Kia to use 55 tons of reclaimed ocean plastic in EVs

Kia confirmed it will recycle a record 55-ton ocean plastic haul collected by partner The Ocean Cleanup into future electric vehicle models. The move signals how automakers are operationalising circular-material sourcing, a sourcing model Indian EV and auto suppliers may face pressure to replicate as recycled-content expectations rise.

Kia announced it will incorporate recycled plastic from a 55-ton haul retrieved from the Pacific Ocean into upcoming EV models. The plastic was collected by The Ocean Cleanup under a seven-year partnership begun in April 2022, retrieved in Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada using System 002 extraction technology after traversing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Kia has already deployed over 30 sustainable solutions, including recycled PET fabrics, bio-based leather, and BTX-free paint, with EV9 floor carpets using ocean-retrieved fishing nets.

The development directly affects automakers and their material suppliers pursuing recycled-content targets. In Kia's flagship EV9, components made from recycled plastic and bio-based materials weigh around 34 kilograms per vehicle. Plastics processors, polymer recyclers, and ocean-cleanup technology providers are positioned as suppliers in this emerging chain. The Ocean Cleanup also launched System 03, nearly three times larger than System 002, capturing more plastic at lower cost per kilogram while operating year-round with a Marine Animal Safety Hatch.

Indian auto-component manufacturers and EV makers should monitor recycled-content sourcing standards as global OEMs embed reclaimed materials into product specifications. The Ocean Cleanup aims to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040 and plans a fleet capable of removing 50% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch every five years. Suppliers should track verification, traceability, and recycling-process requirements as these become procurement criteria, and assess whether domestic recyclate streams can meet automotive-grade specifications demanded by global buyers.

Key figure — Reclaimed plastic haul: 55 tons retrieved from the Pacific Ocean