Hyundai Motor Expands Healthy Seas Partnership to Advance Ocean Conservation in US and Beyond
- Five-year global partnership removes marine litter across 10 countries through diving missions and coastal cleanup
- New ‘From Sea to Shore’ program in Southern California combines underwater recovery of ghost nets with employee engagement and youth education
- Abandoned fishing nets transformed into ECONYL® yarn to support circular economy solutions
- Hyundai Hope initiative engages Southern California community in ocean conservation and environmental stewardship
Press material
Hyundai Motor Company is deepening its commitment to ocean conservation through an expanded partnership with Healthy Seas, a global nonprofit dedicated to removing marine litter and fostering healthier seas.
The five-year collaboration, which began globally in 2021 and now extends across the United States, launches ‘From Sea to Shore.’ This comprehensive program combines underwater diving missions, employee engagement and ocean education in Southern California to protect marine ecosystems and advance sustainable solutions.
The health of our oceans depends on the actions we take today and the solutions we build for the future. Through our ongoing partnership with Healthy Seas, we are helping drive environmental remediation by recovering and repurposing waste to protect ecosystems and reduce environmental impact.
How Does Hyundai Motor’s Healthy Seas Partnership Advance Ocean Conservation?
Since 2021, Hyundai Motor and the Healthy Seas Foundation have expanded their collaboration from Europe to Korea and now to the U.S., through which the company is supporting the recovery of more than 320 tons of marine litter across 10 countries. This geographic expansion demonstrates the scale of impact possible through long-term corporate commitment to environmental restoration.
The expanded U.S. partnership, launched in 2022, builds on a strong global foundation. Hyundai Motor’s support enables diving missions to recover abandoned fishing nets, known as ghost nets, from the wreck site of the Midnight Hour squid boat that sunk in 2011 and surrounding seabed near Catalina Island, California.
What Is the ‘From Sea to Shore’ Program in Southern California?
‘From Sea to Shore’ unfolds across three integrated components designed to create measurable environmental and educational impact.
| Program Component | Focus | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Diving Missions | Recovery of abandoned fishing nets and marine debris from ocean floor with support from Ghost Diving USA volunteers | Reduced entanglement risk for marine life |
| Employee Beach Cleanup | Huntington State Beach coastal restoration | Hyundai Motor workforce engagement in conservation |
| Ocean Heroes Workshop | Youth education through Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley | Foster next-generation ocean advocates |
Hyundai Motor employees participated in a beach cleanup at Huntington State Beach, supporting coastal preservation efforts while strengthening team commitment to environmental stewardship.
The partnership also delivered an interactive Ocean Heroes workshop through Hyundai Hope, Hyundai Motor America's corporate social responsibility initiative, reaching students at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley.
How Is Recovered Marine Litter Transformed Into New Resources?
Suitable abandoned fishing nets and other nylon waste are regenerated into ECONYL® yarn, a material which can be used to make new products. This circular economy approach eliminates entanglement risks for marine wildlife while creating new value from recovered materials.
Continuing our partnership with Hyundai Motor North America in California is especially meaningful because it allows us to build consistency, not only through clean-up action, but also through education and awareness. With ‘From Sea to Shore,’ we are connecting different parts of the same story: removing litter from the coast, recovering ghost fishing gear from the ocean, and inspiring children to understand and protect marine life.
Why Is Youth Education Critical to the Partnership’s Mission?
Education extends the partnership’s impact beyond immediate cleanup efforts. Through creative learning activities and environmental awareness programs, students explore how ghost nets threaten ocean wildlife and discover everyday actions they can take to become Ocean Heroes. By combining litter-sorting activities, craft projects and interactive workshops, the program aims to inspire young people to become advocates for ocean conservation and extend these lessons to their families and communities.
The educational component – introduced last year and now embedded in ongoing U.S. initiatives – recognizes that long-term environmental change requires engaging the next generation as active participants in sustainability solutions.
What Is Hyundai Motor’s Broader Approach to Environmental Sustainability?
Ocean conservation is one pillar of Hyundai Motor’s comprehensive sustainability strategy. The company also partners with One Tree Planted, a nonprofit focused on global reforestation, and operates the IONIQ Forest project to plant trees and create a better world for future generations.
These initiatives reflect Hyundai Motor’s holistic commitment to ‘Progress for Humanity’ and environmental stewardship across multiple ecosystems.
