Sustainability Manifesto from Ege İhracatçı Birlikleri

The Aegean Exporters Associations (EİB) declared 2020 as the "Year of Sustainability" and unveiled its Sustainability Manifesto. EİB Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi stated that EİB would generate its own electricity and aims to become a green office, while calling for 50 percent government support for sustainability projects. Aegean Exporters Associations Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi said they stand by exporters on the path to sustainable exports and are trying to set an example through in-house initiatives. Eskinazi noted that if humanity continues consuming at the current rate, 1.6 earths would be needed, which is not possible, and that optimal use and recovery of scarce global resources are vital. Eskinazi held a press conference in digital format with the participation of EİB Union Presidents to share the Aegean Exporters Associations Sustainability Manifesto with the public. He stated: "We believe that one of the most important reasons for the pandemic we are experiencing is our failure to pass the sustainability test properly on a global scale. We are rapidly consuming our world's limited resources and polluting the world entrusted to us by future generations. To give an example from our garment sector; the amount of water used in global apparel production is estimated at around 5.6–9.4 trillion litres. Thirteen million tonnes of textile waste is generated annually. Therefore, the current produce-consume system is beginning to strain world limits significantly. Unfortunately, many industrial sectors worldwide are responsible for carbon and water pollution. The global population is growing rapidly. World population is expected to exceed 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100. Turkey's population is projected to exceed 95 million by 2050. Humanity has not yet ruled over a planet where life exists beyond Earth. Therefore, optimal use and recovery of scarce global resources are vital." [caption id="attachment_102721" align="aligncenter"] Aegean Exporters Associations[/caption]

EİB to generate its own electricity

Eskinazi, noting that a "Sustainability Group" has been established within the Aegean Exporters Associations, continued his remarks as follows: "Our Sustainability Group carried out intensive work in digital format despite the coronavirus and created the 'AEGEAN EXPORTERS ASSOCIATIONS SUSTAINABILITY MANIFESTO'. First, we want to minimize our carbon and water footprint. We aim to increase energy use from renewable sources. We are working on a project to produce the electricity used by the Aegean Exporters Associations from solar panels to be installed on our building. We are also directing our members on this matter. We became the first exporter union in Turkey to join the 'Zero Waste Project' implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. As part of this project, we have placed waste bins on all floors where our offices are located, we prefer products made from biodegradable materials and reusable products in corporate supplies. We have created a temporary waste storage area in our building. We clean paper and plastic-based office supplies and ensure they are reused.

We want support for sustainability projects

Eskinazi, who said "Recent developments in our world show that all sectors, regardless of goods and services, are now aware of the damages they cause to humanity and nature," continued: "We want to increase our members' awareness about sustainability by cooperating with relevant institutions and organizations. We need to explain well to our members that the future will be built on sustainable models and that non-circular production methods may become outdated. In the future, firms that are not environmentally friendly will have poor financial ratings, so we should prepare our companies for such financial changes. At the same time, financing investments related to sustainability will be a challenge in the coming period. We demand that 50 percent of the expenses of our companies engaged in sustainability work be covered by government support." Eskinazi, who noted they will take initiatives to develop mechanisms to evaluate the corporate sustainability performance of companies, added that to this end, Aegean Exporters Associations became a member of Global Compact, the United Nations' largest sustainability initiative in 2019, transitioned from a management approach to a governance approach that is more pluralistic, and will guide their members on models based on transparency to ensure strong and balanced economic development.

EİB aims to become a Green Office

Eskinazi stated: "We will accept the Sustainable Development Goals published by the United Nations as a roadmap," and added that one of their most important objectives for sustainability is to participate in the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Green Office Program, one of the world's largest nature conservation organizations, and to obtain ISO 14001, one of the most comprehensive environmental certifications.

Sertbaş: "We believed we should not pollute our world"

Ege Ready-Made Clothing and Apparel Exporters Union Chairman Burak Sertbaş, noting that the garment sector's work on sustainability began with customer demands in the initial phase, said: "We now believe we should not pollute our world. We are currently conducting intensive work on sustainability. We are conducting training and initiatives. We have the UR-GE project continuing with the participation of 26 companies on sustainability matters. We set the concept of our EİB Fashion Design Competition, which we held for the 15th time this year, based on sustainability. Our latest conference's guest was Sweden, which conducts the most sustainability work globally. We believe that in the future, trade will be built on sustainability."

Celep: "Sustainability equals added value"

Ege Dried Fruit and Products Exporters Union Chairman Birol Celep noted that the pandemic explained many details as a whole, and that indexing sustainability to economies of scale and governance is very important. Celep stated: "We need to emphasize the increase in natural and organic agriculture and good agricultural practices. Sustainability equals added value. We say Turkey's average export value is 1.6 dollars. Given the world's change, we can say we have a high chance of marketing added-value products through sustainability. We are aware that serious progress in agricultural products will create value chains. We will expand the lean production models we have adopted as part of URGE to broader audiences with lean agricultural models."

Girit: "The virus reset the world"

Ege Fish and Animal Products Exporters Union Chairman Bedri Girit, emphasizing that according to a report published by FAO, 1.6 earths are needed, said that the coronavirus has given the world a new adjustment and that sustainability is important in animal products as well. Girit stated: "If we do not follow sustainable methods, the balances will develop more negatively. Sustainability's greatest contribution is returning us and the world to factory settings. It contributes to this."

Kaya: "Sustainable Mining is our priority"

Ege Mining Exporters Union Chairman Mevlüt Kaya provided information that one of the most important topics at the "Our Life is Mining" Workshop was "Sustainable Mining". Kaya continued his remarks as follows: "We created a platform where 16 NGOs came together under the name of sustainable mining. We say to miners that if we are to process our national and valuable minerals, we must do so carefully with the awareness of the values owned by 80 million people. Through our meetings with TEMA and environmental organizations and ministries, we started by doing our part first. If the pandemic process had not begun, we would have decided to create a fund with 16 unions and conduct afforestation and awareness-raising activities, extracting our national values and prioritizing sustainability for the benefit of the country. If this process reaches a certain point, hopefully we will learn a lesson from the virus. It will convey that people and nations have a necessity to unite. If a world that says 'we' instead of 'I' draws such a lesson, it will be in the interest of all people."

Yağcı: "Demand for healthy food increased"

Ege Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters Union Chairman Cahit Doğan Yağcı, stating that the Covid-19 outbreak revealed the importance of agriculture, underlined that sustainability is essential for healthy products. Yağcı, saying "As the environment is polluted, products become polluted," spoke as follows: "We must protect the environment. We should especially prioritize sustainability in terms of quality in food. While exports declined during the pandemic, there was an increase in the export of oregano, a healthy product. To increase the production of quality healthy products, production must be ensured without causing pollution and without mixing wild herbs."

Uçak: "There is a shift towards agriculture"

Ege Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporters Union Chairman Hayrettin Uçak, noting that sustainability in the agricultural sector has gained even more importance during the pandemic period, emphasized that the pandemic period has increased interest in agriculture, industrialists are shifting towards agricultural investments, and this interest will strengthen added-value production and sustainability in agriculture.

Terci: "Steps should be taken to prevent waste"

Ege Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds and Products Exporters Union Chairman Mustafa Terci, arguing that EİB's declaration of 2020 as the "Year of Sustainability" is a very correct decision, which became clearer with the pandemic, touched on the importance of preventing losses in agricultural production from a sustainability perspective. Terci stated: "Efforts should be made to reduce waste and losses in production for sustainability. We have shown excellent performance over the last six months. It is a success of our exporters and producers. We will strive to maintain this success continuously."

Er: "Sustainable and recyclable products should be used in packaging"

Ege Olive and Olive Oil Exporters Union Chairman Davut Er pointed out that the use of recyclable packaging products in food products would be beneficial both from a circular economy perspective and from a health perspective. Er concluded his remarks as follows: "If recyclable packaging is used in all products and packaging, environmental pollution will be minimized and there will be no waste. A sustainable and livable world is what we all want. Research and development work should continue on zero waste for packaging of agriculture and agriculture-based products. We can create a livable world by feeding people with healthy products. The longest-living people in our country live in Aydın Nazilli, and the main reason for this is that they consume a lot of olive oil and figs, which are both stomach-friendly and environmentally friendly healthy products."