P&G Turkey Plants 35,000 Trees to Mark Its 35th Anniversary

P&G Turkey Plants 35,000 Trees on Its 35th Anniversary P&G is planting 35,000 trees in its 35th year of operation to contribute to a better world for future generations. Employees participated in the tree-planting event for the P&G 35th Year Forest project, which was implemented in cooperation with ÇEVKO Foundation. Procter & Gamble (P&G), one of the world's largest cleaning and personal care products companies that entered Turkey in 1987, is marking its 35th year in Turkey with a series of charitable initiatives under the motto "Love opens every door." Since last year, P&G has undertaken 42 charitable actions, with one of its most significant environmental sustainability initiatives being the P&G 35th Year Forest project, implemented in cooperation with ÇEVKO Foundation and Ege Forest Foundation. Following the forest fires that occurred last summer, P&G pledged 35,000 trees for its 35th year in Turkey and carried out the sapling-planting event with its employees, providing water to the saplings. Ayça Turgay, Head of Corporate Communication for P&G Turkey, Caucasus and Central Asia, said: "P&G is a company that uses its strength for good. We collaborate with more than 30 institutions operating in this field and work to reach our support to as many people as possible. The P&G 35th Year Forest project, which we implemented in cooperation with ÇEVKO Foundation, is very important to us because one of the most significant environmental problems in the world is the decline of forested areas. Particularly last summer, the forest fires that deeply saddened all of us deepened this problem further in our country. At that time, we pledged to all our stakeholders to plant 35,000 trees in our 35th year. Today, we are here to fulfill this promise. We are implementing and will continue to implement many campaigns with our valued global brands to further increase the forested areas of our beautiful country. Above all, there is nothing more meaningful than having 'a tree we planted.' Contributing to a better world for future generations is one of our greatest motivations. Today, with the pride of keeping our promise, we are uniting saplings with the soil. As P&G Turkey, we are greening our country with love." he said. Mete İmer, Secretary General of ÇEVKO Foundation, stated that the Foundation has been continuing its contributions to the environment and economy for more than 30 years with increasing momentum: "P&G, among our founders, is celebrating its 35th year in our country. Combating climate crisis is, as a requirement of the conditions in which we live as humanity, among our Foundation's priority action areas. Now, as companies, states and all institutions, we must conduct this struggle together with individuals. We demonstrated a fine example of this here. I thank all stakeholders for their responsible actions." he said. Yasemen Bilgili, Deputy General Director of Ege Forest Foundation, noted that the Foundation has been working for 27 years on forest sustainability services, protection and sustainability of natural assets, raising awareness through education, establishing balance between economy and ecology, and implementing carbon reduction and offset projects: "By communicating the importance of forest ecosystems and forest ecosystem services to 30,000-35,000 people annually, we are working to raise awareness in society and the business world about forest conservation, sustainability, and the creation of new forest areas." she said. Bilgili, noting that through this afforestation project carried out with P&G, carbon sink areas are being created to make forest ecosystem services sustainable in the face of climate crisis, stated: "Forests absorb and retain a portion of the carbon we emit into the atmosphere. Therefore, tree planting is one of the most important factors in combating climate crisis. In cooperation with the General Directorate of Forestry, after planting saplings in afforestation project areas, we protect forests from human and animal damage by fencing the surrounding area. Over a five-year period, maintenance work such as weed removal, hoeing, sprout control, and terrace repair is carried out around each sapling, and any dead saplings are replaced with new ones. After five years, each sapling becomes biologically independent and integrates into the forest. Since the forest ecosystems of our country are nationally important, particularly due to their rich biological diversity, and attract global attention, ensuring their sustainable management is of great importance." she said. Bilgili noted that Ege Forest Foundation has been collaborating with ÇEVKO Foundation for many years to implement projects for increasing forest ecosystems, and that P&G has also joined this effort with ÇEVKO Foundation to support the afforestation of our country.