Kia Corporation has unveiled the world’s first car accessory made from plastic sourced from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), a significant achievement in its ongoing partnership with The Ocean Cleanup. Since 2022, Kia has supported this non-profit organization, dedicated to developing technologies to eliminate ocean plastic, as part of its transformation into a leader in sustainable mobility.
The highlight of this collaboration is the introduction of a limited-edition trunk liner for the all-new Kia EV3, crafted from ocean plastic provided by The Ocean Cleanup. This exclusive accessory will be available in select markets, coinciding with the EV3’s launch. Designed with Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ philosophy, the trunk liner features a ‘geometric wave’ pattern that symbolizes the ocean’s waves and the collection process of marine debris. Composed of 40% recycled ocean plastic, the trunk liner offers the same durability and functionality as traditional liners. Each liner includes a QR code, offering customers insights into the product’s creation and the partnership, along with The Ocean Cleanup logo.
Since their partnership began in 2022, Kia and The Ocean Cleanup have focused on innovative methods to transform plastic waste from the GPGP into practical products. The initial phase involves sorting, recycling, and processing the ocean plastic to meet Kia’s stringent quality standards. Charles Ryu, Executive Vice President and Head of the Global Brand & CX Division, Kia, commented: “This partnership is not only a testament to our shared commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation, but a worldwide movement to create a cleaner, healthier oceans for future generations.”
“As the first genuine Kia accessory made using reclaimed ocean plastic, we are proud to see tangible progress made toward creating a circular resource system for ocean plastic. We will leverage the lessons learned during the recycling and product development process to continue to manufacture useful and beneficial products for our customers using ocean plastic retrieved and provided by The Ocean Cleanup.”
“We are so grateful to have a visionary and passionate partner in Kia, who shares our vision of ensuring that the plastic we extract from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is given a new life in sustainable items”, said Boyan Slat, Founder & CEO, The Ocean Cleanup. “Our mission is made possible by partners such as Kia and we look forward to this launch being the first of many ways we turn ocean plastic from trash to treasure.”
