The seats of the new CUPRA Born are made of plastic from marine waste
The SEAQUAL® YARN polymer fibre fabric, a material recycled from plastic waste found in the Mediterranean Sea, will make its debut as seat covering for the Spanish brand’s first 100% electric vehicle.
The Born is CUPRA’s first 100% electric vehicle and ushers in a new era of transformation, innovation and sustainability. An example of this is the project that sees the brand joining forces with SEAQUAL INITIATIVE. A recycled polymer fibre fabric will be used for the Born’s standard seats.
The material is called SEAQUAL® YARN and is made of plastic extracted from the Mediterranean and other seas, oceans, rivers and estuaries. This innovative material, in keeping with CUPRA high-quality standards and design style, is produced thanks to the collaboration of fishermen, various NGOs and local communities, who collect the material. The sustainable project is based on circular economy and contributes to the continuous cleaning of our seas, rivers and oceans.
Sustainability and innovation
“With the CUPRA Born we’re entering a new electric era. The partnership with SEAQUAL INITIATIVE demonstrates that sustainability, innovation and contemporary design can go together. CUPRA is an inspiring brand, which is why we are committed to circular-economy projects and helping preserve a natural resource like the Mediterranean Sea,” explains Antonino Labate, CUPRA Director of Strategy, Business Development and Operations.
SEAQUAL INITIATIVE
“We’re very proud to partner with CUPRA and make a difference in contributing to a cleaner sea and a cleaner environment in general,” adds Michel Chtepa, SEAQUAL INITIATIVE Managing Director. The Spanish non-profit organisation works with NGOs, fishermen, authorities and local communities to clean up the seas and the oceans.
Litter from beaches, ocean beds and surfaces, rivers and estuaries is collected through clean-up programmes. After sorting the different types of materials, the plastic is cleaned and transformed into recycled marine plastic, which is used to create SEAQUAL® YARN.
Certified carbon neutrality
In addition to demonstrating that electrification and performance are a perfect match, the CUPRA Born will be the brand’s first vehicle to be delivered to customers with certification that proves its carbon neutrality. To this end, the Born will be based on the Volkswagen Group’s modular electric platform (MEB) and produced in the Zwickau plant, where energy from renewable sources is used in the supply chain and raw material production. The remaining emissions that cannot be avoided are offset by investments in environmental projects that are certified to the highest standards.
Thanks to all of the above and the collaboration with SEAQUAL INITIATIVE, the new CUPRA Born will contribute to reducing CO2 emissions and meeting European targets while promoting the circular economy and the protection of the Mediterranean ecosystem.
Source: SEAT S.A.