Kia Launches First Car Accessory from Great Pacific Garbage Patch Plastic

Kia has unveiled a trunk liner made from plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, partnering with The Ocean Cleanup. This limited-edition accessory supports Kia's goal of over 20% recycled plastic in vehicles by 2030.

New Delhi- Kia Corporation., (Kia) has developed the world’s first car accessory made from plastic sourced from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, in collaboration with The Ocean Cleanup. This milestone highlights Kia's long-term partnership with the organization, which focuses on removing plastic from oceans. Since 2022, Kia has supported The Ocean Cleanup as part of its commitment to becoming a leader in sustainable mobility solutions.

As a key result of its partnership with The Ocean Cleanup, Kia will launch a limited-edition trunk liner for the all-new Kia EV3, made from ocean plastic. This exclusive accessory will be available for order in select markets alongside the model's launch. 

Mr. Charles Ryu, Executive Vice President and Head of the Global Brand & CX Division, Kia, said, “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation, aiming to create cleaner oceans for future generations. As the first Kia accessory made from reclaimed ocean plastic, we're proud to advance a circular resource system. We will use insights from this process to develop more beneficial products for our customers using ocean plastic sourced from The Ocean Cleanup.” 

Inspired by Kia's ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, the trunk liner features a ‘geometric wave’ pattern that reflects waves and the process of collecting marine plastic, mirroring The Ocean Cleanup’s methods. Made with 40% recycled ocean plastic, the durable liner matches the functionality of conventional options and includes a QR code for customers to access information about its development and the partnership.

Since their seven-year partnership began in 2022, Kia and The Ocean Cleanup have worked to transform ocean plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch into practical products. The recycling process requires sorting and processing to meet Kia’s quality standards, as the plastic comes solely from ocean waste, making it more challenging to recycle. This material must adhere to a Chain of Custody Standard to ensure traceability and integrity. 

Mr. Boyan Slat, Founder & CEO, The Ocean Cleanup, said, “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. Our mission is made possible by partners such as Kia and we look forward to this launch being the first of many ways we turn ocean plastic from trash to treasure.”

Kia is advancing its sustainability goals by integrating recycled plastics and eco-friendly materials into its latest models. The all-electric flagship SUV, the EV9, features flooring made from recycled fishnets and seat fabrics from recycled plastic bottles, while the EV6 includes materials made from recycled plastics.

To enhance its vision of sustainable mobility, Kia aims to increase the use of sustainable materials in future products and raise the application of recycled plastic in vehicles to over 20% by 2030, reinforcing its commitment to a circular resource system for ocean plastic.