Kia Fully Supports LA River Cleanup Project in the US...Collaborates with The Ocean Cleanup

Partnership with the Non-Profit Organization Since 2022

Kia is supporting the river cleanup project in the Los Angeles (LA) area, led by the non-profit organization The Ocean Cleanup.

Interceptor 007 installed in Ballona Creek, LA. The Ocean Cleanup

The Ocean Cleanup is a Dutch non-profit organization engaged in the removal of marine plastics and waste. In 2022, Kia entered into a partnership with The Ocean Cleanup to create a more sustainable planet.

Kia and The Ocean Cleanup are working together throughout the entire process of marine plastic waste recycling, cooperating from collection and sorting to product development, in order to ensure that the collected waste does not return to the ocean.

The purpose of the LA river cleanup project is to block plastic waste from flowing into the Pacific Ocean. By supporting this project, Kia aims to contribute to improving water quality and reducing environmental pollution.

On May 13 (local time), The Ocean Cleanup held a media event at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, and officially announced its plans to expand the LA river cleanup project.

The event was attended by Eric Watson, Vice President of Sales at Kia America, Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, representatives from LA County, and other key public officials.

Unloading waste collected through 'Interceptor 007' installed in Ballona Creek, LA. The Ocean Cleanup

During the event, participants shared plans for expanding the project to the LA and Orange County areas, the achievements of the "Interceptor 007" operations, and future strategies. Attendees also took part in a program to visit the actual Interceptor operations site.

The core of this project is to install more "Interceptor" facilities that collect plastic waste before it flows into the sea.

The Ocean Cleanup has already prevented more than 175 tons of waste from flowing into nearby marine areas through the operation of Interceptor 007 in Ballona Creek, LA.

The current project aims to newly install Interceptor facilities in the LA River and the San Gabriel River, with the goal of blocking up to 570 tons of plastic per year from entering the ocean.

Additionally, The Ocean Cleanup is pursuing this project as part of the "30 Cities Program," which seeks to reduce marine plastic waste in 30 major coastal cities worldwide with high levels of plastic emissions.

LA, in particular, is a city where hundreds of tons of plastic waste flow into the ocean each year, highlighting the ongoing need for active, city-level response.

Therefore, this project is expected not only to improve Pacific marine pollution, but also to enhance the city's sustainability in the lead-up to the 2028 LA Olympics.

Eric Watson, Vice President of Sales at Kia America, stated, "It is highly meaningful to expand tangible actions for a sustainable future through our collaboration with The Ocean Cleanup. We plan to continue various global partnerships to protect the environment going forward."

Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, said, "Rivers are a primary pathway for marine plastic pollution, and this LA project is a strategic approach that tackles the root of the problem. Through city-level collaboration, we will create faster and more effective environmental change."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.