Sapro supports "Plastic Free July"

Every July, "Plastic-Free July" is celebrated to raise awareness of plastic pollution and reduce plastic consumption. Sapro, the leading company in private label wet wipe production and export in Turkey, supports "Plastic-Free July" and reaffirms its commitment to reducing plastic use and protecting the environment. Listed in the ISO 500 for the past 8 years, Sapro has been publishing its Sustainability Report in line with EU SDG Goals under GRI standards since 2019 and has been calculating and issuing Greenhouse Gas Inventories since 2017. Sapro General Manager Murat Gönül, explaining that they continue to work towards their sustainability targets, states: "Since the first production of wet wipes in the world, plastic packaging has been used in products. As Sapro, we are focusing on reducing waste by increasing the use of 30% recycled plastic and 100% recyclable plastic packaging in our products. Our aim is to limit plastic use according to the 5R principle to protect environmental resources for the future, safeguard the ecosystem and enable its development, and minimize the environmental impact of our products and services. According to European Union regulations, all plastic packaging must contain at least 30% recycled material by 2025. Our organization has been continuing to provide customers with recyclable LDPE film and 30% recycled film packaged products in production since 2020. Our target is for all plastic packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2030." "We embrace Sustainable Development Goals" Approximately 90% of wet wipes used globally are produced from fabrics containing plastic, and this results in billions of dollars in plastic waste annually. Research conducted in Europe shows that wet wipes are among the most commonly extracted waste types from oceans and seas. Since wet wipes are not a product properly disposed of by consumers, they pose environmental pollution risks. Gönül, emphasizing that they embarked on producing environmentally friendly biodegradable wet wipes in 2021, states: "Within this scope, our R&D team began investigating the environmental impacts of different fabric types. Various design trials with different raw material ratios were conducted on our new fabric to create optimal structure, relevant tests were applied, and Newipe® next-generation viscose fabric emerged. Our fabric, certified with 'TÜV OK Compost Home' and 'TÜV OK Compost Industrial' certifications, contains 100% renewable plant fibers. When it decomposes, it breaks down into non-toxic, non-harmful components and easily transforms into organic matter. By promoting the use of 100% natural Newipe® fabric without plastic content in our products, we recognize, embrace, and work with awareness toward Sustainable Development Goals 14 and 15, which are respectively 'Life Below Water' and 'Life on Land.' Our new investment in fabric is a product that consumes less energy compared to natural viscose and produces less carbon emissions due to its production method, thus aligning with European Development Goal 7 on affordable, clean energy and Goal 13 on climate action. Our next-generation wipes, deemed worthy of the 'Jury Special Award' in the Eco-Friendly Product Category at the ISO Green Transformation Awards 2024, confirm Sapro's environmentally conscious production approach and commitment to sustainable products." Supporting plastic waste recycling Sapro General Manager Murat Gönül, noting that they support various programs and initiatives to reduce plastic waste and encourage recycling, states: "We are among the 43 companies reporting progress under the Business Plastic Initiative (İPG) commitments. In the packaged consumer goods category, we are among 11 companies. For this purpose, Sapro's total plastic reduction realized in 2023 was calculated as 9,000 kg. Additionally, we organize various training and awareness programs to raise awareness among all our stakeholders about the environmental effects of plastic pollution. We provide training to our employees on plastic pollution, raise awareness about responsible consumption habits, review our product design and packaging processes to reduce unnecessary packaging use. For recyclable packaging production, we collaborate with our suppliers to research and apply innovative technologies, and we carry out efforts to raise awareness among our customers on this matter."