Ülker Publishes 2019 Sustainability Report

As a responsible and leading food company, Ülker continues to grow with its zero-waste business model and has published its 2019 Sustainability Report outlining its work in economic, social and environmental sustainability. Ülker recycled 91% of its total waste. It achieved energy savings of 2,502 MWh, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 1,500 households. Since 2014, through continuous improvements in its distribution network, it has traveled 2.2 million km less distance. Ülker published its 5th Sustainability Report, disclosing the economic, social and environmental sustainability performance data of its 2019 Turkey operations. Ülker CEO Mete Buyurgan, noting that the company is making step-by-step progress toward targets set for 2024—the company's 80th founding anniversary—under the headings of environment, value chain, innovation, employees, social responsibility and leadership, shared the following information on developments: "As a result of approximately 150 improvement initiatives implemented last year within operational excellence, we achieved savings of TRY 16.2 million. While working toward a zero-waste goal, we recycled 91% of our total waste. We installed energy monitoring systems in all our factories and activated real-time monitoring. We achieved energy savings of 2,502 MWh, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 1,500 households. We reduced water consumption per unit of production by 31.2%, thus exceeding our 2024 target of 30% water reduction. This figure is equivalent to the daily water consumption of a city with a population of 3.2 million. While aiming to understand our customers' needs, provide new products and develop our products, we also leverage the power of innovation to reduce our environmental impact. We increased our R&D and innovation expenditure by 35%. Of the 372 projects developed—including new products, processes and quality improvements—we completed 213. In packaging reduction initiatives, in 2019 we used 355 tonnes less plastic, 96 tonnes less paper and 10 tonnes less aluminium material."

Implemented 850 employee suggestions

Noting that the company showed successful financial performance in 2019, Buyurgan stated that Ülker Bisküvi reached revenue of TRY 7.8 billion in 2019. Buyurgan continued: "We believe that our sustainability initiatives must first be embraced by our own employees, and we reinforce this through training. Last year, through our 'Akıl Küpü' platform, we reviewed 4,459 suggestions shared by our employees. We implemented 850 of these suggestions, which covered time, cost savings and improvements. Advanced technology combined with our zero-waste production model provides us with advantages in efficiency, productivity, speed and cost."

2.2 million km less distance traveled since 2014

Recalling that the company continues to grow without an increase in carbon emissions, Buyurgan said that the distribution network extending from factories to consumers across Turkey is being systematically renewed on an ongoing basis, noting that since 2014 the company has traveled 2.2 million km less distance, which is equivalent to circling the world 55 fewer times.

Sustainable raw material sourcing a priority

Acting with awareness that protection of plant biodiversity, reduction of environmental impacts from agriculture and productivity in agriculture are key elements of sustainable farming, Buyurgan made the following assessment: "We work in cooperation with expert organizations in the field. We conduct work specifically on wheat and oats with agricultural research institutes under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Wheat is an important raw material for both our country and us. We conducted breeding studies with the Konya Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute for ideal biscuit-grade wheat production. As a result of these studies, we developed a high-yield, drought-tolerant wheat variety which we named 'Ali Ağa'. We will continue our work to expand the use of Ali Ağa wheat, which we are conducting pilot plantings of. We meet all our annual oat requirements through contracted cultivation with our farmers. We supported the Thrace Agricultural Research Institute's project to develop its oat variety named Kahraman."

Ülker chosen as good life brand for second time

Noting that since 2016 the company has been included in the FTSE4Good Emerging Markets Sustainability Index and since 2015 in the Borsa Istanbul Sustainability Index, Buyurgan stated: "According to the Good Life/İyi Yaşam Research conducted in cooperation with Nielsen and Sustainable Brands Istanbul, which focuses on consumers' lifestyle, consumption habits and values that redefine and shape good living, we were selected as a 'good life brand' in food for the second consecutive time. At the 2019 edie Sustainability Leaders Awards, considered among the world's most prestigious business awards, we achieved finalist status in three categories: Sustainability Reporting and Communication, Water Management and Logistics Management."