Türkiye İMSAD Highlights Sustainability for World Environment Day

Turkey's İMSAD (Turkish Building Materials Manufacturers Association), which published the construction materials industry's first sustainability report prepared by a civil society organization, is setting another first in the sector on sustainability and environmental matters with the SBE16 ISTANBUL Conference to be held between 13 - 15 October 2016. Making a statement on the occasion of 5 June World Environment Day, İMSAD Board Chairman F. Fethi Hinginar underlined that the future of the world and Turkey depends on building a nature-friendly sustainable life. Chairman Hinginar noted in his statement that civil society organizations bear significant responsibility in taking environmental measures. Stating that Türkiye İMSAD is engaged in a series of activities within the framework of its commitments on this matter, Hinginar emphasized that the SBE16 ISTANBUL Conference, which will be held for the first time in Turkey in October, holds great importance among these activities.

Hinginar: "We will set a precedent in Turkey"

The SBE16 ISTANBUL Conference will be held for the first time in Turkey between 13 - 15 October 2016 as part of the "Sustainable Built Environment Conference Series," which has been taking place in more than 50 countries worldwide since 2000. Providing information about the conference, Hinginar said, "SBE16 ISTANBUL aims to discuss and share ideas, solutions, methods and techniques for a better future. Within this framework, it will bring together building materials manufacturers, scientists, practitioners, architects, engineers, contractors, industry and state institutions, civil organizations and civil society engaged in various topics such as sustainable, green, resilient and smart buildings, cities and metropolises. Our event, also supported by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, is also the first conference in the sector where industry, government, universities and NGOs cooperate. At the conference, discussions will take place on many topics such as sustainable future, climate change, smart buildings, green buildings / cities, research conducted abroad and in our country, our current situation as a country, our problems and our solution proposals." Noting that among the special session speakers at the conference are Ecoplatform President Sven Olof Ryding, Solar Decathlon Europe President Prof. Peter Russell, Japanese Architect Prof. Kazuo Iwamura, World Sustainable Energy Institute (WSEIN) President Gökhan Yıldırım, European Building Performance Institute President Oliver Rapf and REC Turkey President Rifat Ünal Sayman, Hinginar stated that besides these names, board chairmen of international organizations, foreign architects and futurists will also be among the conference speakers. Stating that the conference will be held under the theme "Smart Metropolises – Integrated Solutions for Sustainable and Smart Buildings and Smart Cities," Hinginar expressed that the outcomes from this conference will illuminate the sector's path regarding the future of environment and business processes.

Türkiye İMSAD's Second Sustainability Report on the Way

Expressing that Türkiye İMSAD will continue to give importance to sustainability, the work it has done on this matter and the steps it has taken for economic, social and environmental development that will guide future generations, Hinginar said, "In 2013, we prepared our first sustainability report under the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 Guidelines. With this report, we achieved a first not only in Turkey but also worldwide in sectoral terms. Now we have started work on our second sustainability report. By participating in important sustainability work carried out by our association, we have successful member companies that have achieved significant energy savings, improved production processes and achieved innovative developments. The "good practice examples" of these companies will be included in our second report and will guide institutions in both the sector and stakeholder sectors that are making progress in this field," he said. Noting that they aim to make the Sharing Days event, the second edition of which will be organized in June, periodic within the framework of the work of the Türkiye İMSAD Sustainability Committee, Hinginar stated that through meetings and sessions such as Sectoral Development Meetings, Agenda Meetings and International Construction Quality Summit conducted by Türkiye İMSAD, they will continue to support know-how exchange between sectors and leaders.