OSD, which is the umbrella organization of the sector with its 13 members that steer the Turkish automotive industry, continues its efforts to guide the sector. In this context, OSD published Turkey's first Automotive Main Industry Sustainability Report and Turkish Automotive Industry Life Cycle Evaluation Report with the contributions of all its members, breaking new ground in 2021 during this period when the automotive industry is going through a radical change.
The association shared with the public the second report prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, which includes the global developments in the automotive industry and the environmental, social and governance performance of the Turkish automotive industry with data for the years 2021-2022.
“We must increase our global competitiveness”
OSD Chairman of the Board Cengiz Eroldu, zamExpressing that it is an industry branch that makes long-term plans and emphasizes sustainability, he said:
“Today, our global position is successful, but in today's world where climate-oriented global policies accelerate, the rapid change in the world trade environment and the uncertainty that comes with it, as well as technological transformation, determine our long-term agenda. We absolutely need to increase our competitiveness at the global level by adapting to this transformation and managing risks correctly. We try to encourage all our stakeholders in this direction. As one of the most important of our concrete efforts on this subject, we have prepared our second Sustainability Report, the second of which we have prepared this year, which includes our environmental, social and governance performance and 2021-2022 data.”
In the Automotive Main Industry Sustainability Report, which was published for the second time, the zero pollution target announced by the EU with the European Green Agreement and Clean Production for the automotive industry in line with this target were examined this time. In the report, the situation of the Turkish automotive industry was examined according to the limit values that can be reached by using the EU's Current Industrial Emissions Directive and the Best Available Techniques (BAT) for automotive plants within the scope of this directive, and the results were reported.
“Our facilities are competing with their competitors in Europe”
Stating that climate-oriented policies gained momentum with the European Green Agreement, Cengiz Eroldu noted that this situation will cause the competitiveness of countries to be reshaped.
Eroldu underlined that together with the climate targets, Product Standards and Transformation in the EU / Turkey Market, Circular Economy and Cleaner Production are prominent issues for the Turkish industry.
Stating that the competitiveness of the Turkish industry continues according to the Sustainability Report, OSD President Cengiz Eroldu continued:
“When the Turkish automotive industry is evaluated according to the limit values that can be reached by using the Best Available Techniques (BAT) for automotive plant paint shops published in the EU in December 2020, it is clearly seen that the facilities of OSD members are in competition with the facilities in Europe. Our environmental performance competes with the plants in Europe, with the automotive main industry facilities in our country being relatively new compared to the facilities in Europe and the application of the best technologies. While the automotive facilities in the EU are transitioning to these limits, we continue to make new investments and improvement works in order to increase our environmental performance in our production facilities with the principle of continuous improvement.”
“We recycle 99 percent of the waste”
Emphasizing that the Turkish industry is at a very good level in the fields of waste recycling and energy efficiency, Eroldu said, “When we look at the consolidated data of light vehicle manufacturing facilities in our country, we can see the energy usage, water usage and We are well below EU limits in waste generation,” he said.
Stating that climate change is an important risk factor for all humanity and environmental problems come to the fore among global risks, Eroldu said:
It is emphasized that if the target of keeping global warming below 1,5 degrees, set by the Paris Agreement, is not achieved, the climate crisis will have very serious economic, social and environmental consequences. We see the EU's 2050 carbon neutral and Turkey's 2053 Net Zero and Green Development targets as important steps towards combating the climate crisis. It is remarkable that the average of scope 4 and scope 1 greenhouse gases per vehicle in the last 2 years has decreased by 27,5 percent. In order to achieve the carbon neutral target, it must be ensured by the transition to the circular economy. The recycling rate of waste in OSD member facilities has reached 99 percent and these wastes are brought to the economy.”
“Gender equality and education priority issues”
Eroldu underlined that OSD and its members have implemented important projects and studies on issues such as gender equality and education in line with sustainable development goals, and said, “In addition to the importance of employment, we also attach great importance to the contribution of female employees to our economy. The socio-economic development of Turkey and the improvement of women's status in society are of vital importance. The contribution of women to the economy is one of the issues that the automotive industry considers important in terms of sustainability.” used his statements.
Stating that the rate of female employees increased by 2022 points in 2021 compared to 2,3 and reached 12,3 percent, Eroldu said, “When we look at it as an absolute value, this corresponds to an increase of 21 percent. Likewise, the number of female managers working in middle and senior management staff has also increased and reached 16,2 percent.” he said.
Also, drawing attention to the importance the automotive industry attaches to education and the investment made in people, Eroldu stated that in 2021, OSD members carried out an average of 37 hours of training per employee aimed at professional and personal development.
“It will set an example for other industries”
Eroldu stated that the protection and development of qualified workforce, which is one of the most important competitiveness factors of the automotive industry, is of great importance and said, “This is the top priority of the Turkish industry. As OSD, the priorities of our human resources policies are to bring qualified employees to the sector with talent management, to create working environments that will increase the performance of employees, to ensure equality of opportunity and to continuously improve human resources processes.
Emphasizing that the Automotive Main Industry Sustainability Report sets an example for other industries as well, Eroldu said, “We see our Sustainability Reports, of which examples are very limited, as an important step for Turkey in the world's automotive industry representative associations. I believe that this report will be a multidimensional reference that evaluates the automotive industry, which is a multi-stakeholder sector, from all aspects.”