• Four electric Kia models for use by The Ocean Cleanup team
• Strengthening of sustainable partnership aiming to incorporate portion of recovered ocean plastic into future Kia models 

Kia Netherlands has provided four of its award-winning electric models to The Ocean Cleanup’s headquarters in Rotterdam as a means of further strengthening the brand’s seven-year global partnership aimed at combatting plastic pollution in the world’s oceans and creating a circular resource system for recovered ocean plastics. 

To support the non-profit organization’s on-ground operations, one Kia EV6 and three Niro EVs will be utilized by The Ocean Cleanup team members to visit research and collaboration partners where crucial data is gathered to realize cleaner waterways and oceans.

Kia’s partnership with The Ocean Cleanup is a collaboration grounded in sustainability that involves the sharing of ideas and technologies to support the non-profit organization’s mission of removing 90% of ocean plastic waste by 2040. For Kia, the partnership is a key part of its transition to becoming a global provider of sustainable mobility solutions, as it aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its entire value chain by 2045. 

As a core component of the partnership agreement, The Ocean Cleanup is providing Kia with ocean plastic catch extracted during the cleanup operations in the Pacific Ocean. And together, the two organizations are exploring how the recovered plastic can be recycled and integrated into Kia’s products so that they never re-enter the natural environment.  

“At The Ocean Cleanup, we are dedicated to cleaning up the world’s oceans and waterways, and processing the collected plastic with our partners in the most sustainable way possible. We are proud of our collaboration with Kia and look forward to the first application of this marine plastic in their vehicles. Additionally, we are very pleased that Kia has provided us with these four state-of-the-art electric models so that we can carry out our work on land, not only comfortably but also emission free,” said Boyan Slat, Founder & CEO of The Ocean Cleanup.