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Sustainability Leaders Share Best Practices at SB Türkiye 2024

On September 17-18 at the Swissotel Bosphorus in Istanbul, global and local sustainability leaders shared insights into innovative business strategies, the use of AI, supply chain transformation, and brand-led cultural change.

Published 1 month ago | About a 4 minute read

Image: Alp Cem

In its 12th year, Sustainable Brands Türkiye offered an important platform for brands to share their sustainability journeys and discuss ways to accelerate transformation in the business world to achieve net positive social and environmental impact.

SB Türkiye 2024 provided a comprehensive platform for discussions on sustainable growth and change in the business landscape. The event tackled various subjects from innovative business strategies and AI-driven sustainability solutions to supply chain transformations and brand-led cultural change.

Top-tier international and local sustainability leaders conquered the stage

Afsin Yurdakul and Thomas Kolster | Image credit: Sustainable Brands Türkiye

Moderated by journalist Afşin Yurdakul and Thomas Kolster, Founder and Creative Director of Goodvertising Agency, the event featured over 100 top-tier sustainability leaders and 30 international experts — including Karen Silverman, Julie Davitz, Antti Isokangas, Sandy Skees and Sustainable Brands® CEO Mike Dupee — who shared their visions on sustainability strategies and practices.

In her opening speech, SB Türkiye Country Director Semra Sevinç stated, “On this journey we embarked on 12 years ago as Sustainable Brands Türkiye, we have grown — with new brands joining us each year, contributing to the global sustainability movement. Today — as we witness significant transformations in economic, technological, and social fields — brands must consider not only their share value but also their social and environmental impacts. Creating resilient economies, resilient brands, and resilient communities is one of our main goals.”

Semra Sevinç | Image credit: Sustainable Brands Türkiye

“Sustainability is not a challenge that one country or company can solve; it requires a global endeavor,” Dupee emphasized. “As the Sustainable Brands community, we aim to achieve sustainable growth through both social and environmental innovations. Türkiye's position as a bridge between East and West exemplifies how local efforts can be supported by global collaborations. Our greatest strength lies in deepening cooperation and accelerating innovations for a more sustainable future.”

Brand progress

L-R: Can Mete Paker, Nisan Danışman, Sinem Çelik, Maksut Aşkar and Aysun Şabanlı | Image credit: Sustainable Brands Türkiye

Throughout the conference, major brands shared their commitments to environmental and social issues and success stories, highlighting the significance of responsible growth in the business landscape.

“At the core of our sustainability approach is our commitment to creating a better future,” said Can Mete Paker, General Manager of BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad. “We lead the electrification transformation in the automotive sector in Türkiye and have implemented various projects, from developing charging infrastructure to green financing.”

L-R: Antti Isokangas and Vincent Avanzi | Image credit: Sustainable Brands Türkiye

Ebru Şenel Erim — Head of Corporate Relations and Communications for Unilever Türkiye, North Africa and the Middle East — shared that, “By 2039, we aim to achieve net-zero emissions — not only in our operations but throughout our entire supply chain. So far, we have made 78 percent global progress and 74 percent in Türkiye. Reducing plastic usage and increasing the use of recycled plastics are also among our priorities. In Türkiye, we use recycled plastic in 15-30 percent of our packaging.”

“There is no higher purpose than the happiness of humanity guiding us,” said Ercan Öz, CEO of food giant Eti Türkiye. “[With initiatives such as] our Yellow Bicycle project, we are making significant strides in both health and environmental issues. With the aim of reducing carbon emissions, our purpose is to teach people the alternative and environment friendly transportation behaviour.”

Inspiration for accelerating sustainability transformation

Uğur Gürses and Ebru Şenel Erim | Image credit: Sustainable Brands Türkiye

After SB Turkey 2024, participants expressed that they gained different insights into sustainability transformation and information on how to realize this transformation with the shared best practices.

Participants left the conference with a manifesto to accelerate transformation to create a net-positive impact on environmental and social issues, and agreed to come back together in 2025 with concrete outcomes.