CFN Kimya Targets Net-Zero Carbon by 2023

Turkey's leading EPS manufacturer CFN Kimya aims to reach zero carbon by 2023 and increase recycling volumes. CFN Kimya, which exports 60 percent of its production to Europe, the Balkans, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East, provides added value to the national economy with 100,000 tons of production capacity and EPS products. The company, which aims to raise recycling awareness, collects bigbag packaging products from its customers and directs them to recycling in order to reduce plastic waste. Nihansu Sinmez, Corporate Communications Leader at CFN Kimya, stated that the company began production in 2013 to meet Turkey's EPS product needs. "CFN Kimya, as one of the world's leading EPS production facilities, presents EPS products to domestic and foreign markets with international standard quality in the GEBKİM V. Chemistry Specialized Organized Industrial Zone. Our company produces chemical semi-finished raw materials with annual capacity of 100,000 tons under the 'White Gold' brand for application areas such as construction, packaging and geaofoam. Our products, whose primary raw material depends on imports, are exported at a rate of 60 percent to Europe, the Balkans, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East regions," he said. Sinmez noted that they focus on commercial collaborations and developments in Turkey and globally in their sector, as well as sustainable production models and zero carbon target projects within the scope of the European Green Deal regulations in industry, and continue project activities for Industry 4.0 processes.

Less raw material is being used

Providing information about EPS products, Nihansu Sinmez stated, "EPS, Expandable Polystyrene, is a thermoplastic material and is one of the least harmful products to the environment among such products. When processed, it can expand up to 40 times its own size, and because the product contains 98 percent air, applications can be performed with less raw material usage. We want to provide the greatest possible added value to the world and our environment by establishing a conscious balance in production and consumption."  

Reducing plastic waste volume

Noting that they use high-quality, durable and reusable packaging when distributing their products, Sinmez said, "We have launched an initiative in which we aim to integrate bigbag packaging products used in packaging into the circular economy, extend their lifespan and reduce plastic waste by collecting packaging from our customers and reusing it in packaging. We carry out the collection of packaging through our own logistics capabilities and direct our packaging whose service life has ended to recycling. In the initial phase of the project, we conducted pilot tests with some of our customers and received positive results and feedback. In the second phase, we aim to expand our campaign and increase recycling awareness in our sector in this area. We view all of this not as an additional cost, but as an investment in the future of our world," he said. Sinmez stated that they have launched projects for both recycling process waste and vapors resulting from production within the factory and for using them as raw materials in different facilities after processing. Saying that the throwaway culture is costly to the environment and society, Sinmez noted, "We must be aware that the resources the world offers us are not infinite. In this context, we also believe that recycling and zero waste projects are very valuable. In this area, there are various initiatives and incentives in public institutions, NGOs and the private sector in our country as well. We also launched our campaign aimed at using recycling potential within our own cycle to contribute to our country and the world in this area. With our work, we aim to encourage other facilities and believe that each facility will focus on what it can do and take action, and this chain link will grow," he said.

Circular economy commission established within the company

Noting that they aim to reach zero carbon by 2023 and increase recycling volumes, Sinmez said that to achieve their targets, they established a circular economy commission within the company, bringing together team members from different units with different perspectives and knowledge. Sinmez, noting that they aim to capture opportunities in literature and field studies, ensure that this awareness is spread first within the company and then among stakeholders through team coordination, and obtain strong results in this way, said, "To reduce carbon footprint, we ensure recycling of small amounts of raw material chemicals released while the reaction continues in the reactor unit using raw material recovery units, making them reusable in production. Additionally, with our steam recovery system, we reduce natural gas consumption in heating and energy source needs, providing lower carbon emissions to the atmosphere and lower energy source consumption at the facility."

R&D projects to be carried out at CFN R&D and Technology Inc.

Sinmez reported that 60 percent of their 2020 sales were made abroad and 40 percent domestically, noting that during the year they introduced the 'White Gold' brand and products by making sales to 42 countries. Stating that in 2021 they focused on production and exports with the goal of sustainable growth and profitability, Sinmez said, "We will continue to increase our efforts to strengthen our presence in global markets with our innovative R&D projects, which we laid the foundation for in 2020. Explaining that in 2021 they allocated 1 percent of company budget to R&D projects, Sinmez also stated that through collaboration with the TİM INOSUIT project, they embedded innovation culture into business workflow processes, supporting the emergence of innovative initiatives and ideas within the company. Sinmez said, "Our products are used for insulation purposes in building façade coatings, and when energy efficiency is provided through application in quality and standards found in regulations, we can say that it will contribute significantly to reducing consumption of our energy resources and indirectly to reducing the current account deficit of the country's economy. We believe that in such an important area, public institutions need to operate market monitoring and supervision bodies to take measures in our sector."   Source