Kia scores 9 out of 24 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

Kia Info

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9 out of 24
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Brand Owner: Hyundai Kia Automotive Group
Head Office: Seoul, South Korea
Sector: Automotive
Categories: Passenger Car
Free Tags: Popular, Sorento, Mohave, Forte, Optima

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Last Updated: 19 December 2011
Last Verified: 19 December 2011

Kia Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

7 out of 16


1. Has the brand formulated the objective to reduce its CO2 emissions from its own operations (including owned production facilities), by at least 30% in 2020 compared to 1990 CO2 emission levels?	Kia Motors is part of Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group. Although Kia Motors does have the objective to reduce its CO2 emissions and has put some policies in place,its specific goal is unclear (p. 82)	SOURCE
2. Has the brand disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations', including owned production facilities?	Kia sustainability magazine presents a carbon footprint (see p. 82) for 2003 to 2010 but it is not clear which scope(s) of Kia operations this covers. The text suggests that the footprint is for Korean operations only.	SOURCE
3. Has the brand already reduced or compensated its CO2 emissions from its own operations (including owned production facilities), by at least 10% in the last 5 years?	See remark for climate change question 2.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand disclose a full carbon Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of its main car models or series, so that the carbon emissions caused by the car production (from raw materials to final product) are also transparent?	Kia Motors conducts LCA's for all its eco-conscious cars. However, no results are found of its entire fleet or main car series in Kia's 2010 sustainability magazine (see p. 30).	SOURCE
5. Does the brand plan to achieve an average CO2 emission of 130 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower for its European car fleet prior to 2015?	Kia Motors aims to achieve an average CO2 emission of 130 g/km by 2012 (see p. 41).	SOURCE
6. Has the brand achieved an average CO2 emission of 160 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower for its European car fleet?	Kia does not report the fleet average based on realized sales for at least Europe. To estimate, the calculated catalogue average for Kia is 133,5 g/km, based on Kia.nl website, taken as a representative sample for the EU market.	SOURCE
7. Has the brand achieved an average CO2 emission of 150 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower for its European car fleet?	See remark for climate change question 6.	SOURCE
8. Has the brand achieved an average CO2 emission of 140 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower for its European car fleet?	See remark for climate change question 6.	SOURCE
9. Has the brand achieved a 4% CO2 emission reduction of the car fleet average in the last two years?	The Kia sustainability magazine does not contain a fleet average or previous fleet averages and we were not able to find a previous fleet average elsewhere on the Kia Motors website.	SOURCE
10. Has the brand achieved a 10% CO2 emission reduction of the car fleet average in the last five years?	See remark for climate change question 9.	SOURCE
11. Does the brand sell a car that has a CO2 emission of 100 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower?	The 1.1 CRDi New Rio '1 EcoDynamics' has a CO2 emission of 85 g/km.	SOURCE
12. Does the brand sell a car that has a CO2 emission of 90 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower?	See remark for climate change question 11.	SOURCE
13. Has the brand developed a prototype car that has a CO2 emission of 70 grams per kilometer (g/km) or lower?	The Kia Forte Lpi Hybrid has a CO2 emission of 99 g/km (see p. 48), but was not found on kia.nl website. Kia has not presented a prototype with emission levels below 70 g/km.	SOURCE
14. Does the brand sell a hybrid, electric or fuel cell car on the European market?	The Kia Forte Lpi Hybrid is a hybrid car. However, it is still scheduled for sale and not yet available in European countries (checked for NL and UK). The K5 Hybrid is also scheduled for sale in 2011 (p. 48).	SOURCE
15. Has the brand announced that a full electric or fuel cell car will be brought to the European market by 2012 at the latest?	Kia's electric plug-in vehicle is planned to be brought to the market in 2013 (p. 49).	SOURCE
16. Does the brand clearly give the carbon emission or fuel efficiency rates for all models on its website?	Kia Motors advertizes its cars on each individual country website. Kia Netherlands provides product specifications including g/km fuel efficiency for each car series (first click on "modellen" and then click on "prijzen/specificaties"). Also checked for UK.	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

2 out of 5


1. Does the brand disclose the smog forming exhaust gas emissions rates per km for at least its main car series?	Kia has not published this information.	SOURCE
2. Does the brand report on the emission of air pollutants from its own operations, including owned facilities?	Kia presents an overview of exhaust gases (PM, Nox, Sox, VOC) emitted by its own operations (p. 83).	SOURCE
3. Are the materials in each new car model of the brand at least 85% recyclable or reusable?	"We aim to raise the recycling rate of automobile shredder residue (ASR) from the current 85% to 95%." (see p. 35).	SOURCE
4. Can at least 90% of all new and redesigned car models of the brand be reused or recycled, and does the brand have a plan to phase out PVC?	"We aim to raise the recycling rate of automobile shredder residue (ASR) from the current 85% to 95%." (see p. 52). It is not clear if and how this has been achieved. Phasing out PVC is not mentioned either.	SOURCE
5. Does the brand have clear achievements and targets to increase the use of recycled and biodegradable materials in its car fleet?	Kia does not have a clear policy on using recycled and biodegradable materials, let alone time bound targets.	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

0 out of 3


1. Does the brand (company) have a Code of Conduct (CoC) for own factories and suppliers, which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labour, no child labour, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace?	Kia Motors sustainability magazine mentions the minimum ages of employees to be 18 and the prohibition of forced labour and discrimination; safety and hygiene is mentioned but unclear (See pp. 58-60 and "Society_Employees" pp. 76-77).	SOURCE
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1) a formal employment relationship; 2) a maximum working week of 60 hours including paid overtime; 3) a living wage; and 4) to form and join labour unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, to develop parallel means?	Kia Motors mentions fair compensation but not a living wage. It does not force employees to work overtime, but it does not set a limit. The right to form trade unions is mentioned. It does not mention the possibility a formal employment relationship (See pp. 58-60 and "Society_Employees" pp. 76-77).	SOURCE
3. Does the brand annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?	It seems, Kia has no clear policy on labour conditions for own employees and suppliers.	SOURCE