Türkiye’s largest and most expansive organized wholesale store chain, Bizim Toptan, announced its sustainability-centered efforts, where it aims to achieve industrial leadership.

It shared its efforts in the fields of renewable energy resources, waste management, sustainable agriculture, responsible supply chain, and equal opportunities in its 6th Sustainability Report, issued with an ‘Independent Assurance Statement.’ Bizim Toptan CEO Hüseyin Balcı said: “We aim to create long-term and sustainable value for our stakeholders in every step we take. We will continue implementing environmental and business ethics responsibilities at the highest level in all our operations.” 

Bizim Toptan, Türkiye’s largest and most expansive organized wholesale store chain in terms of store number and accessibility, shared its industry-leading environmental, social, and governance efforts and projects with the public in its Sustainability Report 2022. Issued for the 6th time, the report was independently audited for data reliability and published with an ‘Independent Assurance Statement.’

Following Yıldız Holding’s “This Is Our World” approach and adopting its  ‘Waste-Free Company’ model, Bizim Toptan shared the details of its extensive efforts across its value chain within the framework of its sustainability roadmap, ranging from investments in green energy resources, packaging and waste management, and products supporting sustainable agriculture to responsible supply chain optimization, OHS (occupational health and safety), and equal opportunities.

Investing in renewable energy and contributing to the environment

Having identified its sustainability focus areas as “Working for the Future of the Environment,” “Growing Stronger with Stakeholders,” and “Inspiring the Future,”  Bizim Toptan implements industry-leading projects to protect nature and ensure sustainable resource use. As part of its plan of gradual transition to renewable energy from 2022 on, the company took its first step with the rooftop Solar Energy System (SES) it installed in its Gebze store, enabling it to meet 107 percent of energy consumption from clean resources.

Bizim Toptan also implements sustainable packaging practices, prioritizing its self-labeled products without compromising on food safety and quality in its packaging processes.  In line with its ‘Packaging Inventory Project’ and  ‘Action Plan to Reduce Packaging,’ it develops projects for packaging reduction and thinning, as well as production with renewable materials. Distributing products across Türkiye’s 81 provinces, the company reduces its carbon footprint through routing optimization in its distribution operations. Through such efforts, it saved 437,000 km of transportation distance last year, preventing 63 tons of carbon emissions.

As part of its Bizim Toptan ‘Sustainable Agriculture Principle’, Bizim Toptan contributes to agriculture and farming in Türkiye and supports local agriculture and development within the global food crisis environment, offering produce grown from local seeds and through local production to its customers sustainably, with less transportation and lower environmental impact. Its heirloom legume and rice series, ‘Ülker Bizim Topraklardan,’ contributes to local agriculture and encourages local seed use.

Bizim Toptan contributed to converting 8 tons of products that were no longer fit for sale at its stores into animal feed as part of its efforts to prevent food waste, reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the same time. With 136 zero-waste-certified stores, Bizim Toptan implements recycling projects, waste reduction programs, and zero-waste goals in the field of waste management. Focusing on reducing environmental impact across its supply chain, the company conducts efforts in sustainable supply chain management to this end.

Creating value for all stakeholders

Bizim Toptan increased the efficiency of its performance management processes by transitioning to the strategic management tool, the OKR (Objective Key Results) system, for its employees in 2022. The company works toward improving the digital shopping experience for its customers and enhancing operational efficiency through models supported by artificial intelligence within its customer-oriented marketing approach. On the other hand, it aims to create long-term sustainable value for tradespeople and customers through its Seç Market business model, which combines traditional local tradespeople culture with modern marketing infrastructure.

Increasing female employee number through an inclusive work environment

Bizim Toptan also conducts efforts toward establishing an inclusive and egalitarian work environment. Adopting goals to increase the number of female employees in its stores with over 10 employees, Bizim Toptan regularly monitors and aims to improve its performance in this area, while Seç Marketler supports women’s entrepreneurship with its rapidly increasing number of female business partners and its “Empowered Smiles” project.

CEO Hüseyin Balcı: “Driven by our responsibilities toward future generations, we focused on our sustainability goals.”

Highlighting they consider sustainability an integral part of their business, Bizim Toptan CEO Hüseyin Balcı said: “As we grow through investments, we conduct all our operations with the consciousness that we have responsibilities toward the entire world and future generations. As an affiliate of Yıldız Holding, we adopt its “This Is Our World” approach and “Waste-Free Company” model. Through our efforts as part of our sustainability strategy, we contribute to ‘Sustainable Development Goals,’ which the United Nations aims to achieve by 2030. We aim to create long-term and sustainable for our stakeholders in every step we take. We will continue implementing environmental and business ethics responsibilities at the highest level in all our operations.”

Remarking they do not reduce the definition of success to financial outcomes solely, Balcı added:   “We are aware of our responsibilities. I believe that achievements do not last unless supported by sustainability goals. Knowing that customer and employee satisfaction are among the primary components of success, we center all our processes around people. As Bizim Toptan, we strive to keep our operations environmentally friendly, sustainable, and of the highest quality in collaboration with all our employees and business partners.”