Kia Renews Electric Vehicle Fleet for The Ocean Cleanup, Unveils Recycled Ocean Plastic Accessory
Kia has renewed its electric vehicle fleet for The Ocean Cleanup with two EV3 and two EV4 models and introduced a limited-edition accessory made from 40% recycled ocean plastic.
- 53 million kg
- 40%
- 55 tonnes
What Happened
Kia Corporation has renewed its electric vehicle fleet provided to The Ocean Cleanup as a Global Mission Partner, supplying two EV3 and two EV4 models to support daily operations at the nonprofit's headquarters in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Kia has been a partner since 2022, providing financial, technical, research, and logistical support alongside vehicle provisions. The collaboration also includes exploring circular value chains for recovered ocean plastic.
53 million kg
As of May 2026, The Ocean Cleanup has collected over 53 million kg of waste worldwide.
Record 55 tonnes of ocean plastic collected in a single operation in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Completed its 100th ocean extraction.
Reported over 53 million kg of waste collected.
- Financial support
- Technical collaboration
- Research collaboration
- Logistical support including vehicle provision
40%%
The accessory also contains 35% TPV and 25% inorganics/other additives.
Through The Ocean Cleanup's '30 Cities Program', systems are being developed to intercept plastic carried by rivers before it reaches the sea, with a goal to intercept up to one-third of river-borne plastic pollution by 2030. An expanded collaboration in the Los Angeles region aims to intercept plastic waste from rivers before it enters the Pacific Ocean.
Why this matters
This partnership showcases how automakers can contribute to ocean cleanup efforts while exploring circular economy applications for recovered plastics. The collaboration supports The Ocean Cleanup's goal to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040 and could lead to wider use of recycled ocean materials in automotive components.
Terms in This Story
- TPV
- Thermoplastic vulcanizate, a type of rubber-like plastic material
- Great Pacific Garbage Patch
- A large accumulation of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.