Hyundai Motor Extends Healthy Seas Partnership with Joint Conservation and Educational Initiatives in Türkiye
- Hyundai Motor Company
- 2026.07.09 (KST)
- 분량9min
- 조회수 103Views
- More than 50 participants join educational session at manufacturing facility in İzmit and beach conservation initiative along the Black Sea coast
- Participants include students from Hyundai Motor Türkiye’s scholarship program, highlighting CSR synergies across education and ocean conservation efforts
- Partnership has removed 320.9 tons of marine litter across 10 countries since 2021 while reaching over 4,861 participants through education and awareness initiatives
SEOUL, July 9, 2026 – Hyundai Motor Company and the Healthy Seas Foundation today announced the expansion of their five-year partnership with the launch of joint activities in Türkiye.
The announcement was marked with an event at Hyundai Motor Türkiye’s production facility in İzmit and along the Black Sea coast, bringing together company employees, university students and community members for hands-on ocean conservation and knowledge-sharing.
“Türkiye has been an integral part of Hyundai’s success story. It is home to our longest-serving production site outside Korea, and here we work every day with people and communities who play a key role in our journey. Hyundai Motor Türkiye is proud to join this global partnership with Healthy Seas. This collaboration combines ocean conservation and educational initiatives in a meaningful way and creates shared value for present and future generations.” – Alex Kim, CEO of Hyundai Motor Türkiye
What Happened During the Conservation Event in İzmit?
More than 50 participants attended the event which combined facility education, corporate responsibility dialogue and coastal beach waste collection session. The day began at Hyundai Motor Türkiye’s İzmit factory, where attendees received a tour followed by a session detailing the company’s “Creating Shared Value” (CSV) strategy, local programs and the Healthy Seas collaboration. Hyundai’s plant in İzmit will start producing the new IONIQ 3 this year.
During the presentation, participants learned about Hyundai Motor Türkiye’s existing CSR initiatives, including:
- IONIQ Forest project under Hyundai’s global reforestation program
- Natural disaster relief efforts including school rebuilding and social initiatives to support affected communities
- Future generation-focused programs in partnership with the Turkish Education Foundation (TEV)
The university students participating in the event were recipients of Hyundai Motor Türkiye’s scholarship program, which has supported emerging talent through TEV’s educational initiatives. This connection underscores the company’s dual commitment to education and community stewardship.
How Did the Beach Cleanup Positively Impact the Ocean?
Following the facility visit and corporate responsibility session, participants traveled to a nearby Black Sea beach for a hands-on cleanup operation. The group collected approximately 40 kilograms of litter, including bottle caps, cigarette butts, plastic fragments and other persistent marine pollutants. The activity facilitated dialogue among local community members, ocean conservation experts and educational institutions about protecting coastal ecosystems.
Healthy Seas experts briefed participants on the partnership’s five-year track record and the organization’s core work, including prevention education and the removal of abandoned fishing nets — often called “ghost nets” — that can persist for decades and damage marine life and entire ecosystems.
What Has the Five-Year Partnership Achieved Globally?
Since 2021, Hyundai Motor and Healthy Seas have collaborated to advance ocean conservation through education and awareness initiatives worldwide. The partnership has yielded significant results:
- 320.9 tons of marine litter removed across 10 countries
- Fishing nets and abandoned aquaculture equipment recovered and responsibly managed
- More than 4,861 participants reached through educational initiatives across Europe, including coastal activities and workshops
These programs transform complex ocean conservation challenges into tangible, personal experiences that communities can observe, engage with and remember long-term.
“Over the past five years, we have demonstrated, together with Hyundai Motor Company, that long-term partnerships can make a real difference for our oceans and coastal communities. In Türkiye, we are taking this work into a new local context by bringing together education, awareness, and hands-on action with employees and students. What makes this collaboration valuable is the opportunity to connect people directly with the issue of marine litter, while also showing how prevention, cleanups, and circular economy thinking can all play a role in protecting the sea.” – Veronika Mikos, Director of the Healthy Seas Foundation
Why Does This Partnership Matter?
Hyundai Motor’s vision of “Progress for Humanity” and its CSV strategy demonstrate how collaborative action drives tangible positive impact on both ocean health and society. The Türkiye expansion illustrates how innovation with purpose helps drive meaningful change.
