Kia to use plastic material from 55-ton haul in B.C. in new EV models

Kia has big plans for the 55-ton haul of plastic pulled from the sea by The Ocean Cleanup, Kia’s global partner.

The recycled plastic will be used in its new electric vehicle models.

The plastic was taken from Victoria, British Columbia. The non-profit organization used its extraction technology after travelling through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP).

“The record catch of plastic brought to shore by The Ocean Cleanup is tangible proof of how technology can deliver sustainable solutions at scale,” said Charles Ryu, Senior Vice President and Head of the Global Brand & CX Division at Kia Corp.

“Initiatives such as this one perfectly align with Kia’s transition to a sustainable mobility solutions provider and our Plan S strategy, through which we embrace the needs of our customers and the protection of our environment by acting as a responsible corporate citizen,” said Ryu.

The plan is to start the recycling process soon, as Kia will use a certain amount of the material in future models. The move aligns with the OEM’s goal to become a sustainable mobility solutions provider.