Embracing circularity from day one

“Circularity isn’t something you add on later,” declares Per Olson, Vice President Platform Development at Volvo Buses – a strategy driving the approach to developing the world’s most responsible electric bus system, where high recyclability is integral from the very start.
 

Planning for circularity – integral part of product development
 

At Volvo Buses, circularity isn’t an afterthought; it’s built into the process from day one. A high level of recyclability and batteries with a purposeful second-life application are examples of how we at Volvo Buses are working to make our products more sustainable during the whole life cycle. To make this happen we must carefully consider at the product development phase what materials to use, what technologies to apply and which business models to integrate.

“Sustainability for us goes beyond the bus, and that’s why it’s important for us at product development to work together with purchasing, operations and marketing to make sure that we optimize the design solution from a sustainability perspective,” says Per Olson at Product Development.

Luminus – a bus developed with a circular approach
 

One of our most recent product development projects is Luminus – a fully electric city bus designed with a circular approach. Built on the BZL chassis, it has a recyclability rate of 90% for the chassis and 60% for the body.

OMA, the airport operator in Monterrey, Mexico was one of the first customers to acquire Luminus. Volvo Buses circular approach was a decisive factor in choosing it.

“We know that the process that led to the development, design, and construction of this bus is completely sustainable for the environment, from the selection of materials to the manufacturing process that reduces pollutant emissions, as it is a fully electric bus”, says Raful Zacarías, Monterrey Airport Administrator, at OMA. He continues:

“We don’t see this product as just a bus, but as a contribution to environmental care”.

A purposeful battery second life

Already at the product development phase, already at the product development phase the second life is being considered. Instead of being recycled, Luminus’ batteries is planned to be given a second life as energy storage units at Volvo Buses’ Tultitlán production facility, reducing demand on conventional energy sources.

But sustainability isn’t just about the bus; it’s about how it’s built. At the Tultitlán facility, renewable energy and efficiency measures have helped reduce the plant’s carbon footprint by more than 60% since early 2024. The factory’s commitment to circularity ensures that the production of each Luminus bus aligns with Volvo Buses broader sustainability targets are – to reduce emissions from our own operations by 50%, and to reduce our vehicles’ emissions by 40% per km – all by 2030.