ÇEVKO Green Dot and Press Awards Announce Winners

ÇEVKO Foundation's Green Dot Student and Press Awards found their recipients. The ÇEVKO Foundation Green Dot Student Awards, presented for the first time this year, and the Green Dot Press Awards, now in their 10th edition, found their recipients at a ceremony held in a digital environment. Noting that the Green Dot brand represented by ÇEVKO Foundation in Turkey is the mark of packaging waste recycling systems in which over 540 million consumers participate across 31 countries, ÇEVKO Foundation General Secretary Mete İmer stated: "The Green Dot symbolizes the responsible producer and the respect and appreciation consumers show for this responsibility. Through the Green Dot Awards, industrial enterprises and media organizations are recognized. As of 2021, marking the 30th year of our organization, we are launching the Green Dot Student Awards to encourage university students to develop products, practices and projects in the fields of packaging design, waste management and environmental corporate social responsibility," he said. Expressing that ÇEVKO Foundation contributes to sustainable development in Turkey through the knowledge it possesses, its domestic and international relations, experienced human resources, and collaborations between the private sector and public administration, local governments and academic institutions, and civil society organizations, Mete İmer stated: "In the fight against the climate crisis, which is today's and tomorrow's greatest threat, important responsibilities fall to individuals, public authorities, industry and civil society organizations. Another significant risk facing the world is how to ensure sustainable development in the face of population growth and limited resources. On this matter, circular economy as a new business model offers a solution proposal. For these very reasons, ÇEVKO Foundation, which set out in 1991 with the aim of contributing to environmental protection, social development and the economy through the recycling of packaging waste, has focused in recent years on combating the climate crisis and transitioning to a circular economy," he said.

Green Dot Student Awards

At the ÇEVKO Foundation Green Dot Student Awards ceremony, 9 students from 7 different universities were deemed worthy of the Green Dot Student Award with 7 projects in 3 different categories. Istanbul Technical University Interior Architecture Department students Beyza Nur Eraslan and Feyza Başak won First Prize in the "Packaging Prevention Practices" category as a group with their DIY Christmas Ornaments Projects, which consist of design ideas to prevent packaging waste from decorations purchased during the holiday season and to convert box surfaces into decorations to enable the recovery of packaging boxes. Furthermore, they were the only project deemed worthy of an award in this category. In the Waste Management Systems and Practices category, two students shared the First Prize, making this category the one with the most awards given. Derya Ercivan, student of the Middle East Technical University Industrial Design Department, became the first individual recipient of First Prize with the EcoPhil Project, a filter solution for washing machines aimed at reducing microplastics pollution, one of the major causes of marine and water pollution, and preventing it from being released from homes into nature. Kumsal Kurt, student of Özyeğin University Industrial Design Department, individually claimed his name to the second First Prize in this category with the Cyclearly Project, which envisions a waste management system that will begin the recycling of secondary packaging at the point where waste is generated, with the help of stands positioned at checkout exits in markets. Since there were two First Prize winners in the category, no Second Prize was awarded. Çağdaş Saz, student of Eskişehir Technical University Biology/Ecology Department, won Third Prize individually with the Electro-wetland Energy Greenhouse Design (EWA) Project, which envisions a new generation waste-energy management strategy where wastewater can be evaluated as a resource, is environmentally compatible, has low carbon emissions and can implement a circular economy model. Melike Kiraz and Ümmü Beyza Top, students of Gazi University Industrial Design Department, were deemed worthy of an Encouragement Award as a group with their R-bin Projects, an idea for a family of smart waste bins for street units and home units that makes waste identification and automatic classification and recycling processes defined and easy, designed to promote recycling and capable of integrating into smart and sustainable urban design. Gülişah Sanem Şen, student of Gebze Technical University Environmental Engineering Department, won First Prize individually with the Pharmy Project, which envisages the integration of wastes into an intelligent system to contribute to the collection of expired medicines and the recycling of packaging parts and reduce the amount of waste. Süleyman Miran, student of Health Sciences University Medical Laboratory Techniques Department, won Second Prize individually with the Smart Vending Machine Systems Project, which envisions the use of smart vending machine systems in universities to make recycling fun, help students love recycling, and provide them with recycling habits and awareness.

Green Dot Press Awards

The Green Dot Press Awards, presented to media organizations, journalists and individuals who have earned public recognition for their sensitivity in raising public awareness and informing society about the environment and recycling; in 2021, "Milliyet" won in the Newspaper category, "Anadolu Ajansı" in the News Agency category, "Para" Magazine in the Magazine category, "NTV" in the TV category, "TRT Radyo" in the Radio category, and "Ekovitrin.com" in the News Website category, while the owner of the "Special Award" was Celal Toprak, President of the Association of Economic Journalists.