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The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) today announced it has achieved many of its 2020 environmental sustainability goals, has plans in place to meet the rest and has established new, broad-reaching goals for 2030. The new goals, titled “Ambition 2030,” aim to enable and inspire positive impact on the environment and society while creating value for the Company and consumers.
The first of the TÜSİAD Climate Meetings, “The Role of Funding in The Low-carbon Development Process” took place on 11th April, Wednesday at Tekfen Tower. In his opening speech the Chairman of The Board Erol Bilecik said, “The world is changing at great speed; our natural resources are running out fast; the number and impact of natural disasters is on the increase. The number of unusual weather events has quadrupled on a yearly basis compared to 1970.
The 5th Zero Waste Seminar Held in Adana
The 5th Zero Waste Seminar conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation and supported by ÇEVKO Foundation was held in Adana. The project, which previously took place in Antalya, Denizli, Kocaeli, and Gaziantep, and which targets the controlling of waste to leave a clean and developed Turkey and a more livable world to future generations, will be held in 30 pilot cities. During the event, ÇEVKO Foundation informed participants on recycling, at its stand by giving out educational books and brochures.
Colourful Frame Festival From Muratpaşa Municipality
The Festival organized by the Municipality of Muratpaşa with the slogan ‘Be A Breath’ on 20th-21st-22nd April at the City Square attracted great attention. ÇEVKO prepared painting workshops at its stand, and gave information on recycling while ÇEVKİ, the environmentalist cat was the main focus of especially children.
Environment and Recycling Training by The Municipality of Körfez
On 25th April, Körfez Municipality organized a “Recycling and Environment Training” at the Tütünçiftlik Cultural Center, at which Murat Anaç, the Education Chief of ÇEVKO Foundation gave trainings to the women of the district. ÇEVKO Foundation also distributed flyers to the participants. Three hundred people attended the trainings.
The International Local Chains Meet Up Conference and Fair (YZB) was held at İstanbul Haliç Congress Center between 11th and 12th April 2018. This conference brings together the representatives of local chain stores in the area of organized food retail and the sector’s leading producer and supplier brands.
The main topic at the fair were elements threatening our future on sustainability of the planet, environment, agriculture, food access. A session called “If mankind survives with nature, let nature survive with retail” was also organized to draw attention to environmental issues, with Güven İslamoğlu, TV program producer and director as moderator, and with the participation of Alphan Eröztürk, ÇEVKO Foundation Public and Foreign Affairs Director; Dr Uygar Özesmi, founder of Good4Trust; and Oben Akyol, General Manager of Tema Foundation.
Critical Warning For 2050!
In his speech, Dr Uygar Özesmi said, “It’s high time we started doing some things right for the sustainability of the planet. Atmosphere and water resources are scarce. The reason why we are at this point is probably our lack of awareness. We are polluting our waters, our air. The amount of clean and fresh air we inhale is becoming less by the minute.”
He went on, “We are constantly changing the chemistry of the atmosphere with coal-fired thermal power plants, fossil fuels, by burning petrol, coal, natural gases, emitting carbondioxide. When the Turkish Republic was founded, the amount of carbondioxide in the atmosphere was 280 ppm whereas today it is over 400 ppm. There has been a 1,1-degree-increase in the temperature since 1860. On average 1,1 degrees lead to an increase of 7 to 10 degrees in the extreme. If this situation continues, the average temperature will have increased by 2,8 degrees by 2050. And what will we do in February 2050 when the outside temperature has reached 70 degrees centigrate? Our planet is giving out alarms in all areas. Another risk besides climate change is the decrease in biodiversity. The fall in the animal species is now 1 million times the normal rate. We must take measures immediately.”
“The greatest destruction in nature specifics is due to poverty”
At the session, Oben Akyol said regarding the selling of plastic bags within the ‘Waste Directive’ from 1st January 2019, “It is said that consumers do not wish to pay for the plastic shopping bags. The important thing here is not the cost of the bag when using it. We need a holistic point of view to be able to understand nature. That plastic bag is soil, that plastic bag is water. When we throw away the cap of a plastic bottle, it comes out of the stomach of a bird. We have to understand our eco-system correctly. When we are out in the nature, we treat the earth loutishly; we use too many chemicals. The greatest destruction in the specifics of nature comes from poverty. The priorities of a poor rural area are certainly different.”
“The conscious consumption messages given to the consumers by the retailers are critical”
Also at the session Alphan Eröztürk said, “According to the statistics, in Turkey, 1 person produces 1,2 kg of waste daily, and this amounts to 440 kg per year. With a population of 81 million, we produce a yearly amount of 35 million tons of waste, of which 7 million tons are recycled. If we are to speak of environment and waste, we should be aware of this amount.”
Eröztürk went on, “The general public opinion is that waste cannot be recovered. We have been working in collaboration with local authorities and licenced firms for the recycling of waste, especially packaging waste since 1991. Now there is considerable recycling in all types of packaging waste and a recovery industry. The point that needs developing is the seperate collection of packaging waste. As a foundation, we have collaborated with local governments and companies for the collection of 650.000 tons of packaging waste. In other words, last year only, we saved 4,7 million trees.”
Eröztürk also gave warnings on wastage and said, “Data in the world indicate that every year a third of produced food goes to waste. Should we continue to waste our food like this, there will be food shortage and famine in our future, which looks very dark. When we look at the situation in Turkey, the amount of bread which we say ‘it is a sin to throw away’, which we hang on tree branches from time to time, which we just throw away, is 6 million. The importance of retail is great at the point of consumption, its messages very critical. There will always be waste naturally, however, the retailer should tell its customer to ‘consume responsibly’. Another sensitive issue on waste is the plastic shopping bag.”
Eröztürk went on, “1 trillion plastic bags are used in the world. The important thing here is the greatness of the consumption rather than the material. If we continue like this, if we don’t separate our waste properly, if we produce waste, there will be more plastic particles than fish in our seas. At this point the retail should step in. For starters, the stores should target becoming zero waste stores. Maybe environmental pollution was misrepresented until today; it was suggested that our world is in danger. Actually we are the ones in danger. If we wish to protect nature, protect ourselves, there is one thing to do – consume less.”
The first authorized organization for the recovery of packaging waste in Turkey, the ÇEVKO Foundation continues to contribute to environmental sustainability and the economy. Acting as a leader for 27 years on the way to a sustainable recovery system and helping the industry fulfill its obligations, the ÇEVKO Foundation once again created significant value in 2017 for environmental sustainability. The recovery activities of the Foundation contributed TRY 2.6 billion to the country’s economy.
Noting that as the authorized organization they were fulfilling the recovery obligations of more than 1,800 packaging users that place packaged products on the market, the Secretary General of the ÇEVKO Foundation Mete İmer said, “We build partnerships with local governments and licensed companies in order to collect packaging waste at the source on behalf of the producers and economic enterprises we represent. In addition to that, we organize communication, awareness-raising and education activities.”
Stating that it was technically and economically possible to recover all packaging waste made of glass, metal, plastic, paper-cardboard, composites and wood many times, Mete İmer added, “We have been active for 27 years in the development of the recycling system we lead. We cooperate with 162 municipalities in 30 provinces with a total population of 26 million. We undertake the recovery obligations of packaging users that have partnered with ÇEVKO. The recovery activities we carried out on behalf of the industry in cooperation with municipalities and licensed packaging waste collection, sorting and recycling companies resulted in savings of fossil fuels, water and energy. Less natural resources and energy were consumed. These recovery efforts made a positive contribution of TRY 2.6 billion to the country’s economy.”
Recovery Protected the Air We Breathe and the Forests, and Saved Water and Energy
Mete İmer summarized the economic and environmental benefits achieved with the documented recycling of packaging waste in 2017 as follows:
• The recycling of packaging waste made of paper, cardboard, wood and composites saved 4,715,000 trees, equivalent to roughly 94 thousand acres of forestland.
• 130 million liters of gas was saved thanks to the recycling of plastic packaging waste. This amount is enough to fill the fuel tanks of about 2.9 million cars.
• 7.3 billion liters of water was saved through the recovery of packaging waste made of paper-cardboard/composites, equivalent to the annual water consumption of 41,505 families.
• 2.7 billion kWh electricity was saved with recovered packaging waste, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of almost one million (977 thousand) families.
• Thanks to the recycling of packaging waste instead of their burial in landfills, 3,645,000 m3 of landfill space was spared, equivalent to the volume of about 1,457 Olympic-size swimming pools.
• Greenhouse gas emission amounting to 339,700 tons of CO2, equivalent to the amount emitted by an airplane circumnavigating the globe 16,985 times, was prevented.
The culture of recovery and habit of separating at the source are spreading
Stressing that it was possible to create much more value for a sustainable environment if the majority of the society acquired the habit of separate collection at the source and if a culture of recycling was established, Mete İmer said, “We continue to work with the public sector, local governments, communities and industry to spread a culture of recovery and the habit of separate collection at the source. As the most established authorized organization in this field we focus on raising awareness. This includes trainings we organize for primary school teachers, and theatre plays for children. We address individuals through public service announcements, commercials and news articles. We reward exemplary practices that Green Dot member organizations implement beyond their legal obligations through our ‘Green Dot Industry Awards’. Our ‘Green Dot Press Awards’ serve to encourage media outlets that give priority to news items that are geared toward raising the awareness of and informing the society with regard to the environment and recycling. We work with all related parties, notably the members of our foundation, to expand the ‘Zero Waste’ project initiated by our Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. We organize events such as the Circular Economy Congress in 2017. Via our projects executed by both our foundation and together with our members, we will continue our efforts in order to increase individual awareness and turn this attitude into a habitual behavior.”
The Industrial Development Bank of Turkey (TSKB) plays an important role in the reduction of Turkey’s carbon emission with its financing models for the combat with climate change. The bank has contributed to a 12-million-ton decrease in Turkey’s yearly carbon-dioxide emission with innovative solutions in the transition to low carbon economy.
On the occasion of World Environment Day, the General Manager of TSKB Suat İnce said, “We have our signature on many innovations and firsts in the area of sustainability. So far we have provided a loan of $ 4.9 billion only for renewable energy projects. At the same time we created sources for 299 renewable energy projects of 5.617 MW making up 15% of Turkey’s installed renewable energy power. Also, we financed $ 900 million for 131 projects in the field of energy and resource efficiency. As a result of all these, we are proud to have contributed to a yearly 12-million-ton decrease in the carbon emission of our country.”
Şişli Municipality and ÇEVKO are in a ‘Fun’ collaboration to instill the habit of separating waste at its source for recycling.
The recycling bins in 24 different locations in Nişantaşı have been ‘dressed up’ by artist Serkan Altuniğne’s custom made recycling-themed caricatures that make one smile and think at the same time. The caricatures convey the message ‘Waste is Recycled, Şişli is Beautified’ and also aim to attract more attention to the recycling bins which have an important mission in terms of environmental sustainability. These pleasant recycling bins were put up on 5th June 2018, World Environment Day.
Caricature artist Altuniğne, who lives and pursues his career in Germany, says that recycling has become a part of the established culture in that country, and continues, “They try to teach you how to recycle in the integration courses while teaching the German language. Also in schools there are lessons on this subject, and you learn while still a child that recycling and waste separation is as natural as breathing, and the consequences will be dire if it is not done. The best part of the collaboration with ÇEVKO is that I will be able to convey to the people in a fun way the consciousness I have acquired on this important matter.”
On the subject, Mete İmer said, “We believe that the step we have taken in the collaboration with the Şişli Münicipality will render good results.”
The previous year ÇEVKO Foundation had organized the International Circular Economy Congress in Turkey. This year the foundation’s target is continuity in thought and action in terms of circular economy with a series of workshops. The first of these, the New Plastics Economy Workshop was held on May 2nd 2018 with the participation of 31 representatives.
At the presentation by ÇEVKO Foundation, the work of the Ellen McArthur Foundation titled “New Plastics Economy” was taken into hand, and it was pointed out that 30% by weight of the current plastic packagings could not be reused or recycled without basic design and innovation. It was also stated that reusing would create an economic opportunity for at least 20% of plastic packaging materials; and the recycling of the remaining 50% would become economically attractive following the collaborative works on the design and post-use systems.
June 8th has been celebrated as World Oceans Day since 1992 with the decision of the United Nations. On this date this year, Bosphorus University hosted a workshop, ‘Time for Action for Turkey’s Plastic Waste: Eco-friendly Production, Responsible Consumption, Effective Recycling.’
At the workshop attention was drawn to the fact that the Mediterranean has become one of the seas with the highest level of plastic pollution.
THE MEDITERRANEAN IS SENDING OUT SIGNALS OF ALARM!
According to the “Escape from the Plastic Trap: Saving the Mediterranean from the Plastic Pollution Report” presented by Tolga Yücel, WWF Turkey Communications Director, 60 million tons of plastic is produced in the world, which creates 27 million tons of plastic waste. It is emphasized in the report that the amount of plastic waste in the seas is one of the most important problems awaiting global solution and this waste causes damage to the ecosystem of the seas estimated at $13 billion. It is also reported that 144 tons/day of plastic waste is dumped into the sea in Turkey.
‘LEGAL ARRANGEMENT IS MANDATORY’
The General Secretary of the Sustainable Development Association Konca Çalkıvık said, “A truck load of plastic waste goes into the seas every minute; every year 9 million tons of plastic waste go into the oceans. It is not possible to solve the global problem of plastic waste without local-regional cooperation.” Çalkıvık underlined the fact that trying to solve the problem with volunteers was not enough, legal regulations were also necessary.
Mete İmer, General Secretary of ÇEVKO Foundation spoke at the session and said that the issue of plastic was also included in the circular economy studies of the foundation. İmer gave information on the extended producer responsibility model and the works of ÇEVKO. İmer went on, “The future of the new plastic economy, which is a part of circular economy, lies in innovative solutions. These solutions are only possible with the collaboration of the public and the industry in the designing and recycling of plastic packagings.” The videos prepared by ÇEVKO on the recycling of plastic were shared with the participants at the same session.
The zero waste studies which began in the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization building and which fall under the target of covering the whole of Turkey starting with the public institutions with the “Zero Waste Action Plan” by 2023 are in full throttle. The plan is to spread the project over the country incrementally with Ankara as the starting point. Alongside public institutions the project will cover educational institutions, shopping malls, hospitals, fun-rest facilities, and big businesses.
The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization has recently announced the realization of their website www.sifiratik.csb.gov.tr where they have compiled all their studies regarding zero waste. On the website are zero waste activities, educational trainings, zero waste principles, application criteria, news and announcements, and a promotion film of the activities of the ministry.
According to the ministry data, a total of 150 tons of assessable waste, of which 140 tons is packaging waste, have been collected.
