Last Updated on: 28th March 2024, 02:59 pm
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’ 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 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.”
