Koton, a renowned name in the fashion sector, showcased its commitment to environmental sustainability at the COP28 conference in Dubai. The event featured Koton’s Chairman Yılmaz Yılmaz, alongside Şahika Ercümen, Anthony Leiserowitz of Yale University, and Burak Kuyan of Galata Wind Energy.
Koton, a prominent Turkish fashion brand, continues its involvement in gender equality and environmental sustainability.
At the “Story of Us” panel during COP28, Yılmaz Yılmaz, Chairman of Koton, shed light on the company’s sustainable practices, stating, “In 2020, we introduced our ‘Respect for
Life’ sustainability manifesto, which is built around four key pillars: Respect for Our World, Society, People, and Business.
‘Respect for Our World’ includes us being the first Turkish retail brand to sign the ‘Better Cotton’ initiative in Türkiye. In 2022, approximately 25% of our products were produced from sustainable sources,” he said.
“72% OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE WOMEN”
Yılmaz added, “The ‘Respect for Society’ aspect of our manifesto is represented by our ‘Handmade’ Collection. Initiated in 2016, it has provided employment to 6,000 women in Southeastern Anatolia, prioritizing manual labor over machine embroidery.
‘Respect for People’ is about cultivating an environment of equality, inclusiveness, and diversity. Around 72% of our workforce and 54% of our managers are women, demonstrating our commitment to empowering women in every area of life. Our adherence to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles and our recognition as a Great Place To Work in 2023 affirm our status as a women-friendly company.”
“TÜRKİYE’S SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY”
“Sustainability presents both challenges and opportunities for Türkiye. Our geographical advantage and the state of our local production provide us with key benefits. We aim to increase the share of sustainable products in our portfolio by 2024. By 2026, our goal is to reduce single-use plastics by 50%, elevate recycled packaging use by 50%, and expand our sustainable product offerings. In 2022, we succeeded in reducing plastic waste by 22% compared to the prior year. Also, from the second half of 2023, we have ceased using plastic bags in our Türkiye stores,” Yılmaz detailed.
“CRITICAL ROLE OF BUSINESS IN COP28”
On COP28, Yılmaz Yılmaz remarked, “The involvement of the private sector is essential at such summits. Companies significantly impact environmental outcomes. As COP expands each year, the participation of businesses, countries, and individual actors becomes increasingly vital. This participation is key in shaping the decisions and policies formulated at these summits.”
