KSO Şahabettin Bilgisu Environment Awards: Application Deadline 22 April

The "Şahabettin Bilgisu Environmental Awards," organized by Kocaeli Chamber of Industry since 1995, stands out as one of Turkey's first and most prestigious environmental-awareness award programs.

This year marking the 31st edition, the awards aim to encourage environmentally conscious industrial enterprises and highlight practices that make a difference in sustainability. Applications will be accepted until 22 April 2025, and winners will be announced at a ceremony held during Environment Week. The program both contributes to nature conservation and encourages industrialists to develop innovative environmental strategies.

Award Purpose and Scope
The Şahabettin Bilgisu Environmental Awards embrace a broad vision spanning from environmental protection to sustainable production. The organization's key objectives are:
• Contributing to environmental protection and improvement,
• Continuously promoting environmental amelioration,
• Encouraging alignment with evolving environmental principles,
• Raising environmental awareness,
• Disseminating best practice examples,
• Supporting organizations making measurable environmental investments and creating value for society.

Historical Development and Categories
First awarded in 1995 and 1996 in four categories—"Green Stack, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Environmentally Friendly Product and Environmentally Friendly Project"—the awards shifted to a single category from 1997 onward and took the name of "Environmentalist President" Şahabettin Bilgisu. The program expanded in 1998 to include environmental provinces and in 1999 to cover the Marmara Region. Since 2003, awards have been evaluated in two main categories—"Large-Scale Enterprise" and "Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME)"—and from 2014 added sector-based differentiation. Awards are distributed across major sectors including automotive, chemicals, food, metals, machinery and energy, provided competence is demonstrated. In 2015, the program expanded nationwide, broadening its scope to a national scale.

Application and Award Process
The deadline for this year's applications is 22 April 2025, Tuesday. Applications will be submitted to Kocaeli Chamber of Industry, and winners will be announced at a special ceremony held during Environment Week. Application fees are set at TRY 10,000 for SMEs and TRY 50,000 for large enterprises.

Benefits for Winners
Award-winning enterprises will benefit from special discounts on waste they submit to İZAYDAŞ for one year. Companies that pass the initial screening and qualify for site visits will also benefit from these discounts. Discount rates are determined annually by the İZAYDAŞ Board of Directors. Additionally, winners will have the right to use the award logo in their corporate communications free of charge for two years.

Why It Matters
The Kocaeli Chamber of Industry Şahabettin Bilgisu Environmental Awards is not merely an award program but also a pioneering movement in spreading environmental awareness. While encouraging industrialists to adopt nature-compatible production practices, it contributes to Turkey's green transition objectives. This high-value brand program serves as both a source of motivation and a prestigious platform for environmentally conscious enterprises.

A product of 31 years of heritage, these awards celebrate the balance between environment and industry. You too can apply to be part of this meaningful journey!