KIA will use 55 tons of Marine plastic in its electric cars

KIA plans to use 55 tons of recycled Marine plastic recently recovered from the Pacific Ocean in its new electric models. The record-breaking amount of plastic recycled by Kia's global partner, The Ocean Cleanup, marks the next phase of a seven-year global partnership agreed in April 2022 as part of Kia's transformation into a leading provider of sustainable mobility solutions.

System 002 extraction technology

The Ocean Cleanup, an international non-profit project whose mission is to rid the ocean of plastic, captured plastic in Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada. After a long voyage through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), a record catch was removed from the Pacific Ocean using the Ocean Cleanup's System 002 extraction technology. The GPGP is the largest floating garbage dump in the world, with an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers, equivalent to three times the size of France.

The recycling of the recycled plastic will begin soon, and Kia will use some of the material in future models. The policy is in line with Kia's commitment to provide sustainable mobility solutions that have a measurable impact on achieving sustainability at scale.

Sustainable solutions implemented by KIA

KIA has successfully implemented more than 30 sustainable solutions in various product areas, including the use of recycled PET, bio-based alternative leather and fabrics and carpets free of BTX paint. In the case of the brand's flagship EV9, a seven-seater all-electric SUV, recycled waste, including fishing nets recovered from the ocean, is used to create the vehicle's floor carpet. The EV9 is constructed using components made of recycled plastic and bio-based environmentally friendly materials and weighs about 34 kg.

Immediately after bringing a record catch to shore, the Ocean Cleanup announced the launch of its new System 03 technology. With nearly three times the volume of System 002, System 03 can capture a greater amount of Marine plastic continuously throughout the year at a lower cost per kilogram of removal. It also features more advanced environmental monitoring and safety technologies, such as a new Marine animal safety hatch designed to protect Marine life. The expansion marks the next stage in the Ocean Cleanup's goal to remove 90 percent of floating ocean plastic by 2040.