“We're halfway through recycling, there is a market worth over 35 billion TL”

Turkish Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD) stressed the importance of recycling to continue the zero-waste approach and contribution to cyclical economy as well as use of packaging owing to 5 June World Environment Day. Mr. Zeki Sarıbekir, President of Turkish Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD) said, "Packages are not garbage, but materials that create economy. June 5 World Environment Day and Environment Week are of critical importance for a cleaner and more efficient world in order to draw public attention to environmental issues”.

Turkish Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD), the umbrella organization for the packaging industry highlighted the importance of packaging use owing to June 5 World Environment Day and Environment Week. Mr. Zeki Sarıbekir, President of Turkish Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD) said packaging keeps products hygienic, that products cannot be sold or shipped without packaging. Emphasizing that no packaging is garbage, Mr. Zeki Sarıbekir said: "With the added value created by packaging, we are among the rare industries that make positive contribution to Turkey's current deficit. Packages are not garbage and recycling of packaging is not a burden on the environment. On the contrary, packages are materials that create economy. Recycling is the most important building block for the continuation of the contribution to cyclical economy and of the zero-waste approach. We contribute to our country's economy and the environment by recycling packaging waste."

PACKAGED FOOD FOR HEALTH

Emphasizing that packaged foods prolong average human life, Mr. Zeki Sarıbekir said, "As ASD, we believe that average human life is prolonged as food and beverages are slipped in packaging. As we always say, the packaging of a product you buy is that product's assurance. Details regarding the content, quantity, expiry date, name and address of the manufacturer of the products we purchase are available on the packaging”.

'SUSTAINABILITY' AND 'ENVIRONMENT'

Mr. Zeki Sarıbekir said that there are two crucial points regarding packaging production and that these are 'sustainability' and 'environment'. Zeki Sarıbekir stated that the world is focusing on zero-waste management and recycling especially with a view to sustainability and expressed the numerical gains on economy caused by recycling as follows: "Today recycling an aluminum beverage can provides us with an amount of energy that can power a television for three hours. We prevent 17 trees from being cut down by recycling a ton of paper. Recycling 1 ton of plastics saves 5774 kw electrical energy per hour. Great energy saving can be achieved by using recycled glass in the production of new glass packaging. The waste management and recycling sector in Turkey has become a market worth approximately 37.85 billion TL. But we're still at the level of 50 percent in recycling. So we have a long way to go.”

PACKAGING AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN

ASD added that they are carrying out various works to inform consumers and to ensure they contribute to recycling in order to raise the bar in recycling in Turkey: "In addition, we provide our children, who are the assurance of our future, with the 'Things We Should Know About Packaging and Environment' booklets at schools free of charge. So far we have printed a total of 170,000 copies and continued to distribute them throughout the country”.

Sincerely,
Turkish Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD)