Kia and The Ocean Cleanup are celebrating the removal of more than one million pounds of plastic from the ocean and plan to accelerate the cleanup of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP).
Korean carmaker Kia and The Ocean Cleanup celebrate their Collaboration in the elimination of ocean plasticremoving more than one million pounds from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The partnership aims to reduce the cleanup time to five years.
Celebrating Significant Milestone
Kia Corporation and its global partner The Ocean Cleanup have celebrated a significant milestone in their joint strategy to combat plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. Since this collaboration began in 2022, The Ocean Cleanup has removed more than one million pounds of floating plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), the largest accumulation of plastic waste in the oceans, with an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers.
This milestone was marked by the symbolic return of The Ocean Cleanup System 03 to the San Francisco Harbor, from where the first mission set sail six years ago. This development is part of a larger strategy to clean up the GPGP completely. Thanks to recent technological improvements and data, The Ocean Cleanup estimates it could complete the cleanup in 10 years, but has set an ambitious goal of reducing this time to just five years.
Since its founding, The Ocean Cleanup has conducted 23 operational missions and over 100 plastic removals in the GPGP. Although this work has only addressed 0.5% of plastic pollution in the area, it is a critical step towards solving the problem.
By 2025, The Ocean Cleanup will implement an innovative system to detect plastic hotspots, which will increase the effectiveness of future clean-up operations. This technological advancement will be key to achieving the organization’s ambitious goals.
Future and Sustainability
In addition to their financial and logistical support, Kia and The Ocean Cleanup are exploring new ways to repurpose ocean plastic. One example of this collaboration is an accessory for the Kia EV3 electric vehicle that will be launched later this year. This product is part of a larger initiative to create a circular resource system, where ocean plastic waste is turned into useful and long-lasting products.
Kia’s commitment to sustainability is also reflected in its latest models. The Kia EV9, a fully electric SUV, features recycled fishing nets in its carpeting and recycled plastic bottles in its seats.
The EV6 also features recycled materials in its upholstery and carpets. Kia has set a goal of 20% of plastics used in its vehicles being recycled by 2030, in line with its vision to lead sustainable mobility.
The partnership between Kia and The Ocean Cleanup has made significant progress in the fight against ocean plastic pollution, but the work is far from over. With new targets and technologies on the way, both organizations are ready to step up their efforts and significantly reduce the time needed to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The next few years will be key to demonstrating how strategic collaborations can create real, sustainable change for the environment.
Source: geeksroom.com
