Koton at the Forefront of Sustainability at UN Climate Change Conference COP28
Last Updated on:
Koton, a notable force in the fashion industry, participated in the COP28 conference in Dubai. The event was attended by influential figures including Yılmaz Yılmaz, Chairman of Koton; Şahika Ercümen, face of Koton’s Respect for Water Collection; Anthony Leiserowitz of Yale University; and Burak Kuyan, CEO of Galata Wind Energy.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY. January 16th, 2024 – Koton, Türkiye’s esteemed fashion brand, is actively involved in promoting gender equality and sustainability.
Speaking at the “Story of Us” panel at COP28, Yılmaz Yılmaz, Chairman of Koton, shed light on the company’s sustainability journey. “In 2020, we unveiled our ‘Respect for Life’ sustainability manifesto, which comprises four key elements: Respect for Our World, Society, People, and Business.
‘Respect for Our World’ is highlighted by our role as the first Turkish retail brand to commit to the ‘Better Cotton’ initiative. We aim to elevate our sustainable product output from 25% in 2022 to 50% by 2025, aiming for considerable environmental benefits. This includes saving about 8 million cubic meters of water, decreasing chemical drug usage by 5 tons, and enhancing cotton production by approximately 1100 tons, equating to the production of about 4 million more T-shirts,” he detailed.
“72% OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE WOMEN”
Yılmaz also mentioned, “Under ‘Respect for Society,’ our ‘Handmade’ Collection, initiated in 2016, focuses on employing women in Southeastern Anatolia for embroidery work, impacting 6,000 women in disadvantaged conditions.
‘Respect for People’ reflects our commitment to an inclusive, equal, and diverse working environment. With about 72% of our workforce at Koton Group being women, and 54% in managerial roles, we prioritize women’s empowerment in every aspect of life. Our commitment is further evidenced by our adherence to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles and our Great Place To Work certification in 2023.”
“SUSTAINABILITY: A STRATEGIC FOCUS FOR TÜRKİYE”
“Sustainability presents Türkiye with both challenges and opportunities. Our geographical location and advanced local production processes are significant assets. We are dedicated to increasing the share of sustainable products by 2024. By 2026, our objective is to cut single-use plastic usage by half, boost recycled packaging use by 50%, and expand our sustainable product lines. In 2022, we saw a 22% reduction in our plastic waste compared to the previous year. Furthermore, we have stopped using plastic bags in our stores in Türkiye from the second half of 2023,” Yılmaz outlined.
“CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF CORPORATE PARTICIPATION AT COP28”
On his experience at COP28, Yılmaz Yılmaz said, “The participation of the corporate sector is vital at such summits. The impact of businesses on environmental policies is substantial. The COP’s reach is growing each year, attracting more engagement from the private sector, national governments, and individuals. This increased participation is critical in shaping the summit’s decisions and directions.”
