Polestar continues to raise the bar for climate transparency in the automotive industry by publishing comprehensive Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for every vehicle in its lineup. The latest model to receive the full treatment is the upcoming four-door GT, the Polestar 5.
Since 2020, Polestar has committed to openly sharing the environmental impact of its vehicles. With the Polestar 5 assessment now available, the company has become the first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to publish the full carbon footprint for every model it sells.
Polestar 5 Carbon Footprint: 23.8 tCO₂e
According to the LCA, the cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of the Polestar 5 is 23.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). This figure includes emissions generated from raw material extraction, component production, vehicle manufacturing and delivery to customers.
Understanding where these emissions occur is critical for reducing them. By identifying the most carbon-intensive stages of production, Polestar can focus on improving material sourcing and manufacturing processes.
Fredrika Klarén, Head of Sustainability at Polestar, explains the philosophy behind the initiative:
“You cannot reduce what you don’t measure. Making the carbon footprint of a car visible helps focus the industry on where emissions occur, particularly in materials and manufacturing.”
Low-Carbon Aluminium Makes a Major Difference
One of the biggest contributors to automotive manufacturing emissions is aluminium production. To address this, Polestar has reworked its aluminium sourcing strategy for the Polestar 5.
– 13% of the aluminium used in the car is recycled
– 83% comes from smelters powered by renewable electricity
This approach avoids more than 14 tonnes of CO₂ per vehicle compared with conventional aluminium sourcing methods.
Because aluminium is widely used in EV platforms for its strength and weight advantages, improving its sustainability can significantly reduce overall manufacturing emissions.
Renewable Energy Powers Production
Renewable electricity is also central to the Polestar 5 production process. Manufacturing facilities responsible for building the vehicle, along with plants producing battery cell modules and key battery materials, operate using renewable energy.
This shift lowers emissions associated with both vehicle assembly and battery production, two of the most energy-intensive parts of EV manufacturing.
Sustainable Interior Materials
Polestar has also introduced innovative materials throughout the Polestar 5 interior to further reduce environmental impact.
Key examples include:
– Natural fibre composites developed with Bcomp using flax-based ampliTex™, a bio-based alternative to carbon fibre
– Materials that use 50% less fossil-based content and can be up to 40% lighter than traditional plastic composites
– Econyl carpets made from discarded fishing nets
– Recycled PET textiles used across interior surfaces
Even the front luggage compartment adopts a circular design. It uses a mono-material PET construction, combining recycled insulation with a recycled PET surface layer to make end-of-life recycling easier.
For buyers who prefer leather upholstery, Polestar offers chrome-free Nappa leather supplied by Bridge of Weir, produced as a natural by-product of the food industry and designed to meet strict animal welfare standards.
Sustainable Yet High Performance
Despite its strong sustainability focus, the Polestar 5 remains a performance-oriented electric grand tourer.
The four-door GT EV offers up to 650 kW (884 hp) and 1,015 Nm of torque and range of up to 678 km (WLTP).
Thanks to its 800-volt electrical architecture and 350 kW DC fast-charging capability, the battery can charge from 10% to 80% in as little as 22 minutes.
Transparency as a Path to Lower Emissions
Polestar’s decision to publicly release full life cycle carbon data is designed to push the entire industry toward greater accountability and faster emissions reduction.
By highlighting the climate impact of materials, manufacturing and energy sources, the company aims to accelerate the adoption of low-carbon materials, renewable energy and circular design practices across the automotive sector.
With the Polestar 5 now fully assessed, the brand has achieved a milestone: complete carbon transparency across its entire EV lineup.
[source: Polestar]
