Kia's EVs to incorporate plastic from 55-ton ocean cleanup

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【Summary】Kia plans to use plastic reclaimed from the Pacific Ocean in its new electric vehicles. The 55-ton haul was collected by The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization dedicated to removing plastic from the oceans. This marks the next phase of Kia's sustainability efforts, with the company already implementing over 30 sustainable solutions in its products. The plastic will be recycled and used in future models, including the EV9 which already incorporates up-cycled waste materials.

FutureCar Staff Sep 13, 2023 11:15 PM PT

Kia's EVs to incorporate plastic from 55-ton ocean cleanup

Kia has announced its plans to incorporate recycled plastic from a 55-ton haul recently recovered from the Pacific Ocean into its new electric vehicle models. This initiative is part of Kia's ongoing commitment to sustainability and is made possible through its global partnership with The Ocean Cleanup.

The partnership between Kia and The Ocean Cleanup was established in April 2022 and aims to address the issue of plastic pollution in the oceans. The plastic reclaimed by The Ocean Cleanup represents a significant milestone in this collaboration.

The plastic catch, which was brought in by The Ocean Cleanup, was unloaded at Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada. This achievement is notable as it sets a new record for the largest amount of plastic ever recovered from the world's oceans.

The extraction of the plastic catch from the Pacific Ocean was made possible through The Ocean Cleanup's System 002 extraction technology. This innovative technology was used to navigate through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is the largest accumulation of floating waste in the world. The patch spans an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers, equivalent to three times the size of France.

Kia plans to begin the recycling process for the captured plastic in the near future. The company intends to utilize a portion of this recycled material in its future vehicle models, further demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.

Kia has already made significant progress in implementing sustainable solutions across its product range. With over 30 sustainable solutions already in place, Kia has incorporated recycled PET fabrics and carpets, bio-based alternative leather, and BTX-free paint in various products. For example, the EV9 model features up-cycled waste, including fishing nets retrieved from the ocean, in its floor carpets. Additionally, the construction of the EV9 incorporates recycled plastic and bio-based eco-friendly materials, resulting in a weight of approximately 34kg for these components.