Turkey’s textile industry launches first action plan in sustainability

The Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) has unveiled the country’s first “Sustainability Action Plan” for the textile sector, which is the world’s fifth-largest exporter and the second largest in Europe.

The plan, developed in collaboration with the Textile and Raw Materials Exporters Associations (ITHIB), intends to boost Turkey’s worldwide export market share by executing a transformation that would enable the sector to comply with the European Green Deal.

Ismail Gulle, Chairman of TIM, said that the plan will boost all exporting industries while also laying out sectoral roadmaps.

Ahmet Oksuz, ITHIB Chairman, said that on a number of topics, such as wastewater recovery, energy efficiency, and recycling, the industry will take tangible actions. These objectives can only be fulfilled with a shared vision of the public-private partnership.

TIM’s Deputy Chairman, Zeki Kivanc, said that environmentally responsible, long-term production is not an option for Turkey or the rest of the globe; it is a need. The Sustainability Action Plan they created is vital to maintain their competitive advantage and provide additional long-term value-added.