create naturally that helps them repel insect pests. The Czech firm points out that the process for obtaining this extract is similar to that of infusing tea.
Around 215,000 olive leaves are required to develop the extract that is responsible for “tanning” the upholstery of each Enyaq iV. The resulting product, officially named Olivenleder by Skoda, meets all of the automaker's stringent quality requirements for appearance, durability and perceived quality, as examined through both mechanical testing and testing by experts in the field.
To show the ecological trait of this material, the Czech march integrates a small label on the seats with the indication "Eco Olive Leather". You can see how this whole process is carried out in the video below. It should be noted that the Enyaq iV is the car with the most recycled materials from Skoda. 13.1 kg of recycled plastic is used throughout the exterior of the vehicle.
The same happens with 40% of the steel used in its production, 50% of the aluminum and 20% of the glass in the side windows. Depending on the level of finish chosen, some other additional recycled materials are integrated.
Olive leaf extract tanned leather is just one of several initiatives by Skoda involving eco-friendly materials and processes in the production of its vehicles. For example, the Karoq can have upholstery made with fabrics made from 70% recycled PET plastic.
