Kia: First Trunk Liner Made from Ocean Waste

The Hyundai subsidiary Kia has developed the world's first car accessory made from plastic sourced by The Ocean Cleanup from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP). It is a trunk mat for the new all-electric compact SUV Kia EV3, which will be available in limited quantities in selected markets. The launch in Germany is planned for the first half of 2025. Kia's support for The Ocean Cleanup, which began in 2022, is seen as an important element in transforming the brand into a leading provider of sustainable mobility solutions.

"In view of this first original Kia accessory based on ocean plastic, we are proud of the visible progress in building a circular resource system for ocean plastic. We will use the experiences we’ve gained during the recycling and product development process to continue creating practical and helpful products for our customers using ocean plastic that has been reclaimed and provided by The Ocean Cleanup," stated Charles Ryu, Executive Vice President and Head of the Global Brand & CX Division at Kia.

The trunk mat, featuring a pattern of geometric waves as a nod to its origin, consists of 40 percent recycled ocean plastic (35 percent thermoplastic vulcanizates, TPV, 25 percent inorganic materials), and is just as durable, protective, and practical as a conventional trunk mat, according to the promise.
 

Only materials that were already in the sea

Due to its specific properties, the plastic fished from the sea must be sorted, recycled, and processed in the first phase so that it meets Kia's strict quality standards. In contrast to "Ocean-bound Plastic" (OBP), which is collected near coastlines and from waterways to prevent it from reaching the sea, the yield from The Ocean Cleanup consists exclusively of materials that were already in the sea, making recycling more challenging. This means that the plastic must undergo a product chain standard to confirm its traceability and material integrity. The plastic obtained by The Ocean Cleanup from the GPGP and its traceability system are verified according to the DNV product chain standard, ensuring that customers can be confident in both the origin and the authenticity of the recycled plastic.

"Our mission is made possible by partners like Kia, and we look forward to this product launch. It is the first of many opportunities to turn plastic waste from the ocean into a treasure," exclaims Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup.