#Sustainability #South Korea #Seoul #Kia #Ocean Cleanup

Kia Wins Newsweek's Sustainability Disruptor of the Year

Kia's remarkable journey towards sustainability has reached a significant milestone. At the prestigious 2025 Newsweek Auto Disruptor Awards in New York City, Kia was recognized as the 'Sustainability Disruptor of the Year'. This honor celebrates the impact of Kia's three-year partnership with The Ocean Cleanup, a global initiative focused on tackling the critical issue of plastic pollution in our oceans.

The partnership began in 2022, aiming to mitigate the effects of ocean plastic waste. Kia has been a key player, contributing not only financial resources but also technical expertise and logistical support to enhance The Ocean Cleanup's operations. This collaboration has yielded substantial results, notably the removal of over one million pounds of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, one of the largest accumulations of ocean debris located between the US West Coast and Hawaii.

Driving Transformative Change

Kia's executive team expressed pride in this achievement. Charles Ryu, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Brand CX Division, stated, “Our partnership has truly made a difference in addressing ocean plastic waste. Through collaborative efforts, we are developing scalable and lasting solutions to enhance waterway cleanliness and reinforce our commitment to sustainability.”

The impact of Kia’s initiatives goes beyond mere cleanup operations. The partnership also focuses on innovation in recycling processes for ocean plastics, paving the way for integrating recycled materials into Kia's product line. This reflects Kia's dedication to building a circular economy that minimizes waste and promotes sustainable practices.

Julian Searle, Chief Development Officer at The Ocean Cleanup, emphasized the critical role of Kia in advancing their mission to eradicate ocean plastic. He remarked, “Kia's support has been instrumental in our quest to remove plastics from the oceans. Our partnership exemplifies how collaboration and innovation can yield significant advances in combatting plastic pollution.”

Future Endeavors

As Kia and The Ocean Cleanup celebrate three successful years of collaboration, they look towards the future with ambitious plans. Upcoming projects include expanding river cleanup operations to reduce the influx of plastic before it reaches the ocean. This proactive approach aims to strengthen their commitment to environmental sustainability and contribute to restoring ocean health effectively.

Kia's ongoing partnership aligns seamlessly with the brand's broader goals of sustainability. The company is working on solutions that extend beyond cleanup initiatives, also focusing on developing innovative technologies for recycling ocean plastics, ultimately enhancing future mobility solutions while minimizing environmental impact.

Kia, founded in 1944, has a strong reputation as a global mobility brand. With a presence in over 190 markets and a workforce of 52,000 employees, the company is dedicated to pioneering electrification in the automotive sector. With its motto, 'Movement that inspires,' Kia aspires to motivate communities worldwide by providing sustainable and efficient mobility solutions.

For more updates on Kia's sustainability initiatives, visit the Kia Global Media Center.

About The Ocean Cleanup

The Ocean Cleanup is an international nonprofit organization committed to developing and scaling technologies designed to rid the world's oceans of plastic. The organization adopts a dual approach: intercepting plastics in rivers to prevent them from reaching the ocean and cleaning up existing plastic accumulation in marine environments. Founded in 2013 by Boyan Slat, The Ocean Cleanup has achieved the removal of over 21 million kilograms (46.2 million pounds) of waste from aquatic ecosystems, thereby demonstrating substantial efforts in environmental restoration.