The newest member in the Business Group of environmental NGO ChemSec is the Swedish electric car company Polestar. As the only automotive company in the group, Polestar now joins the likes of Apple, Adidas and other big brands, to bring a valuable new perspective that the group has so far been lacking. 

“Polestar has the opportunity to really create a sustainable and progressive chemicals management policy”

The automotive sector is a large user of chemicals due to the complexity of the products and the amount of chemicals involved in the production processes. Plastics, coatings, and various adhesives are just a few of the chemical components that go into a car. In fact, about 10 per cent of the global chemical sales goes to the automotive industry. And since most of these chemicals are hazardous to human health and nature in some way, it’s imperative that the car industry transition to safer alternatives.

The shift from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electrical creates an additional challenge for the industry as it will require large changes in the chemicals needed.

“ChemSec is very excited to welcome the EV manufacturer Polestar as our newest Business Group member. As a fairly young company, Polestar has the opportunity to really create a sustainable and progressive chemicals management policy from the start. We look forward to following them on that journey”, comments Jonatan Kleimark, project manager of the ChemSec Business Group. 

“The membership will help us advance our own chemical policy as well as to drive change within our industry”

“Safer chemicals are a priority for Polestar, and we appreciate ChemSec’s approach to push for improved EU chemicals policy, and to provide companies with concrete tools and guidance to accelerate the shift to safer chemicals. We are proud to join the ChemSec Business Group as the first automotive company and we believe the membership will help us advance our own chemical policy as well as to drive change within our industry”, says Fredrika Klarén, Head of Sustainability at Polestar.

About the ChemSec Business Group

The ChemSec Business Group is a collaboration among companies working together to inspire concrete progress on toxic use reduction. It gathers market-leading companies across a diversity of sectors for the development of effective corporate practices in the substitution of hazardous substances. It also raises public awareness of companies’ efforts to be drivers on this issue.

About Polestar

Polestar (Nasdaq: PSNY) is the Swedish electric performance car brand determined to improve society by using design and technology to accelerate the shift to sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, its cars are available online in 27 markets globally across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Polestar plans to have a line-up of five performance EVs by 2026. 

About ChemSec

Founded in 2002, ChemSec — the International Chemical Secretariat — is an independent non-profit organisation that advocates for a world free from hazardous chemicals. ChemSec drives the development of more progressive chemicals legislation and pushes businesses to have more sustainable chemicals management. The organisation receives financial support from the Swedish Government, charity foundations, private individuals and other non-profit organisations.