Industrial Symbiosis in İzmir Region Project Kick-Off Meeting – Industrial Symbiosis Opportunities and Best Practice Examples Panel took place on 30th of November 2021 at İzmir Historical Gas Factory on 30 November 2021, with necessary consideration to relevant measures against COVID-19.
Project Kick-Off Meeting – Industrial Symbiosis Opportunities and Best Practice Examples Panel was realized in order to inform the regional stakeholders interested in and willing to work within the project scope in the field about the project, as well as public Institutions, university and private sector employees, representatives from free zones, chambers of industry and commerce and their units, technology development zones, and NGOs. A total of 288 people participated in the event, comprising of 64 physical participants and 224 online participants.
The kick-off meeting started with the opening speech made by the Secretary General of İzmir Development Agency, Dr. Mehmet Yavuz. Yavuz stated that this project, initiated in order to support the industry in the İzmir Region within the scope of Green Consensus, will help to build capacity and develop framework in the Izmir region.
Following the speech of Dr. Mehmet Yavuz, UNDP Türkiye Resident Representative Louisa Vinton participated in the program online. Vinton stated that the existing export capacity of İzmir offers a great opportunity for İzmir province and its region, and that İzmir Development Agency is one of the main partners in both this project and sustainable development goals.
Following the speech of Louisa Vinton, Ahmet Şimşek, Assistant General Manager of the General Directorate of Development Agencies, participated in the program online. Şimşek talked about the adverse conditions brought by the linear economic system in which the resources are used inefficiently, and the necessity of the transition to a production system that reduces resource consumption and minimizes environmental effects in scope of the combating climate change program.
Following the opening speeches, the event continued with UNDP Türkiye Chemicals and Waste Projects Coordinator Meral Mungan Arda and İZKA Green Growth Policies Unit Expert Bilgen Eymirli’s Industrial Symbiosis in Izmir Region Project presentation. Following the presentation, the opportunities presented in the field of industrial symbiosis, possible cooperation areas, industrial symbiosis projects realized in Türkiye and lessons learned were presented with the participation of National Project Advisor Dr. Emrah Alkaya.
Industrial Symbiosis Opportunities and Best Practice Examples Panel was realized with the moderation provided by Sena Gürsoy, İZKA Head of Green Growth Policies Unit. Peter Laybourn, Chief Technical Advisor for the Izmir Industrial Symbiosis Project, Prof Dr. Mustafa Tanyeri, Secretary General of the İzmir Chamber of Commerce, Miray Tuğ, Sütaş Süt Ürünleri A.S. Environmental Regulations and Inspections Department Director, Duygu Yılmaz, Biolive Founder Manager, and Seçkin Arıkan, Oleatex Business Development and Sustainability Manager, participated in the panel.
Project Chief Technical Advisor Peter Thornton Laybourn emphasized how important a role industrial symbiosis plays in reducing carbon emissions, and how İzmir and its region can create an opportunity for industrial symbiosis.
Prof Dr. Mustafa Tanyeri, Secretary General of İzmir Chamber of Commerce, talked about the global climate crisis, the importance and benefits of the transition to eco efficiency, enabling less natural resources use and less waste generation. Prof Dr. Tanyeri also mentioned that compost was obtained from foods with expired shelf life, the fruit seeds were used as inputs in the cosmetic sector, egg wastes were used as inputs in the food supplement sector, and that 100% recyclable leather was produced from textile wastes thanks to herbal tanning methods.
Sütaş Süt Ürünleri A.S. Environmental Regulations and Inspections Manager Miray Tuğ introduced Enfaş A.S. and Tarfaş A.S., established and developed by Sütaş Group Companies, and mentioned the industrial symbiosis flow between these 3 companies and the mutual benefits provided.
Biolive Founder Manager Duygu Yılmaz, stated they produce a new type of polymer from the olive seeds that fall into the waste category, reduce the effect of carbon emissions with this product, increase product sustainability and develop recyclable and significantly more economical products such as anti-bacterial combs, toothbrushes, thermoses and ice buckets.
Oleatex Business Development and Sustainability Manager Seçkin Arıkan talked about the textile products that they have brought into production and collected under the roof of Oleatex in the light of the idea on how to create more sustainable, bio-based and less damaging accessories to the environment from olive industry wastes and other plant-based wastes.
During and after the panel, panelists answered questions from both online and physical participants. In this event organized within the scope of zero waste, badges, paper, plastic plates, forks, knives, cups, etc. were used. No single-use products were included and care was taken to ensure that the materials prepared were recyclable and suitable for reuse.
