en.Wedoany.com Reported - Hyundai Motor Company has expanded its partnership with the Healthy Seas Foundation to further advance ocean conservation. The two parties have launched the "From Sea to Shore" program in Southern California, which includes underwater ghost net recovery, employee beach cleanups, and youth environmental education. Since establishing global cooperation in 2021, Hyundai Motor has supported the recovery of over 320 tons of marine waste across 10 countries.
Randy Parker, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor North America, stated that ocean health depends on current actions and future solutions. This collaboration helps drive environmental restoration and waste recovery to protect ecosystems. The expanded U.S. partnership, initiated in 2022, has Hyundai Motor supporting dive missions to recover abandoned fishing nets from the wreckage of the squid vessel "Midnight Hour" and the seabed near Catalina Island.
The "From Sea to Shore" program consists of three components. Underwater dive missions are carried out by Ghost Diving USA volunteers to recover abandoned fishing nets and marine debris from the seabed, reducing the risk of entanglement for marine life. Employee beach cleanups take place at Huntington State Beach, with Hyundai Motor employees participating in coastal protection. The Ocean Hero Workshop provides youth education through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley, aiming to cultivate the next generation of ocean advocates.
Suitable abandoned fishing nets and nylon waste are recycled into ECONYL yarn for producing new products. This circular economy approach eliminates entanglement risks for marine wildlife and creates new value. Veronika Mikos, Director of Healthy Seas, stated that through "From Sea to Shore," the team removes waste from the coast, recovers ghost gear, and inspires children to protect marine life.
The educational component, introduced last year, is now embedded in the U.S. initiative. Through creative learning activities and environmental awareness projects, students explore how ghost nets threaten marine wildlife and learn daily actions to protect the ocean. Hyundai Motor also partners with the non-profit organization One Tree Planted to operate the IONIQ Forest project, planting trees to promote environmental sustainability.
The Healthy Seas Foundation is dedicated to protecting the world's oceans through three pillars: cleanup, education, and prevention of marine waste. Since 2013, the foundation has collaborated with 150 partners and nearly 550 volunteers, recovering 1,309 tons of fishing nets and marine debris. Hyundai Hope, the corporate social responsibility initiative of Hyundai Motor North America, supports non-profit organizations to foster community development. Founded in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company operates in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees, committed to carbon reduction and offering a range of powertrain technologies.
