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Oct 16, 2024

Kia unveils world's first car accessory made from ocean plastic - Driven Car Guide

Please sign in to your account to add a vehicle to favourite The Kia EV3 gets a more sustainable trunk liner option. Kia has introduced a limited-edition car accessory for the EV3, created using

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The Kia EV3 gets a more sustainable trunk liner option.

Kia has introduced a limited-edition car accessory for the EV3, created using plastic extracted from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP).

This milestone is part of the company's long-term partnership with The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organisation focused on removing plastic waste from the world’s oceans. This launch signals a significant step in Kia’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.

The new car accessory - a trunk liner for the Kia EV3 - is the first of its kind, made from 40% recycled ocean plastic collected by The Ocean Cleanup.

The accessory, designed with Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ philosophy in mind, features a geometric wave pattern, symbolising the collection of marine debris. This design highlights the brand’s effort to blend sustainability with functional and aesthetic elements.

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Charles Ryu, Kia’s Executive Vice President and Head of Global Brand & CX Division, shared, “This partnership is not only a testament to our shared commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation but a worldwide movement to create cleaner, healthier oceans for future generations.”

The plastic used in these accessories comes directly from the ocean, posing unique challenges in the recycling process. Unlike ocean-bound plastic, the materials already in the sea are more difficult to process due to prolonged exposure to the elements.

Kia and The Ocean Cleanup developed a rigorous Chain of Custody Standard to ensure the traceability and integrity of the ocean plastic used.

Boyan Slat, Founder & CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, expressed his enthusiasm: “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.”

Kia’s ambition extends beyond this project.

By 2030, the company aims to increase the use of recycled plastic in its vehicles to more than 20%, part of its broader vision of creating a circular resource system.

The EV9, for instance, already incorporates recycled materials like fishnets and plastic bottles, further demonstrating Kia’s leadership in sustainable mobility.

This innovation marks a new chapter for Kia, blending eco-friendly design with practical automotive solutions and moving closer to its goal of becoming a pioneer in sustainable mobility solutions.

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