Sustainability at Ak Gıda

PLANET

CARBON FOOTPRINT (RENEWABLE ENERGY)

We make investments and develop projects to reduce our carbon footprint in our production facilities.

• In order to reduce our carbon footprint from our production activities, which are an important link in our value chain, we direct our investments to increase our use of renewable energy and to reduce our energy consumption required by our factories.
• We produce 90% of the electrical energy we use in our facility, which is located in Sakarya, Pamukova and is the largest milk factory in Turkey. We provide this with our Cogeneration and Biogas facilities in our factory.
• We obtain electrical energy from methane gas in our Biogas Production Facility.
• We launched the first phase of our large-scale renewable energy investments by commissioning the solar power plant at our Tire plant. Once our renewable energy projects, consisting of solar panels and a wind turbine, are completed at our plants, we will be able to meet approximately 40% of the electricity we source from the grid through renewable energy.
• With High Volume Trailers, which are a first in Turkey and Europe, we save 1 transportation for every 6 transports.
• With its ergonomic design and high carrying capacity, Milktainer — the first and only raw milk tanker prototype — helps us reduce our carbon footprint by saving 1 out of every 9 trips.
• For the first time in the sector, we shipped UHT milk by train. We are trying to include such environmentally friendly transportation methods in logistics.
• For the first time in the industry, we added 100% electric vehicles to our sales fleet.
• In our logistics activities; We provide carbon emission reduction with Return Vehicles, Double Decker Trailer, Pallet Weight Increase projects.

CLEAN WATER (WATER SAVING)

• We apply the 3R system in our water management. We proceed with the principle of reduce, reuse and recycle.
• With the investments we have implemented since 2021, we have achieved a total daily water recovery of 6.5% in all our factories and we continue our work on this issue with new projects.

PACKAGING (WASTE MANAGEMENT)

• In our R&D Center, we are working on packaging optimization and recyclable packaging to reduce waste. In the last 10 years, we have reduced our packaging waste by 20%.
• In addition, wastes are separated in our factories and regularly sent to licensed companies. We separate 3,500 tons of recyclable waste annually.
• As part of the Global 10x20x30 Initiative , we aim to reduce our food waste by 50% by 2030. In this context, we have managed to reduce cafeteria food waste by 60% in the last 2 years in our Karaman factory, where we first started the pilot application. We will continue to reduce it further with the application we have started to include in our other factory cafeterias.

AGRICULTURE & LIVESTOCK

ANIMAL WELFARE

• We regularly continue the “Milking and Quality” training program, which we carry out in order to improve the quality and efficiency of milk, every year. Our training program; It includes topics such as milking, controlling the bacteriological quality of milk, milking support, farm quality inspections and controlling the cellular quality of milk.
• We supply our Akpro branded dairy feed product to farms for the feeding of dairy animals at affordable prices. We continue to meet the nutritional needs of dairy animals with this product, which contains 19 types of crude protein.

PEOPLE

OUR EMPLOYEES

We create value not only for the environment but also for the community.

• A people-oriented approach is always at the heart of our company culture.
• Within the people focus of our sustainability strategy, we strive to add value to both our employees and community.
• We believe that all our employees should work in an environment where they feel valued and happy, and we prioritize this.
• Through our “Sen İyiysen Hepimiz İyiyiz” program, we provide opportunities for employees to support their physical, mental, social, and intellectual wellbeing.
• By offering rich learning and development opportunities, we aim to foster both the professional growth and career development of our employees.
• With our “Seninle Değerli” recognition and reward system, managers can acknowledge and reward employees whose exemplary behaviors and achievements align with our corporate values of ambition, engagement, and with simplicity.
• Our “Fikri Değerli” suggestion platform allows employees to regularly share innovation ideas on product development, savings, process improvements, and sustainability, playing a key role in spreading our innovation culture.
• We promote gender equality within our company and raise awareness of gender equity among employees through our internal “Gender Equality Training” program.
• In community, our priority is to support the mental and physical development of disadvantaged children and young people through education and sports, particularly in the regions where our production plants are located. We provide students and children with educational and sports equipment.
• Following the Kahramanmaraş earthquake, we carried out the “My Happy Backpack” project with AÇEV (Mother Child Education Foundation), donating school bags filled with supplies to primary school children in the region.
• In the event of natural disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes, we strive to meet urgent nutritional needs by providing dairy products, while also supporting NGOs working in the affected regions.
• Our volunteers and their families also participate in the Istanbul Marathon to support non-governmental organizations.
• For corporate gifts to our employees, we prefer handcrafted products made by women producers and entrepreneurs across Türkiye, thereby supporting their economic independence.
• We continue to carry out all our activities in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, considering their environmental, economic, and social impacts.