Kia Ireland's sustainability commitment
The Big Beach Clean takes place annually at the end of the Irish bathing season and combines litter picking and data gathering. Every item picked up is logged and fed into a global citizen science project that tracks marine pollution trends and informs environmental policy internationally.
Cathal Kealey, Head of Marketing and PR at Kia Ireland, says “Kia Ireland are delighted to return as the official sponsor of the Big Beach Clean in 2026 ... and are encouraging as many people as possible to register for their local beach clean next month.".
The sponsorship is part of a bigger picture for Kia. The car maker already uses recycled materials, including ocean plastic, in vehicle production, and in 2024 it rolled out a limited-edition boot liner for the EV3, made with 40 per cent recycled ocean plastic pulled from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
That plastic comes via a global partnership with The Ocean Cleanup, which sees Kia help fund the removal of waste from the Patch while working recycled ocean materials into its vehicles. The wider goal, backed by The Ocean Cleanup, is to clear 90 per cent of floating ocean plastic worldwide by 2040.
Speaking about this year’s initiative, Bronagh Moore, Clean Coasts Manager with An Taisce, commented, “We’re looking forward to another great turnout this year for our annual Big Beach Clean. Every piece of litter collected and recorded during the cleanup is vital for raising awareness and driving meaningful policy changes to protect our oceans. Small actions, when multiplied by many, can have a huge impact. We encourage everyone, no matter your location, to get involved and record your findings. By working together, we'll create a tangible and lasting impact on ocean health.”
The Big Beach Clean has become a fixture on Ireland's environmental calendar, and this year's event looks set to be the biggest yet.
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