Korean auto manufacturer Kia has developed the world’s first car accessory made from plastic extracted from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) by The Ocean Cleanup. Kia will introduce a limited-edition trunk liner for the new Kia EV3 made using ocean plastic received from The Ocean Cleanup. The exclusive accessory will be available for EV3 in selected markets and available to order in line with the model’s market introduction.
The GPGP is an area of approximately 1.6 million square kilometers where marine debris is trapped. The entire area is believed to be filled with microplastics broken down from plastic waste in the ocean. The Ocean Cleanup organization, a Dutch nonprofit founded in 2013 is committed to remove the plastic from the GPGP.
Kia has partnered with Ocean Cleanup since 2022 and said it has been a key part of the brand’s ongoing transformation into a provider of sustainable mobility solutions.
Charles Ryu, Executive Vice President and Head of the Global Brand & CX Division, Kia, said, “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.
