Kia Unveils Trunk Mat Made from Marine Plastic Waste

Kia announced on the 15th that it will introduce the 'EV3 Exclusive Limited Edition Trunk Liner (Mat)' made from marine plastic waste in collaboration with the Dutch non-profit organization 'The Ocean Cleanup.'

The Ocean Cleanup is a Dutch non-profit organization dedicated to removing marine plastic and debris with the goal of a plastic-free ocean. In 2022, Kia established a partnership with The Ocean Cleanup to create a sustainable planet, conducting marine plastic waste collection and recycling projects.

Trunk mat made from marine plastic waste created by Kia in collaboration with Ocean Cleanup
[Photo by Kia]

The newly unveiled EV3 Exclusive Limited Edition Trunk Liner is the world's first automotive accessory made from marine plastic waste collected and extracted from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

This product is the first outcome introduced since the partnership with The Ocean Cleanup. It was inspired by Kia's design philosophy 'Opposite United' (creative fusion of contrasting concepts) and features a top surface pattern reminiscent of marine plastics being collected with nets on the waves of the sea.

Additionally, it uses 40% recycled marine plastic while ensuring durability and quality comparable to existing trunk liners. The EV3 Exclusive Limited Edition Trunk Liner will be sold exclusively in certain regions such as Europe, and detailed development processes can be viewed via the QR code embedded in the product.

Ryu Chang-seung, Executive Vice President and Head of Kia Customer Experience Division, said, "Based on this experience, we will continue to create useful and valuable products for customers using recycled plastics."

Meanwhile, Kia plans to increase the use of recycled plastics in finished vehicles to over 20% by 2030 to realize its vision of becoming a leader in sustainable mobility. The company also aims to establish a 'Virtuous Recycling Loop' to minimize climate impact when disposing of vehicles and to increase recycling rates of waste batteries, plastics, and other materials.