"Preventing Food Waste Is Both an Economic and Social Responsibility"

TÜGİS Chairman of the Board Kaan Sidar stated that food waste is not merely an economic loss, but also represents the squandering of natural resources, labor, and the future. Emphasizing that a conscious consumption culture must be strengthened to reach sustainability targets, Sidar highlighted that combating food waste is of critical importance in the fight against climate change.

Drawing attention to the fact that millions of tons of food are wasted annually in Turkey at the consumption stage, TÜGİS (Turkey Food Manufacturers' Association) Chairman of the Board Kaan Sidar said that food waste does not only lead to economic losses, but also means the wasteful spending of water, energy, labor, and natural resources used in the production process.

Stating that conscious consumption is as important as production for the food sector to achieve its sustainability targets, Sidar expressed that reducing waste that occurs particularly in households and often goes unnoticed is of great importance.

"The Cost of Food Waste Extends Far Beyond the Table"
Drawing attention to the environmental and social impacts of food waste, Kaan Sidar stated the following:

"Every food product we throw away today takes with it the water, energy, labor, and natural resources used in its production. For this reason, food waste is no longer merely an economic issue; it has become a global matter with environmental, social, and ethical dimensions. To achieve lasting results in combating waste, we must increase food literacy and promote a culture of conscious consumption. Standing against waste creates a broad impact area ranging from sustainability to climate action, from resource efficiency to the transformation of public awareness."

"Consumers Must Be Supported with Correct Information"
Emphasizing that lack of information about food labels in society is one of the important factors that increases waste, Sidar stated that consumers need to be informed in light of scientific data.

"Consumers, particularly regarding concepts such as expiration date and best-by date, need to be supported with correct information. Acting on misinformation instead of scientific facts can cause many products that are safe to consume to be unnecessarily thrown away. Promoting a culture of conscious consumption without ever compromising food safety is a shared responsibility of us all," he said.

"Reducing Waste Contributes to Climate Crisis Mitigation"
Also addressing the impacts of food waste on climate change, Sidar expressed that the transformation that will occur in consumption habits is of critical importance for a sustainable future.

"Food waste is one of the direct factors feeding the climate crisis in terms of carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, and natural resource consumption. Therefore, every step taken to prevent waste also contributes to combating climate change. For this reason, it is of great importance for the public sector, private sector, academia, civil society, and consumers to create a common awareness platform."

"Food Literacy Campaign is a Call for Shared Responsibility"
Making assessments regarding the Food Literacy Campaign, in which TÜGİS is also among the stakeholders, Sidar used the following expressions:

"As TÜGİS, we find the Food Literacy Campaign, which aims to strengthen conscious consumption culture, increase resource efficiency, and contribute to sustainability targets, extremely valuable. We believe that all stakeholders must act together to reduce food waste and increase public awareness."

About TÜGİS
TÜGİS, one of the country's first employers' associations, is also among the founding members of the Confederation of Turkish Employers' Associations (TİSK). With Turkey's leading food manufacturers among its members, TÜGİS has been conducting its activities since 1961 with the aim of contributing to the development of the Turkish food industry, increasing the sector's international competitiveness, and strengthening social dialogue in working life.