October 25th 2023 — Kia Ireland have today announced a sustainability partnership with Clean Coasts to promote circular economy initiatives during Circular week. Clean Coasts, an initiative led by An Taisce, is a network of passionate volunteers committed to the protection of Ireland's beaches, seas, and marine life. Through volunteer-led initiatives and educational campaigns, Clean Coasts aims to inspire positive change in coastal and marine environments. The announcement comes during Circular Week, an international series of events and initiatives promoting the circular economy and sustainability, from October 23rd to October 27th.

Kia have made a resolute commitment to sustainability, placing it at the core of their business strategy with a long-term goal of Carbon Neutrality by 2045. As part of this initiative, Kia is dedicated to using recycled materials in vehicle production, including recycled ocean waste. Notably, Kia is a global supporter of The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organisation dedicated to developing and scaling technologies to combat plastic pollution in the world's oceans. In a recent milestone, The Ocean Cleanup successfully retrieved 55 tons of plastic from the Pacific Ocean in a single operation. This plastic was then recycled and upcycled for use in the production of the fully electric New Kia EV9.

This partnership underscores Clean Coasts' dedication to fostering sustainable practices and engaging communities in coastal and marine conservation. Going forward, this collaboration will bolster the efforts of Clean Coasts volunteers as they continue to clean and protect Ireland's coastal environments. It will support beach cleanup initiatives and explore innovative ways to transform collected waste into new resources, aligning with Clean Coasts' vision for a cleaner, more sustainable coastline. The alarming statistic that 88% of marine life faces a threat to existence due to ocean plastic underscores the urgent need to address this environmental challenge. Clean Coasts, An Taisce, and Kia are determined to be part of the solution.

Speaking about the partnership, Cathal Kealey, Head of Marketing & PR at Kia Ireland commented; “By 2030 Kia will have 20% of all vehicle plastics coming from recycled materials. Our EV9 which will launch in Ireland in the coming weeks uses ten sustainable items in vehicle production, that have either originated from recycled plastic, or have been sourced from plant-based materials. Going forward, these materials will be used in all future Kia models also. We are delighted to support Clean Coasts and to assist them in finding ways to reuse collected beach waste in line with our circular economy initiatives.”

Sinead McCoy, Coastal Communities Manager for Clean Coasts commented; ‘During Circular Week, Clean Coasts programme welcome the support of electric vehicle manufacturer Kia, who’s support will allow us to continue to safeguard Ireland's coastlines and empower our dedicated volunteers, enabling them to make a tangible impact in the fight against ocean pollution. Together, we harness our collective strength to protect our precious marine environments.’ Through this partnership, Clean Coasts aims to empower its volunteers with additional resources and tools to enhance their impact, ultimately contributing to the protection of Ireland's stunning coastlines and the reduction of plastic waste.

Designed to empower and support the tireless efforts of Clean Coasts volunteers, An Taisce’s Clean Coasts programme, and Kia are thrilled to announce a collaboration that aims to protect Ireland's stunning coastlines and promote sustainability during Circular Week. The main aims of this initiative are to promote the idea of the circular economy, support sustainable business models, educate people about circular economy principles and show the advantages of closing the loop. The positive impact of sustainable consumption and production on the environment, biodiversity, and climate change is at the forefront of Circular Week's mission.