Kia renews electric vehicle fleet to support The Ocean Cleanup’s global mission

• Kia continues to support The Ocean Cleanup through vehicle provision and collaboration
• As of May 2026, The Ocean Cleanup has reported having collected over 53 million kilograms of waste from aquatic ecosystems worldwide

• Kia has introduced a limited-edition accessory containing 40% recycled ocean plastic recovered from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Kia Corporation (Kia) has renewed the electric vehicle fleet it provides to The Ocean Cleanup as a Global Mission Partner, further strengthening the long-term collaboration between the two organisations. Kia Netherlands has supplied The Ocean Cleanup with two EV3 and two EV4 models to support daily operations at its headquarters in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The all-electric vehicles will be used by the global nonprofit in support of its operational activities as it continues its work to remove plastic from the world’s oceans and rivers.

‘Our partnership with The Ocean Cleanup reflects Kia’s belief that meaningful progress is achieved through consistent action and collaboration,’ said Dante Zilli, Marketing Director at Kia Europe. ‘We are proud to support this important initiative, whether by providing vehicles that support day-to-day operations or by applying recovered ocean plastic in specific vehicle accessories, such as the limited-edition EV3 trunk liner containing 40% recycled ocean plastic. Through our ongoing collaboration, we continue to explore practical applications for recovered materials while supporting The Ocean Cleanup’s operational activities.’

‘Kia is an important partner in supporting our work to address plastic pollution in oceans and rivers,’ said Riccardo Farina, Head of Funding – Corporate Partnerships at The Ocean Cleanup. ‘This collaboration goes beyond financial support; it is about true teamwork, from supporting mobility within our operations, including at our headquarters in Rotterdam, to exploring practical applications for recovered ocean plastic, including the limited-edition EV3 trunk liner. It is highly valuable to work with such a committed and forward-thinking partner.’

Kia has been a Global Mission Partner of The Ocean Cleanup since 2022. This latest provision of two EV3 and two EV4 models supports The Ocean Cleanup’s daily operations and reflects the partners’ collaboration on operational support and selected applications for recovered ocean plastic.

Kia supports The Ocean Cleanup through financial, technical, research, and logistical collaboration, including the provision of vehicles. The Ocean Cleanup has stated a long-term objective of removing 90% of floating ocean plastic worldwide by 2040.

The Ocean Cleanup has reported the following recent milestones:

• A record 55 tonnes of ocean plastic were collected in 2023 during a single operation in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
• It completed its 100th ocean extraction in 2024.
How is recovered ocean plastic waste being reused?
Beyond supporting cleanup operations, Kia and The Ocean Cleanup are working together to explore pathways for collected plastic waste to be recycled and reused in selected applications.

• Work on circular value chains for selected applications of recovered ocean plastic.
• Support assessment and processing of recovered materials to enable reuse in selected applications where feasible.
• Support efforts to reduce the risk of recovered plastic re-entering the environment through reuse and controlled material applications.
How is Kia using recycled plastic waste in its vehicles?
One example is the limited-edition EV3 trunk liner*, manufactured using recycled plastic recovered from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Both EV3 models supplied to The Ocean Cleanup are equipped with this accessory.

How are Kia and The Ocean Cleanup tackling plastic pollution at its source?
Through The Ocean Cleanup’s ’30 Cities Program’, systems are being developed to intercept plastic carried by rivers before it reaches the sea. The Ocean Cleanup has stated its aim to intercept up to one-third of river-borne plastic pollution by 2030 through its river interception systems.

A recent example is the expanded collaboration in the Los Angeles region, where Kia Corporation and The Ocean Cleanup are working together to intercept plastic waste from rivers before it enters the Pacific Ocean.

How does Kia incorporate its partnership with The Ocean Cleanup into its broader activities?
Separately, Kia was named ‘Sustainability Disruptor of the Year’ at the 2025 Newsweek Auto Disruptor Awards.
Photo credit: Kia
Posted on Autotech-plus.com

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