Kia Renews Electric Vehicle Fleet for The Ocean Cleanup, Introduces Recycled Ocean Plastic Accessory
Kia has supplied The Ocean Cleanup with two EV3 and two EV4 models and introduced a limited-edition accessory made with 40% recycled ocean plastic.
53 million kg
55 tonnes
40%
What Happened
Kia Corporation has renewed its electric vehicle fleet for The Ocean Cleanup as part of its Global Mission Partner role. The new fleet consists of two EV3 and two EV4 models supplied by Kia Netherlands to support daily operations at the nonprofit's Rotterdam headquarters. Kia has also introduced a limited-edition accessory containing 40% recycled ocean plastic recovered from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, along with 35% TPV and 25% inorganic materials.
Kia becomes Global Mission Partner of The Ocean Cleanup
Record 55 tonnes of ocean plastic collected in a single operation in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The Ocean Cleanup completes its 100th ocean extraction
Over 53 million kilograms of waste collected from aquatic ecosystems worldwide
Fleet renewed with two EV3 and two EV4 models
- Work on circular value chains for selected applications of recovered ocean plastic
- Support assessment and processing of recovered materials to enable reuse
- Support efforts to reduce the risk of plastic re-entering the environment
53 million kg
as of May 2026
Through The Ocean Cleanup’s ‘30 Cities Program’, systems are being developed to intercept plastic carried by rivers before it reaches the sea. The organization aims to intercept up to one-third of river-borne plastic pollution by 2030. A recent collaboration in the Los Angeles region targets river plastic before it enters the Pacific Ocean.
Why this matters
This partnership strengthens Kia's commitment to sustainability and supports The Ocean Cleanup's mission to remove plastic from oceans. The use of recycled ocean plastic in vehicle accessories showcases a circular economy approach, potentially inspiring other automakers. The collaboration also aims to intercept river plastic through the 30 Cities Program, affecting global waterway health.
Terms in This Story
- Great Pacific Garbage Patch
- A large collection of marine debris, mostly plastic, in the North Pacific Ocean.
- TPV
- Thermoplastic vulcanizate, a type of rubber-like plastic used in automotive parts.
- Global Mission Partner
- A designation for organizations that provide strategic support to The Ocean Cleanup's mission.
- Circular value chain
- A system where materials are reused and recycled to minimize waste.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.