Kia x The Ocean Cleanup
Movement with Impact: A New Approach to Sustainability
Kia is now facing the ‘dilemma of movement’.
- Movement opens doors to new possibilities. But every movement leaves a mark. As mobility evolves, so too must the responsibility that comes with it. In partnership with The Ocean Cleanup, we’re supporting the interception of plastic in rivers before it reaches the ocean, while contributing to the removal and repurposing of plastic already at sea. This is how movement becomes more than motion. This is Movement with Impact.
- Movement opens doors to new possibilities. But every movement leaves a mark. As mobility evolves, so too must the responsibility that comes with it. In partnership with The Ocean Cleanup, we’re supporting the interception of plastic in rivers before it reaches the ocean, while contributing to the removal and repurposing of plastic already at sea. This is how movement becomes more than motion. This is Movement with Impact.
Wasted Removed from Rivers & Oceans by The Ocean Cleanup
kg
Equivalent to approximately 5,098,044 passenger car tires.
Kia supports innovators like The Ocean Cleanup ― because progress should be measurable.
*Figures shown are live logged records of total waste removed by The Ocean Cleanup. Final amounts are confirmed through third-party assurance by DNV (Det Norske Veritas) and regularly. Verification timing is subject to the third party’s process.
**An average passenger car tire weight of 12 kg is used to convert the weight of waste removed into an equivalent number of tires.
SUSTAINABLE
MOBILITY
SOLUTIONS
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Partnering for a Sustainable Future
Since 2022, Kia has been a Global Mission partner of The Ocean Cleanup, an international, mission-driven non-profit organization that develops and scales solutions to rid the oceans and rivers of plastic.
Kia’s partnership with The Ocean Cleanup supports efforts to address plastic pollution, including initiatives to intercept plastic in high-impact rivers, remove legacy plastic from the ocean, and explore how recovered materials can contribute to a more circular future.
Closing the Loop
with Ocean Plastic
Removing Legacy Ocean Plastic
Movement with Impact starts with contributing to efforts aimed at the collection and removal of ocean plastic waste. Located between Hawaii and California, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch — the largest of the world’s five ocean gyres — is home to some 1.8 trillion pieces of floating plastic. Here, The Ocean Cleanup utilizes advanced computer modeling, AI-powered cameras and drone technology to identify areas with higher concentrations of plastic and enhance collection efficiency.
Recycling and Repurposing Ocean Plastic Waste
To give recovered ocean plastic new life and help prevent it from returning to the natural environment, efforts are underway to transform it into durable consumer goods. Plastics are sorted by type and undergo a process of washing, crushing, and mixing with virgin plastic and inorganic materials before being repurposed into automotive-related products.
30 Cities30 Cities30 Cities30 Cities30 Cities30 Cities30 Cities30 Cities
Where Ocean Protection Begins
The Ocean Cleanup’s 30 Cities Program targets the world’s most polluted rivers, deploying advanced Interceptor technology to stop plastic before it reaches the sea. By supporting this initiative, Kia is helping protect waterways at a critical intervention point. Tackling the problem at the source not only reduces the flow of plastic into the ocean but also fosters healthier environments and economic revitalization for local communities.
The EV3 Limited Edition Trunk Liner:
The Start of a Virtuous Pacific Plastic Cycle
Following two years of close collaboration and research, Kia and The Ocean Cleanup succeeded in developing the world’s first automotive accessory made using plastic waste collected from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This limited-edition trunk liner* for the EV3 represents a tangible example of how automotive companies can transform environmental challenges into practical solutions for conscious consumers.
*Composed of 40% recycled ocean plastic, 35% TPV, and 25% inorganics/other additives.
Kia’s partnership with The Ocean Cleanup aims to address multiple facets of marine plastic pollution. Together, we are driving a Movement with Impact — helping to reduce ocean plastic waste and exploring circular uses for recovered materials.
