10 sustainable materials that help make the 2024 Kia EV9

The 2024 Kia EV9’s electric powertrain isn’t its only source of eco-friendly bragging rights. It also includes what Kia calls its “10 must-have sustainable items,” which are a variety of materials that lessen this three-row crossover's environmental impact. They range from recycled and upcycled materials, bio alternatives to petroleum-based products and even paint free from the main culprits of harmful offgassing (yeah, that typical new car smell isn’t good for you). These include things like carpet made from recycled fishing line, sugar cane-based plastics in the dash, and castor oil-based foam in the headrests. Take a closer look at these materials in this video.

Video Transcript

JOHN SNYDER: This is the 2024 Kia EV9. It's the company's new three-row electric crossover, and inside of it are a lot of sustainable materials, what Kia calls the 10 must-have things. So let's take a look at what those materials are.

So instead of petroleum products, we have bioplastics. This comes from sugarcane, and it goes in things like the dashboard and consoles and the pillars.

Here we have upcycled polycarbonate, which goes in the doors. We've got biopolyurethane made from corn for the seats and other interior coverings. Recycled plastic that goes into some of the fabrics. More recycled plastic, this one from fishing nets, and this goes into the floors. This is biopolyurethane foam from castor oil, and it goes into the headrests. Biopaint made from rapeseed-oil extract, and it goes in the door switch panels.

We've got BTX-free paint. That means free from, you know, toxic gases, a lot of off gassing that you see. That new-car smell, that's actually not good for you.

Got recycled polyethylene yarns from plastic bottles. That goes into the seat stitching. And finally recycled polyethylene felt comes from plastic bottles, and that goes into the luggage board.