Green Dot Industry Awards Celebrate Their 7th Edition with a Grand Ceremony
The Green Dot Industry Awards, organized by the ÇEVKO Foundation, has been presented for the seventh time in a ceremony, recognizing firms that have made sustainable contributions to the environment and use the Green Dot symbol in Turkey since 2014. Anadolu Efes (IS: AEFES), Migros (IS: MGROS), Vestel Beyaz (IS: VESBE), and Coca Cola İçecek received their awards at the event.
Mete İmer, the Secretary General of ÇEVKO Foundation, emphasized that the Green Dot symbol, represented in Turkey by the ÇEVKO Foundation, has been present on over 400 billion packages in 170 countries annually, created by more than 150,000 producers worldwide. "The transition to a circular economy has increased the importance of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model. The Green Dot systems symbolize the financial contributions responsible producers make to the recycling system and are among the most successful examples of the EPR model in the world. Our 'Green Dot Perception Survey' conducted in 2024 showed that among a population of 50 million aged 18 and over in our country, one in two people have seen the Green Dot symbol before, and one in five, or 10 million people, can correctly define what the Green Dot symbolizes. The survey results also substantiate consumers' positive perception of companies using the Green Dot on their packaging," he said.
Mete İmer continued: "Over 1,500 companies in Turkey include the Green Dot symbol on their packaging through a sub-license agreement with ÇEVKO. The ÇEVKO Foundation's Green Dot Industry Awards aim to encourage the contributions of industrial organizations to environmental sustainability, and awards are presented in three categories: 'Packaging Prevention Applications,' 'Waste Management Systems and Applications,' and 'Environmental Social Responsibility Applications.'
This year's Green Dot Industry Awards included: In the 'Packaging Prevention Applications' category, the awards were won by Abdi İbrahim for the 'Smart Software' project and Netpak Ambalaj for the 'NETGO, Transforming Cargo Bags into Sustainable Environment' project. In this category, Encouragement Awards went to Coca-Cola (IS: CCOLA) for their project 'Nano Stretch Application in Palletizing,' and to Sapro for 'Newipe New Generation Baby Wipe.'
In the 'Waste Management Systems and Applications' category, the Green Dot Industry Awards were won by Anadolu Efes for the 'Anadolu Efes Biogas Project' and the 'Anadolu Efes Advanced Recycled Malt Fiber Project.'
In the 'Environmental Social Responsibility Applications' category, the Green Dot Industry Awards were received by Anadolu Efes for 'One More Breath to the Sea,' Migros for 'Respect for Food,' and Vestel (IS: VESTL) for the 'DIY Workshops with Vestel' projects. The Encouragement Award in this category went to GCA for the 'Ekomat Project.'
Details of the winning projects: 'Packaging Prevention Applications' Category Green Dot Industry Awards: Abdi İbrahim - Smart Software Project: Aligning with Abdi İbrahim's vision of 'Improving the Future,' the primary aim of the HEAL2050 sustainability strategy is to create more value with less resource usage. Under this framework, the 'Smart Software' project, constituting the first phase of the strategy, has significantly reduced the consumption of blister and outer packaging materials used for pharmaceutical packaging. Additionally, it has enhanced energy consumption efficiency and logistics operations. By using an AI-based intuitive optimization algorithm, the packaging sizes of 26 products have been optimized, allowing the same quantity of medicine to be produced with less packaging material.
As a result, 179 tons of packaging savings have been achieved, greenhouse gas emissions from packaging have been reduced by 28% per box, an energy saving equivalent to the annual consumption of 150 households has been realized, and a financial saving of 1 million Euros has been accomplished. Furthermore, pallet circulation has been reduced by 2,300 units.
Netpak Ambalaj - NetGO; Transforming Cargo Bags into a Sustainable Environment Project: The NetGO, developed by Netpak Ambalaj, is an eco-friendly and functional carrying bag made from 100% recyclable materials. This sustainable product is an ideal alternative for both cargo and gift transportation. Its innovative and secure lid design prevents unauthorized access while offering high durability against potential wear during transport. Once the transport is complete, a protective strap is released, and the handles are revealed, transforming it into a practical bag. The NetGO can be used approximately 104 times, reducing resource consumption, waste amounts, and carbon emissions.
In the 'Packaging Prevention Applications' Category Green Dot Encouragement Awards: Coca-Cola İçecek - Nano Stretch Application Project: In Coca-Cola İçecek factories, products are stacked on pallets after the production line. To enhance the structural integrity of pallets during storage and shipment while preventing product tipping, cardboard separators are used between layers in each pallet, and the pallets are wrapped in stretch film for delivery from production. Different quantities of cardboard separators and stretch film are used based on the stacking sequence of each product, averaging five cardboard separators and 350 grams of traditional transparent stretch film per pallet.
The 'Nano stretch' project aims to reduce resource usage, carbon footprint, and waste amounts while decreasing production costs. The goal was to completely eliminate the use of separator cardboard and reduce the amount of stretch used by switching all products' pallets with traditional stretch wrapping to nano stretch.
For the pilot study, the Tekirdağ-Chorlu factory was selected among seven gas beverage factories in Turkey. After the successful pilot project, trials began to implement the project in other factories, and commissioning processes were completed. The project is expected to prevent the use of 14 million cardboard packaging and 450 tons of stretch annually.
Sapro - Newipe® New Generation Baby Wipe Project: Newipe® wipes are made from new generation viscose fabric characterized by naturalness, softness, and durability. Completely plant-based, 100% biodegradable, and compostable, the new fabric decomposes faster than generic viscose fabrics available on the market and is produced with a lower carbon footprint. The packaging used is foil packaging, which is also 100% recyclable.
'Waste Management Systems and Applications' Category Green Dot Industry Awards: Anadolu Efes - Biogas Project: Working towards achieving net-zero emissions in its operations by 2030, Anadolu Efes continues to invest in renewable energy projects alongside energy efficiency practices. One of the projects initiated in this scope is the transformation of wastewater treatment plant sludge into biogas and its reuse for energy in the facilities.
The project enables the generation of energy equivalent to one month's energy consumption by producing biogas from the sludge generated as a result of wastewater treatment. This renewable energy source thus prevents the emission of approximately 900 tons of CO2e greenhouse gases annually. Additionally, by using this energy in another recovery process, drying yeast, a chain recovery process is created, contributing to the circular economy.
Anadolu Efes - Advanced Recycled Malt Fiber Project: While one-third of the food produced globally is wasted, it contributes 8% of total carbon emissions. With the growing world population making it harder to access natural resources, the importance of healthy and sustainable food increases. As a byproduct of the brewing industry, 40 million tons of malt waste are generated annually worldwide, with 200,000 tons produced in Turkey.
Since 2020, Anadolu Efes has conducted R&D studies to convert the malt waste, which is a byproduct of the industry, into functional malt fiber, thereby creating a value-added raw material for the food sector through advanced recycling.
Originating from Anadolu Efes's internal entrepreneurship platform, the first venture commercialized using this malt fiber is "Malty Bites," Turkey's first upcycled snack. Work continues for alternative usage areas.
'Environmental Social Responsibility Applications' Category Green Dot Industry Awards: Migros - Respect for Food Project: Globally, approximately one-third of food, averaging 1.3 billion tons, is wasted each year while over 800 million people struggle with hunger; it is known that the waste of just a quarter of this food could end hunger on Earth. Addressing this global issue requires an approach to existing food systems from a sustainability perspective, considering environmental and financial impacts as well as social dimensions.
Acting in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Migros aims to ensure sustainable development by ensuring that every living being has a similar and fair living environment. Since initiating the Respect for Food Project in 2017, Migros has been delivering nutritious, healthy food that does not convert into sales but retains its nutritional value, through partnerships like Fazla, to those in need. From the start of the project until the end of 2023, 18,472 tons of food items have been delivered to those in need, saving more than 40 million meals. Approximately 1.5 million needy individuals are reached monthly through food banks.
Anadolu Efes - One More Breath to the Sea Project: One of the prioritized topics suggested by stakeholders of Anadolu Efes is biodiversity. To embark on a project focusing on biodiversity by prioritizing stakeholders' views, Anadolu Efes collaborated with the Marine Life Protection Association (DYKD), which works on the development of marine biodiversity, and launched the One More Breath to the Sea project.
In this project, Anadolu Efes works to protect and propagate coral reefs, drawing attention to their importance in the development of biodiversity in our seas. In the first phase of the project, corals that were broken or damaged were relocated to Tavşan Island, designated as a sensitive area for conservation, contributing to the formation of new coral gardens. In the second phase, the relocated corals began to be monitored 24/7 with imaging systems placed underwater to observe the development of biodiversity there. In the project's third phase, musician Mercan Dede collaborated, creating "The Symphony of Corals," inspired by recorded sounds and visuals from the Sea of Marmara, becoming the voice of biodiversity in Marmara.
Vestel - DIY Workshops with Vestel Project: The DIY Workshops with Vestel were established as workshops focused on robotic coding and design skills using devices made from electronic, plastic, and metal waste. The workshops opened in eight schools provided education to schools with inadequate technological infrastructure, equipped with classes using Vestel Technology. In doing so, waste was utilized within the project while minimizing environmental damage through "zero waste" management efforts. Equal educational opportunities were provided to children, while also equipping students with practical and algorithmic skills, allowing them to discover their potential.
Vestel White Goods, Uşak University, and Provincial Directorates of National Education in four provinces collaborated on the project, which received a 40% grant from Zafer Development Agency under the SOGEP (Social Development Support Program).
'Environmental Social Responsibility Applications' Category Green Dot Encouragement Award: GCA - Ekomat Project: In the EKOMAT Project realized by GCA in Yalova between 2022-23, fully automated deposit return machines were used. This project, conducted in cooperation with Yalova Municipality, covers the packaging recovery processes digitized with electric collection vehicles and local software infrastructure.
In Yalova, selected as the pilot city, 34 EKOMAT devices were installed at 15 locations, reaching over 12,000 users. Citizens contributed to the environment by collecting recyclable waste and earned incentive points through a mobile application. This project serves as a model for the national deposit system Turkey plans to implement in 2025, reducing waste by the equivalent of 61 garbage trucks over 18 months, significantly contributing to the conservation of natural resources and energy saving.