Hyundai Motor Company and Healthy Seas have initiated an extensive clean-up operation along the western coast of Greece, marking the start of their 2024 activities. This yearlong commitment began with a 10-day intensive clean-up, focusing on abandoned fish farms, alongside education and community involvement efforts aimed at reclaiming polluted waters and promoting healthier marine environments for local communities.
The collaboration between Hyundai Motor and Healthy Seas is expanding to address marine pollution on a larger scale. Dedicated to a sustainable future, the two organizations will work together to combat marine pollution, restore marine ecosystems, and promote a circular economy through a series of global clean-ups and educational initiatives throughout the year.
“It is inspiring to witness the profound impact of our collaboration with Healthy Seas. Our joint efforts in 2024 aim to extend our reach, addressing the global challenge of marine pollution. This mission goes back to the very beginnings of our partnership and underscores the remarkable outcomes that can be achieved when diverse stakeholders unite for a more sustainable future,” said Michael Cole, President and CEO at Hyundai Motor Europe.
From May 15 to 24, Hyundai Motor and Healthy Seas launched their 2024 activities with a 10-day clean-up operation in western Greece. Volunteer divers from Ghost Diving targeted waters heavily polluted by abandoned fish farms, removing large nets and debris that pose serious threats to marine life. Despite challenges, volunteers successfully removed numerous pollutants, including ring pipes, fish farm nets, polystyrene parts, and other harmful debris. These materials will be sorted and recycled, with nylon parts being regenerated into ECONYL yarn by Aquafil, contributing to new, sustainable products like the floormats in Hyundai Motor’s IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and all-new Santa Fe in Europe.
The clean-up addressed significant ecological damage caused by abandoned fish farms, which release debris, plastics, and pollutants into the marine environment, disrupting marine ecosystems and endangering flora and fauna. By removing these hazards, Hyundai Motor and Healthy Seas are restoring safe waters for local communities, who depend on clean seas for tourism and leisure. In total, 42.7 tons of marine litter were retrieved, including 11.3 tons of fish farming nets.
“Our mission goes beyond just cleaning up; it’s about reclaiming these waters for marine life and the people who depend on them. Collaboration is key in projects like this, where the private sector can support the public, raise awareness on pressing issues, and offer tangible solutions. We are grateful to our partners and volunteers who are making this possible, especially to Hyundai for the four-year collaboration,” said Veronika Mikos, Director of Healthy Seas.
Under Hyundai Motor’s ‘Progress for Humanity’ vision, the company aims to create shared value by scaling social impacts and building a sustainable business ecosystem. This mission inspired Hyundai Motor Company’s latest CSV (Creating Shared Value) initiative, ‘Hyundai Continue,’ which focuses on three core areas: Continue Earth, Continue Mobility, and Continue Hope. The partnership with Healthy Seas is a crucial component of the Environmental Protection and Circular Economy pillar, fighting ocean pollution while fostering a circular economy.
