Türkiye's Leading Food Company Ülker Advances Steadily Toward "2050 Net Zero" Target

Turkey's leading food company Ülker shared progress on long-term sustainability targets disclosed in 2014 and its future vision. Ülker CEO Özgür Kölükfakı stated, "While continuing our promise of happiness in every bite through our waste-free company culture, we are bringing to life projects that increase our societal impact for the future of our world. Our goal is to become a net-zero company by 2050."

Kölükfakı emphasized that sustainability is critical both for Turkey's development and global prosperity, noting that success can only be achieved through shared responsibility. Reminding that food production must increase by 70 percent by 2050 due to rising population and climate events, Kölükfakı assessed, "Although the food sector has significant transformation potential, it is one of the sectors most affected by the climate crisis. Therefore, sustainability is not an option, but a necessity."

"We base our work on the Sustainable Development Goals"
Kölükfakı emphasized that the "Waste-Free Company" culture inherited from founder Sabri Ülker has been part of the company's DNA since 1944, and that they base their sustainability efforts on the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals to ensure their work is traceable and verifiable:

"With our efforts, we serve 11 of 17 goals. Since 2014, we have grown without increasing carbon emissions, reduced water consumption per unit by 42.2 percent, and converted 99.5 percent of raw materials into finished products."

"Our plastic packaging will be 100 percent recyclable by year-end"
Noting that more than 99 percent of plastic packaging is currently recyclable, reusable or compostable, Kölükfakı stated they will reach 100 percent by year-end.

Stating that they have placed sustainability at the center of all business processes from production to supply chain, R&D to packaging innovations, Kölükfakı said they effectively use technology in regenerative agriculture practices and are running projects aimed at improving farmers' welfare and raising their knowledge levels.

"We receive recognition at international level"
Kölükfakı noted that Ülker's sustainability efforts have resonated at the global scale, stating:

"Being listed five consecutive times in S&P Global's Corporate Sustainability Assessment and ranking first in our category in the LSEG sustainability index shows we are on the right path. We will continue working for a more livable world with our waste-free company culture and environmentally conscious production approach. Our goal is 2050 Net Zero."

"We support sustainable agriculture"
Ülker Operational Excellence, Occupational Health and Safety, Quality and Sustainability Vice President Süheyl Aybar said they are strengthening their sustainability vision with projects targeting agricultural raw materials:

-Regenerative agriculture in wheat, breeding of new wheat varieties and biofortification efforts,

-Education, soil analysis, microbial fertilizer and sapling support in hazelnuts,

-Programs in cocoa that adapt to climate change and improve farmers' social welfare.

Aybar disclosed that in 2024, Turkey's factories sourced all electricity from renewable sources, thereby preventing 101,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. He also reported that plastic use was reduced by 140 tons, paper use by 220 tons, and through the Green Route project, 4,849 tons of carbon emissions were prevented.

"Our medium-term target is 2030"
Aybar listed their targets for 2030 as follows:

-100 percent of electricity consumption at factories and warehouses to be sourced from renewable energy,

-30 percent reduction in logistics-related carbon emissions compared to 2019,

-45 percent reduction in water consumption per unit compared to 2014 and recovery of 250,000 m³ of water/wastewater,

-Food losses to be reduced below 0.5 percent,

-Regenerative agriculture practices to be extended to 10,000 hectares.

Aybar expressed that on the 2050 Net Zero journey they are working on innovative solutions such as electric kiln conversions, carbon capture technologies and electric vehicle investments, with remaining mandatory emissions to be offset through carbon credits and new technologies.