Yıldız Holding, which has long been committed to sustainability through its "Waste-Free Company" business model, is advancing its comprehensive system transformation, as detailed in its 7th Sustainability Report. The report provides detailed insights into the Holding's green transformation projects for carbon neutrality, waste management, water and energy efficiency in 2023, as well as its social sustainability efforts related to equal opportunities, inclusivity, and societal benefit.

Mehmet Tütüncü, Vice Chairman and CEO of Yıldız Holding, stated, "We are committed to continuously advancing our efforts with the goal of strengthening and transforming in collaboration with all our stakeholders within the diverse ecosystem we impact across the geographies we operate in. Our sustainability report, detailing future goals and actionable steps through our 'This World Is Ours' approach, demonstrates the successful performance achieved in this area.”

Yıldız Holding has released its 7th Sustainability Report, providing a comprehensive overview of its and its subsidiaries' sustainability activities for 2023. The report covers the activities of Adapazarı Şeker, Aytaç Gıda, Bizim Toptan, Kerevitaş, ŞOK Marketler, and Ülker for the period from January 1 to December 31, 2023. The report consolidates the social and environmental performance indicators of Yıldız Holding and its subsidiaries, while adhering to the GRI Standards Core Option. It highlights Yıldız Holding’s commitments and innovative projects under the headings "Working for the Future of Nature," "Strengthening with Our Stakeholders," and "Inspiring the Future." Additionally, the report details the activities and performance of Yıldız Holding concerning the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), along with its direct and indirect contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Green Transformation Progresses Unabated

Yıldız Holding is steadfastly advancing towards its "net zero" greenhouse gas emission target across its entire value chain by 2050, reinforcing this commitment with concrete actions. In 2023, the carbon-neutrality project previously initiated at Ülker and Kerevitaş was extended to include Aytaç and Bizim Toptan. Last year, Yıldız Holding and its subsidiaries achieved notable advancements in reducing plastic usage. The company exceeded its 1,000-ton reduction target set under the Business Plastic Initiative, reaching a total reduction of 2,250 tons. Accelerating its green transformation efforts across all companies, Yıldız Holding has also intensified its investments in renewable energy. A solar power plant to be established on Aytaç’s factory premises will will fulfill all of the factory's electricity requirements through renewable energy sources.

Equal Opportunities and Inclusivity Initiatives Making Global Impact

Under the leadership of its Women’s Platform established in 2021, Yıldız Holding continues to steadfastly advance its efforts towards equal opportunities throughout its value chain. Aiming to increase diversity across all management levels and strengthen the proportion of women in senior management by 2030, Yıldız Holding has raised the percentage of female board members in its group companies from 14% to 26% following its shift towards equal opportunities. The company has also reached the final stage of an international certification process, which was voluntarily undertaken to document its commitment to equal pay for equal work according to international standards, having successfully completed the first phase.

Yıldız Holding’s efforts towards equal opportunities, particularly its support for women entrepreneurs, have garnered significant global attention. In September, the Holding’s pioneering work in equal opportunities and inclusivity was showcased as a model at a special session at the United Nations Headquarters.

Moreover, social benefit projects executed by companies, aimed at empowering women and supporting local producers, have prominently featured this year as part of their focus on positive impact.

Innovation Investments to Double by 2030

Focusing on inspiring the future, Yıldız Holding continues its R&D activities across various fields in all its companies, from developing new products and implementing sustainable packaging practices to reducing water consumption and applying technological advancements in agriculture. The company is maintaining its leadership across all sectors, especially in food and retail, through its ongoing innovation investments. Yıldız Holding aims to double its sustainability-focused innovation investments by 2030, with its innovative efforts being managed by Yıldız Tech, which has been granted "On-Site R&D Center" status.

Mehmet Tütüncü: "We Are Shaping Our Industry with Transformative Leadership"

Mehmet Tütüncü, Vice Chairman and CEO of Yıldız Holding, emphasized that the company is advancing its sustainability initiatives through the "Waste-Free Company" business model, employing a holistic system transformation approach. He stated, "We aim to strengthen and transform together with all our stakeholders across the broad ecosystems in the geographies we operate in. This year, we are pleased to share the progress, goals, and concrete actions we have achieved under our 'This World Is Ours' approach in our 7th sustainability report. We have accelerated sustainability-focused initiatives across Yıldız Holding and all its companies. Our sustainability report showcases our successful performance in this regard. Moving forward, we are committed to taking bold and decisive actions to surpass the progress we have already made in sustainability"