KUWAIT: Volvo Cars Kuwait celebrates the launch of first phase of its sustainability initiative in their Retail Spaces. Sustainability is as important to Volvo Cars as safety. By working towards climate-neutrality, embracing the circular economy, and conducting business operations responsibly, Volvo is continuously working on protecting the planet and contributing to a fairer society.
Volvo’s global retailers play a crucial role in projecting and visibly demonstrating the company’s commitment to sustainability, including reducing emissions, directly to existing and prospective customers. "We at BNKA are very proud of the work done by our Evolve team members on the Sustainability initiative from assessment, presenting transformation solutions, sourcing, budgeting to implementation. Amidst the commercial pressures, we believe that we have a social duty to reduce our levels of consumption and be accountable for our actions,” Achraf Tamim, General Manager at BNK Automotive said. In compliance with Volvo Cars’ code of conduct, BNK Automotive supports and shares the same values as Volvo on their commitment to sustainability and limiting the overall environmental impact, hence taking on the challenge of introducing sustainability in the automotive industry in Kuwait.
Achieving sustainable practices is more challenging locally as there are fewer green services available compared to Europe. Despite the challenges, and with the help and support of management, the Evolve team at Volvo introduced new practices within the dealership as the first step towards being the first sustainable dealership in Kuwait.
"We’re very proud that we are working with BNK Automotive on a project that focuses on such an important topic. Climate change is a serious problem especially within the GCC and we are proud to be part of what will be the first sustainable dealership in Kuwait.” Evolve Team at BNK Automotive. The Evolve team consists of 3 Kuwaiti engineers currently undergoing management training with BNK Automotive. The sustainability project they are leading is separated into two phases, the first of which already concluded. Phase 1 focused on reducing plastic waste in the Volvo showrooms, and recycling their paper, plastic, and cardboard waste.
As for Phase 2, it will be a continuation of phase 1 which will comprise of the service center recyclables. The goal is to recycle all workshop waste, switching to ecofriendly products, and significantly reducing the dealership’s energy and water consumption. To achieve phase 1, Volvo collaborated with 2 companies: Mai Water, and Beatouna Recycling Center. With the help of Mai Water, they have significantly reduced their plastic waste by switching from plastic bottles to recycled cardboard boxed water. Beatouna recycles the rest of the plastic waste, in addition to paper and cardboard.
"Volvo Cars is committed to minimizing its global environmental footprint worldwide by implementing a clear and well-planned sustainability strategy, therefore at BNK Automotive, we find it crucial and a part of our environmental and social responsibility to carry out and lead a sustainability strategy in Kuwait, through the implementation of sustainable retail spaces and service centers, which follow a clear mandate and standards guided by Volvo Cars. Having said that, we are grateful to have found some great local and forward-thinking suppliers such as Mai and Beatouna when it comes to clean packaging and recycling, it makes the whole process continuous and smooth,” Hanan Zubaid, Head of Marketing at BNK Automotive said.
To showcase their project and present their achievements with BNK Automotive, the EVOLVE team hosted an event at Volvo Studio. Eco Talks was held in collaboration with Mai, Kuwait Green Building Council, Basta, LOYAC, Quinn Hop, and Sustainable Living Kuwait. It consisted of a panel with all the collaborators mentioned above, where they shared their mission, experience, strategies, and vision for a greener Kuwait.
About Volvo Car Group
Volvo Cars was founded in 1927. Today, it is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world with sales to customers in more than 100 countries. Volvo Cars is listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange, where it is traded under the ticker "VOLCAR B”.
Volvo Cars aims to provide customers with the Freedom to Move in a personal, sustainable and safe way. This is reflected in its ambition to become a fully electric car maker by 2030 and in its commitment to an ongoing reduction of its carbon footprint, with the ambition to be a climate-neutral company by 2040. As of December 2021, Volvo Cars employed approximately 41,000 full-time employees.
Volvo Cars’ head office, product development, marketing and administration functions are mainly located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars’ production plants are located in Gothenburg, Ghent (Belgium), South Carolina (US), Chengdu, Daqing and Taizhou (China). The company also has R&D and design centres in Gothenburg, Camarillo (US) and Shanghai (China). About BNK Automotive, BNK Automotive is the exclusive distributor of Volvo Cars in Kuwait, owned by Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi and falls under the portfolio of BNK Holding KSCC - a ‘closed’ shareholding company.