Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Muhittin Savranoğlu, President of the Turkish Leather and Leather Products Council, Şeref Fayat, President of the Turkey Garment and Apparel Industry Council, and Adil Sani Konukoğlu, Chairman of the Turkish Textile Industry Council, made assessments about the sectors in their opening speeches. The Heads of the Sector Councils noted that the webinar series “How to Keep Up with the Green Transformation” is very important and useful for the sectors and expressed their thanks to TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu for organizing the webinar.

Muhittin Savranoğlu, Chairman of the Leather and Leather Products Sector Council, stated that they operate with 539 tanneries in 14 different industrial regions, and that they produce raw leather and shoes, bags, upholstery leather, apparel, which are passed through certain processes, and that they are environmentally respectful production enterprises planned to the finest detail of the necessary treatment plants and other infrastructure requirements in each region. He stated that as the leather and leather products sector, they are aware of the damage to the environment if the necessary measures are not taken, and that the sector is trying to continue by increasing its investments in this regard.

Underlining the importance of the European Green Deal process, Şeref Fayat, President of the Garment and Apparel Sector Council, noted that the issue has become binding by law, that the EU has started the process very quickly and that the EU market is important for the sector. Fayat stated that, as an industry, they have to achieve a sustainable, eco-friendly production process for a livable world.

Adil Sani Konukoğlu stated that the textile, leather and apparel sectors are complementary sectors, they work together as a family, which makes the sectors strong. He stated that the Green Deal has reached a very important point for the sectors and that it is inevitable that the sectors will take the necessary measures. He added that many of the major buyers are already drawing their own roadmaps and will not buy products that are not made from recycled fibers at certain rates from 2023, adding that the industry should plan accordingly.

Horizon Consulting Co-Founder Eser Ergin made a presentation titled “Are We Ready for Green Transformation?” and shared the evaluation of the process in the textile, leather and apparel sectors with the participants.

Environmental Engineer Onur Fatih Bulut, who attended the meeting from TSE, informed the participants about the European Green Deal Action Plan and TSE efforts.