Kia launches first car accessory made from recycled plastic

Kia has launched the world's first car accessory made using recycled ocean plastic, extracted from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) by The Ocean Cleanup.

As part of its collaboration, the brand will launch a limited-edition trunk liner for the all-new Kia EV3, which will be available in selected markets and for order.

Each liner features a QR code which provides customers with information about the product's development and the partnership between Kia and The Ocean Cleanup

The automobile brand has been supporting the non-profit organisation since 2022, which has been a key part of Kia's ongoing transformation into a leading provider of sustainable mobility solutions.

The 'geometric wave' top surface pattern of the trunk liner is supposed to represent waves and the flow of trash into a collecting area. Made with 40% recycled ocean plastic, each product works as well as a conventional trunk liner and comes with The Ocean Cleanup logo.

Unlike ocean-bound plastic, The Ocean Cleanup's catch is composed of materials already in the ocean. This means it has to undergo relevant standard checks to ensure material integrity

As part of its sustainability goals, Kia has used recycled plastics and other eco-friendly materials in its latest models. The EV9, for instance, uses recycled fishnets for its flooring and recycled plastic bottles for seat fabrics, while the EV6 uses cloth and matting made from recycled plastics.

Kia has also pledged to increase usage of and raise application of recycled plastics in vehicles to more than 20% by 2030.