Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Kia And The Ocean Cleanup Collaborate To Prevent Plastic Pollution In Guatemala's Rivers
Kia and The Ocean Cleanup, in collaboration with Guatemala's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, are tackling a major plastic pollution issue. They aim to prevent 20,000 tons of waste from the Motagua and Las Vacas Rivers from reaching the ocean each year. This initiative aligns with Kia's commitment to sustainability and increasing recycled plastic use in its vehicles.
To address this environmental challenge, The Ocean Cleanup has deployed two floating trash capture systems: Interceptor 006 in the Las Vacas River and Interceptor 021 in the lower Motagua basin. These systems capture plastic waste before it reaches the ocean by guiding it to an extraction area for removal and processing.
In El Quetzalito, near Puerto Barrios, Interceptor 021 acts as a final barrier against ocean-bound waste. At 158 meters long, it is the largest system installed by The Ocean Cleanup. This effort aims to restore the Gulf of Honduras, a biodiverse marine area, while improving local communities' lives affected by pollution.
Since its partnership with The Ocean Cleanup began in 2022, Kia has supported removing nearly 500,000 kg of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This collaboration highlights how local actions can have global effects by raising awareness about ocean plastic pollution and encouraging others to take action.
The captured waste is sorted at centers near the rivers for proper disposal or recycling. Some plastics have been repurposed into consumer products like limited-edition vinyl records by Coldplay. Kia also uses recycled materials in its vehicles, such as trunk liners made from discarded ocean plastics.
Kia's Role in Environmental Stewardship
Kia provides logistical, financial, and advocacy support to The Ocean Cleanup as part of its commitment to responsible mobility. This involvement underscores the private sector's crucial role in driving ecological change locally and globally. Kia's efforts include using recycled fishing nets in SUV interiors and recycled bottles in seat fabrics.
The Ocean Cleanup's mission involves intercepting riverine plastic before it reaches oceans and cleaning up existing oceanic waste. Founded by Boyan Slat in 2013, this non-profit has collected over 32 million kilograms of trash worldwide as of July 2025. It operates internationally with a team based in Rotterdam.
Kia continues to innovate sustainable mobility solutions since its founding in 1944. With operations across six countries and sales of around three million vehicles annually, Kia remains dedicated to inspiring consumers through its products and technologies while promoting electrified vehicle adoption globally.
Continue with Google