Bentley Motors is expanding the use of environmentally friendly bio-alternative fuels that significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to gasoline, and is pioneering the adoption of eco-friendly olive tanned leather in the automotive industry as part of its efforts to rebrand itself as a leading “sustainable luxury” brand.
Through biofuels and olive tanned leather, Bentley aims to minimize its environmental impact while maintaining its unique dynamic performance and uncompromising luxury.
To start, Bentley Motors installed a biofuel pump at its Crewe factory in the UK last July. The second-generation biofuel introduced by Bentley uses food byproducts such as rice straw, sawdust, and wood chips, as well as waste wood. Unlike the first-generation biofuels made from grains like corn, it uses recycled materials and is free from the issue of grain resource waste.
The second-generation biofuel meets the international quality standard for gasoline, EN228, and can be used in gasoline vehicles without engine modification, producing 85% less carbon emissions. Additionally, unlike gasoline, it does not release air pollutants such as sulfur and metal oxides during combustion.
At the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed held last July, Bentley showcased the superior performance of biofuels by fueling six vehicles, including the limited-edition coach-built model Batur, and successfully completing the hill climb course.
Biofuels that perfectly replace gasoline will be used in Bentley’s heritage collection vehicles, which consist of classic models, as well as the media test vehicles from the UK headquarters.
Bentley Motors is the first in the automotive industry to apply environmentally friendly olive tanned leather to production vehicles. Olive tanned leather utilizes byproducts from the olive oil production process in the tanning of leather.
Traditional leather tanning often involves heavy metals like minerals or chrome, which can cause water pollution. In contrast, olive tanned leather recycles water that arises during the extraction of olive oil, resulting in less water pollution and reduced water usage, while also providing a softer feel to the leather. Bentley is the first to use olive tanned leather, which is typically used in luxury clothing and bag production, as automotive interior materials.
The introduction of olive tanned leather is part of Bentley’s commitment to sustainable leather material use. Bentley Motors utilizes leather produced solely from byproducts of the eco-friendly meat industry and aims to minimize environmental destruction during the leather production process.
Olive tanned leather, supplied by the Italian company Pasubio, will be showcased for the first time in Bentley’s new model at the Monterey Car Week in California on the 18th (local time). In the future, olive tanned leather options are expected to be available for various Bentley models.
Biofuels and olive tanned leather are part of Bentley’s “sustainable luxury” plan to become the world’s most eco-friendly luxury automotive brand based on advanced technology.
In 2020, Bentley Motors announced its “Beyond 100” strategy, preparing for the next 100 years by exploring ways to fulfill its social responsibilities as a luxury car manufacturer and enhance sustainability.
According to this plan, Bentley aims to transition its entire lineup to electric vehicles by 2030 while also completing a “carbon-negative” factory that will reduce carbon in the atmosphere beyond achieving carbon neutrality. The introduction of biofuels is aimed at minimizing carbon emissions during operations at headquarters until full electrification is achieved.
Furthermore, Bentley targets achieving carbon neutrality across the entire supply chain, including leather, beyond the Crewe factory, which became the first luxury car brand factory to achieve carbon neutrality in 2018. Ultimately, Bentley Motors aims to establish itself as a “sustainable luxury” automotive brand that encompasses the entire value chain.
Meanwhile, Bentley Motors is enhancing its sustainability efforts through various initiatives, including the installation of solar panels at the Crewe factory, introducing wastewater and rainwater recycling systems, installing a “living green wall” made up of living plants on factory buildings, preserving biodiversity through beekeeping initiatives involving one million bees, and establishing a £3 million Bentley Environmental Foundation.
Jin Sang Lee daedusj@autodiary.kr