Moving Forward Together | The Ocean Cleanup

Oct 15, 2024

To watch this video, you need to accept optimal cookies .

For more info, check our cookie policy .

In 2022, The Ocean Cleanup and Kia joined forces in a multi-year partnership that strengthens our mission to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. Kia’s support helps us expand our impact and improve the efficiency of our cleanup efforts. Together, we’re making real progress toward cleaner oceans and a future where innovation and sustainability align.

The Kia partnership supports The Ocean Cleanup through three key pillars:

Kia is a global mobility brand with a vision to create sustainable mobility solutions for consumers, communities, and societies around the world. Founded in 1944, Kia has been providing mobility solutions for more than 80 years in more than 190 markets.

Kia’s vision is to become a ‘sustainable mobility solutions provider’ and this partnership is not limited to changing products and services. Rather, Kia’s vision for a sustainable future is embodied throughout its entire value chain.

Kia has demonstrated their commitment to be at the forefront of sustainable mobility solutions. As part of this mission, Kia helps us find ways to repurpose the catch extracted during our cleanup operations, keeping it out of the oceans.

As an international non-profit, The Ocean Cleanup needs financial support to continue our operations both at sea and in the rivers. Kia, as a Global Partner, sustains this mission in line with their vision of sustainable mobility.

Kia is the first Global Partner to repurpose plastic extracted from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by The Ocean Cleanup.

Together, Kia and The Ocean Cleanup have explored new ways of transforming what has been extracted from The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) in the North Pacific Ocean into durable plastic products. The commitment of this partnership is also aimed at improving the value chain to minimize the environmental impact of our operations. Kia and The Ocean Cleanup worked tirelessly to find the most sustainable way to sort, recycle and process The Ocean Cleanup catch to ensure that the material meets the standard that customers expect from their Kia products, which will create additional momentum on their quest to become a sustainable mobility solutions provider.

"It is important not only to recognize the problem, but also to find the practical solutions together."

"Together with our partner Kia we provide proof that recycled plastic can be used sustainably. I hope that we can inspire others to do the same."

"We are one team working on a common goal, a common vision."

We work diligently for a successful and productive partnership and look forward to reflecting on the progress we made and what exciting challenges and opportunities lie ahead of us.

With Kia’s aim to boost recycled plastic application in vehicles to more than 20% by 2030 there is an array of possibilities ahead of us. Kia proudly also intends to enhance its environmental efforts by creating and implementing a “Virtuous Recycling Loop” to reduce the climate impact associated with vehicle disposal.

In the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), plastic waste floats aimlessly, underscoring humanity’s environmental impact. Transforming this waste into valuable products is a complex task, but together Kia and The Ocean Cleanup have made it possible. Our collaboration has led to the creation of a Limited-Edition Trunk Liner. The world’s first car accessory made using recycled plastic extracted by The Ocean Cleanup from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

THE PROCESS

The journey to remove ocean plastic begins with The Ocean Cleanup’s System 03, which extracts plastic from the GPGP. The extracted plastic is sorted into rigid and fibrous materials, stored, and transported to recycling facilities. Fibrous material, such as fishing nets, is processed into plastic pellets through shredding, washing, drying, and re-granulating.

THE PRODUCT

These pellets are delivered to Kia, where they are used to design and develop durable, recyclable products. Production focuses on minimizing waste. Kia’s trunk liners, made with 40% recycled ocean plastic using a technique called “Extrusion with vacuum forming”. The design combines functional considerations with Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ philosophy, featuring a top surface pattern that evokes waves and debris flowing into a net.

AUTHENTICITY

Ocean plastic is extracted by The Ocean Cleanup from the GPGP, and the traceability system is certified under DNV’s Chain of Custody Standard for Plastics Retrieved from the Hydrosphere. This ensures buyers can verify the origin and authenticity of the reclaimed plastic.

In the first year of their partnership, The Ocean Cleanup and Kia established a shared mission to achieve a plastic-free ocean and a sustainable planet. Kia, as a Global Partner, supports this mission by repurposing plastic extracted from the GPGP and creating a circular resource system. Our vision for a sustainable future goes beyond achieving our own goals. It’s about creating a vision that inspires others to join the movement and make a positive impact on our world.

This global partnership not only underscores Kia’s commitment to sustainability but also propels our mission to create a cleaner, healthier planet. Together, we are reaching significant milestones in ridding the oceans of plastic.

Thank you, Kia, for being a true champion of environmental stewardship.

Join forces with The Ocean Cleanup to transform ocean plastic into innovative products. If you’re ready to create something meaningful and help drive real change, contact our Partnerships team to explore how we can collaborate and make sustainability a reality.