A Breath Of Fresh Air For Volvo Employees
Published: 14th September 2004
Asthma UK launches its 10 point Charter today, aimed at reducing the impact of asthma in the workplace and Volvo Car UK is one of the companies endorsing the campaign. Employees will receive copies of the Charter and be made aware of potential workplace triggers that can cause an asthma attacked include dust, stress, cigarette smoke and perfume / air fresheners
Volvo Car UK also has been a CarbonNeutral® company for two years. This means that all the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from Volvo employees' business travel and office energy consumption have been reduced and then neutralised. In the first year alone, Volvo Car UK, working with Future Forests planted nearly 5,000 trees across the UK – enough to cover 11 football pitches. In 2004, Volvo Car UK is expected to offset 2,681 tonnes of CO2 with a further tree planting programme.
As well as a healthy office environment, Volvo also offers a healthy in-car environment for its customers. Volvo’s Clean Inside and Out concept provides an allergy-free cabin, ideal for sufferers of asthma, hayfever and contact allergies such as eczema.
By using environmentally-compatible materials that fulfil the requirements of OEKO-TEX100 – an international environmental standard, Volvo guarantees that materials contain no harmful substances. This certification covers seat belts, carpets, thread, glues and fabrics. Even the leather upholstery meets this requirement, having undergone chromium-free tanning, thanks to the use of natural plant substances. Other parts, such as the handbrake button, load eyelet and steering wheel emblem, have all been tested for contact allergies too.
A filter prevents dust, exhaust particles and pollen from entering the cabin through the ventilation system. All models in the Volvo range (except the C70 convertible) are fitted with an air quality system with electronic sensors which monitor the amount of air pollutants in the incoming air and closes the air inlet when levels rise too high. A combined filter with active carbon eliminates odour surges from screenwasher liquid and exhaust fumes by lowering the levels of nitrogen dioxide, ground-level ozone and hydrocarbons.
The PremAir® system is also fitted to Volvo models as standard. The car radiator has a catalytic coating which converts up to 75% of ground level ozone into oxygen, allowing all Volvo owners to clean the air around them as they drive.
