Turkish Paint Industry Sustainability Report

Turkish Paint Sector Sustainability Report Prepared İKMİB (İKMİB) and the Paint Manufacturers Association (BOSAD) have jointly prepared the "Turkish Paint Sector Sustainability Report," which will shed light on the future of the paint sector in the fight against climate change that poses a threat to companies. With its specific data, the Turkish Paint Sector Sustainability Report, which has no precedent not only in Turkey but globally, aims to share sustainability practices in production and supply chain areas within the paint industry, determine the effects of innovative practices in the sector, and inform paint companies about sustainable production. The Turkish Paint Sector Sustainability Report, a resource that paint sector companies can consult within the scope of the EU Green Deal—which concerns all businesses conducting production activities in Turkey and makes it mandatory to review sustainability activities across the value chain—was prepared digitally in Turkish and English through the collaboration of İKMİB and BOSAD, which have set a 2030 vision with the goal of achieving sustainable economic development objectives. The Sustainability Report, which serves as a guiding study for the Turkish paint sector's transformation toward a sustainable future, aims to both conduct a current state analysis of the paint sector and facilitate companies' improvement of their future environmental and social performance. The presentation meeting of the Turkish Paint Sector Sustainability Report was held on Thursday, 29 December, at the Foreign Trade Complex with the participation of İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister and BOSAD Board Chairman M. Akın Akçalı.

İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister, speaking at the meeting, made the following remarks:

"Four years ago, our chemical sector exports ranked third at the sectoral level; today, they have risen to first place as the sector with the highest export growth. This success belongs to all of us. Our paint sector has played a significant role in this rise." Stating that sustainability rests on four main pillars—society, environment, technology, and economy—and that it first entered our lives through the 1972 report titled "The Limits to Growth," Pelister continued as follows: "What we call sustainability is a process of exactly 50 years. Industry 4.0, which we refer to as dark factories, Society 5.0, which addresses the unity of technology and society, the Green Deal and Green Economy, and the new Supply Chain Management Principles law accepted in Germany and which I anticipate will be implemented shortly across all EU countries—all are outputs of the concept of sustainability. Therefore, perhaps we should even hold a consultation specifically on this topic and sustainability within the chemical sector. Our world is undergoing a new eco-political transformation. We must adapt to this technology-based transformation and go beyond that—we must become the architects of this new order."

"By 2030, we must rapidly scale, expand, and establish our position in the global rankings for our chemical sector"

Noting that the chemical sector touches 27 main sectors, Pelister stated: "It would not be wrong to say we are their fundamental suppliers. Therefore, our position at the most basic step of this transforming new order is no coincidence. We lead among strategic sectors. Eight of the world's ten largest economies are leaders in production and exports in the chemical sector. We should organize a separate conference on the topic of sustainability and discuss this matter comprehensively. By 2030, we must rapidly scale, expand, and establish our position in the global rankings for our chemical sector. We must shape our future and collectively achieve the fundamental objectives of sustainable development. As İKMİB, we are ready for any work on this matter," he stated.  

"We are pleased to present Turkey's first Turkish Paint Sector Sustainability Report"

BOSAD Board Chairman M. Akın Akçalı, in his remarks, emphasized that the prepared report is Turkey's first Turkish Paint Sector Sustainability Report and continued as follows: "The importance of strategic steps we will take regarding the global climate crisis is immense. Our paint sector must establish a management strategy in the fight against climate change. It is inevitable that we adapt to climate change in environmental, social, and economic areas and integrate into international agreements. Today, digital and green transformation occupy the center of the global agenda. The European Union Green Deal requires us to rapidly adapt to the concepts of circular economy and product lifecycle. In this context, the Paris Climate Agreement, which our country has also signed, is important in providing a better future. The United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will undoubtedly benefit the entire world if addressed with a holistic and systematic approach. Looking at recent green environmental concepts and processes within the European Union, as paint manufacturers, we have three important focuses in determining our strategies: sustainability, performance, and cost. Raw materials used in terms of sustainability are also very important. As an association, we are aware of the critical role the chemical sector plays in sustainability. In line with our transparent, holistic, and accountable management approach, we are pleased to present our Sustainability Report, which captures a snapshot of the Turkish paint sector's approach to sustainability."