Kia has developed the world’s first car accessory made from plastic extracted from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) by The Ocean Cleanup – a limited-edition trunk liner for the new Kia EV3.
The exclusive accessory will be available for EV3 in selected markets and available to order in line with the model’s market introduction. The trunk liner features a ‘geometric wave’ design surface pattern, “reminiscent of waves and the flow of trash into a collecting area, echoing The Ocean Cleanup’s process for extracting marine plastic”, the company says.
Made with 40% recycled ocean plastic, the trunk liner is just as durable, protective and functional as a conventional one. Each liner also features a QR code, which provides customers with detailed information about the product’s development and the partnership, as well as The Ocean Cleanup logo.
Charles Ryu, executive vice president and head of the global brand and CX division, Kia, said, “As the first genuine Kia accessory made using reclaimed ocean plastic, we are proud to see tangible progress made toward creating a circular resource system for ocean plastic. We will leverage the lessons learned during the recycling and product development process to continue to manufacture useful and beneficial products for our customers using ocean plastic retrieved and provided by The Ocean Cleanup.”
Since 2022, Kia and The Ocean Cleanup have worked to find innovative ways to transform plastic waste from the GPGP into durable, practical products. Unlike ocean-bound plastic, the Ocean Cleanup’s catch is exclusively composed of materials that were already in the ocean, making it more challenging to recycle. This means that the plastic must undergo a Chain of Custody Standard to verify its traceability and material integrity.
“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,” said Boyan Slat, founder and CEO, The Ocean Cleanup.
