Carbon-Neutral Organized Industrial Zone to Be Established

Carbon-Neutral Industrial Zone to Be Established The leather and leather goods sector, which closed 2021 with export value exceeding USD 1.7 billion, has shifted focus to new period projects. Güven Karaca, Deputy Chairman of Istanbul Leather and Leather Goods Exporters Association, announced that a Carbon-Neutral Industrial Zone will be established with all stakeholders in the sector. Güven Karaca, who announced his candidacy for chairman for the new period, began sharing his projects. Noting that the leather and leather goods sector—comprising footwear, saddlery, leather and fur manufacturing, and tanneries—is one of Turkey's most important sectors in terms of value-added exports and foreign trade surplus, Karaca emphasized that the scale problem ranks foremost among the priorities facing footwear, saddlery, leather and fur manufacturing companies, as well as supporting industry manufacturers in these sectors.

Carbon-Neutral Industrial Zone

Karaca stated that the "Carbon-Neutral Industrial Zone," which the sector has long felt the need for, will represent an important step in solving the scale problem facing these sectors while establishing a framework that addresses many issues that rank among international buyers' fundamental purchasing criteria. He added that they will build the project in complete harmony and consensus with all relevant sectoral NGOs and stakeholders. Noting that his priority is to increase the number of companies demonstrating competence in sustainability and social compliance, Karaca emphasized that production in the Carbon-Neutral Industrial Zones to be established will be conducted primarily using renewable energy sources. He stated that waste from companies operating in these zones will be processed through energy generation facilities to be built, and that they will work toward achieving a zero-waste industrial zone target. Karaca explained that waste unsuitable for energy generation will be sorted at source and recycled appropriately, enabling exporting companies to collectively overcome many problems that individual firms would struggle to address alone. Karaca highlighted that the Carbon-Neutral Industrial Zones will provide numerous services on site, from shared-use subcontracting areas to customs clearance and logistics solutions. He noted that intensive work is underway on financing solutions for both infrastructure and superstructure needs, as well as social amenities such as childcare facilities and housing. Emphasizing that one of the most critical needs is a skilled and productive workforce, Karaca stated that they are working in close cooperation with the Ministry of National Education to provide vocational and formal education to students from secondary school age onward. He underscored that support facilities such as training centers, incubators, research and development, and excellence centers will be included in the industrial zones to be established.