While the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, unconscious use of resources, and environmental pollution bring the world to the brink of a major existential crisis, sectors are trying to reverse the damage with the sustainability action plans they have developed. Ahmet Güleç, Chair of the Federation of Furniture Associations – MOSFED, explained the environmentalist approaches and plans they have prepared for World Environment Day.
Ahmet Güleç summarized the Sustainability Action Plan, which gathers the necessary work under eight action areas, as follows: “In the furniture, paper, and forest products sectors, steps such as procuring materials in accordance with green transformation, adopting circular economy principles, implementing the eco-design model, and promoting environmentally friendly designs can contribute to solving the environmental, social, and economic problems caused by climate change.”
Exporting more than $5 billion of its $12 billion production volume and attracting attention with its 80% localization rate as well as its contribution to the economy and employment, the Turkish Furniture Sector is preparing to renew itself according to the requirements of the age with environmentalist principles.
Ahmet Güleç, Chair of the Federation of Furniture Associations – MOSFED, explained the sustainability approaches and activities of the sector within the scope of World Environment Day.
“As the furniture industry, we care about the future of our world and take care to develop our industry with a focus on sustainability,” said Ahmet Güleç, adding that the furniture, paper, and forest products sectors have prepared a joint sustainability action plan.
Ahmet Güleç said that the Sustainability Action Plan covers practices in 8 areas including “Raw Materials, Inputs and Suppliers”, “Production Process”, “Logistics and Storage”, “Waste Management”, “General Management”, “Training and Human Resources, Standardization and Certification Practices”, “Sales Marketing, Customer Relations and After Sales Services” and “Digitalization” and added: “Environmental solutions are now an inevitable reality. We have to think about the future of our world. Countries now compete not only with the quality of their products but also with their sustainability. As the furniture sector, we keep up with the conditions of the age and take care to develop environmentally friendly solutions.”
Sustainability Principles in Furniture
Ahmet Güleç summarized the main points in the sustainability action plan as “Procurement of materials in the furniture, paper, and forest products sectors in accordance with green transformation, adoption of circular economy principles, implementation of the eco-design model, and promotion of environmentally friendly designs,” noting that they will ensure compliance with the environmental, social, and economic parameters outlined in the European Green Deal with the sustainability steps they have gathered under eight headings.
Ahmet Güleç briefly summarized what can be done in the furniture sector as follows:
- Use of reclaimed wood, bamboo, and other renewable materials in the furniture industry;
- Adopting designs that prioritize durability and longevity;
- Shifting to an eco-design model and adopting circular economy practices;
- Use of renewable energy;
- Wastewater management;
- Increasing efficiency in sustainable wood sourcing and responsible forestry practices with additional upgrades for timber and other forest resources linked to both the paper and furniture sectors.
The Sector’s Sustainability Bedside Reference
MOSFED Chair Ahmet Güleç stated that the Sustainability Action Plan, shared with all associations and stakeholders of the furniture industry, serves as a reference source and continued his speech as follows: “The Sustainability Action Plan was created with reference to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, 169 sub-headings, and 241 indicators of these goals, as well as the Green Consensus and Sustainability Action Plans prepared by the Ministry of Trade and TIM, in addition to interim conferences, survey studies, and company interviews. The action plan will be constantly updated in the light of studies and developments, and brands will be in close communication at the point of implementation.” Noting that every planning in the action plan is very important for minimizing the environmental footprint of the furniture industry, Ahmet Güleç said, “In the future, companies should adopt designs that prioritize durability and longevity. Moreover, furniture waste should be reduced. With additional upgrades for timber and other forest resources linked to both the paper and furniture sectors, efficiency in sustainable wood sourcing and responsible forestry practices must be increased.”
