Kia ranked as one of world's Top 50 Green Brands

Kia is moving up in the world and is now ranked in the top 50 Best Global Green Brands for the first time in the company’s history……and New Zealand has had a hand in that achievement.

Kia Motors has been named 37th in Interbrand’s 2013 list, which produces an annual ranking of sustainability and environmental performance of the world’s 100 most valuable brands, assessing businesses based on market perception and the actual environmental performance of the company and its products and services.

This latest recognition by Interbrand follows hot on the heels of Kia’s recent introduction to the 100 Best Global Brands 2012 rankings, in which Kia placed 87th.

According to the 50 Best Global Green Brands 2013 study, Kia has placed eco-management at the forefront of its brand management strategy alongside its emphasis on quality and design management since 2006. Under this initiative, Kia has made huge strides in improving the performance of its vehicles, with a strong focus on enhancing fuel efficiency and a long-term aim for zero-emission vehicles. As a result of its efforts, Kia continues to be recognised as a leader in the environmental sustainability sector.

"In our view, the best green brands are those that are not only vital, relevant, powerful and pioneering, but also profitable, ethical and ecologically responsible. We applaud Kia Motors’ efforts aimed at sustainability in all facets of its global operations that have enabled the company to be named as one of our Best Global Green Brands 2013," says Jez Frampton, Global CEO of Interbrand.

Kia’s commitment to increasingly efficient mobility is realised partly through the introduction of green technologies to its growing range of products under the EcoDynamics umbrella to ensure the company remains ahead of global emissions regulations and continuously improves average fuel consumption of its entire product line-up. Two examples are seen in New Zealand, with the Eco Dynamics versions of the Kia Picanto and the Kia Rio being among the most economical and cleanest in their respective classes.
Kia is also developing a range of other green technologies, such as hybrid powertrains for the brand’s Cerato model in Korea and Optima model in global markets, plug-in electric vehicles, full-electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles.

The brand has been recognised for minimising harmful emissions from its operations and reducing the use of water resources during the manufacturing process, as well as recycling more than 90% of the waste generated during production at domestic plants.

Furthermore, Kia has increased its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and investment by more than 15% over the past year, grouped together under the slogan ‘A Better Way to Go’. This has most recently given birth to the Green Light Project - a global initiative to build schools and provide school buses to children without access to education. The Green Light Project also runs disease prevention programmes and mobile clinics. Todd McDonald, General Manager of Kia Motors New Zealand, says: "It is pleasing to see Kia recognised for its sustainable and environmental performance in this way, because this plays a significant role within the company’s overall strategy.

"It forms a very important part of our social licence to operate here in New Zealand, too. In selecting models for our market, fuel efficiency and reduced emissions are among the things we take into account. Furthermore, we have achieved international accreditation through carboNZero, which is not only helping reduce our carbon footprint in New Zealand, but supports our parent company initiatives. We also have an active corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, which, for example, includes supporting one of New Zealand’s most recognised and respected charitable organisations, the Halberg Disability Sport   Foundation."