A mural that eats pollution is on display in downtown Edmonton right now
Imagine if art could take on the increasingly necessary task of cleaning pollution out of the air.
Well, it’s happening right now in Edmonton.
To celebrate the arrival of spring, Volkswagen Canada has launched the first of three commissioned murals across the country to “contribute to cleaner air and a more sustainable future,” according to a news release from the car company.
The three commissioned murals will cover 5,600 square feet of otherwise blank wall space with a special pollution-eating paint that absorbs carbon dioxide.
The first mural, commissioned by a local artist, was unveiled in mid-April and is available to view at 144 Ossington Avenue in Toronto.
The second and third murals were unveiled on May 6, including Edmonton’s mural, which is located southwest of the downtown core at 10025 106th Street NW, outside the Baker Centre.
The third mural was unveiled the same day at another location in Toronto.
CNW Group/Volkswagen Group Canada
“We’ve made significant progress as an organization and it’s become second nature to consider the sustainability and environmental impact of our work for the future of mobility,” says Edgar Estrada, president of Volkswagen Brand Canada.
“These murals serve as a visual and engaging representation of our vision for a greener city and a greener world – where even street art helps to reduce carbon emissions.”
The mural initiative is part of the brand’s transition to a lower carbon footprint. Since 2017, Volkswagen has saved more than 850,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide globally and is on track to decrease its dealer network’s carbon footprint by 30% by 2030, the company claims.