Hyundai Motor and marine conservation organization, Healthy Seas have been collaborating for marine protection and cleaning of water. Following the previous collaboration, both have commenced their third year of partnership by undertaking a clean-up initiative. The initiative will be began with a clean-up in Tossa de Mar, a highly polluted marine area in Costa Brava, Spain.
As the partnership has been renewed, their effort will expand on a global level. With a shared vision of shaping a sustainable future, the partners will work together to combat marine pollution across continents, nurture sustainable marine ecosystems, and promote a circular economy. The partnership is currently planning four clean-ups and several educational activations.
“It was truly heart-warming to see all that Hyundai Motor Europe and Healthy Seas achieved together for future generations in 2022,” said Michael Cole, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe. “The plans for partnership in 2023 are even more ambitious. Reaching outside of Europe, our activations this year will have a global effect, cleaning up waters on other continents and further driving a circular economy. It really is a testament to just how much is possible when many parties come together to renew a sustainable relationship with the world’s oceans.”
Cleaning Pollution in Costa Brava
From April 25 to 26, Hyundai and Healthy Seas kicked off their 2023 activities with a two-day clean-up in Tossa de Mar, Spain. This activity had particular significance for the partnership since both organizations – with the strong support of Ghost Diving Spain – have been working together in the area since the beginning of the collaboration in 2021.
The eight volunteer divers from the different teams at Ghost Diving Spain and Ghost Diving Netherlands participated in this cleaning initiative. The aim of their involvement was to remove a large gill net covering a reef within the boundaries of a marine protected area.
Despite being lightweight, gill nets are the most lethal form of marine litter. Many marine organisms, particularly crustaceans, were rescued from the net during the operation. Trammel nets, a broken crab pot, and many meters of long lines were also removed.
Back on land, the volunteer team cut off the lead and ropes and grouped the debris by type. Once sorted, Healthy Seas will ensure that the recovered nets become a new resource. The nylon parts will be regenerated by Aquafil, together with other nylon waste, into ECONYL® yarn, the basis for many new products, such as the floor mats in Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 zero-tailpipe emissions, battery electric vehicles.
For this renewed partnership between Hyundai Motor and Healthy Seas, a camera crew followed the volunteers in Tossa de Mar and documented their efforts to preserve marine ecosystems.
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