Turkey Circular Economy Platform, which is developed in collaboration with BCSD Turkey and EBRD, organized the first of its Sectoral Meetings on “Circular Economy Opportunities in Metal Industry” on 17 September 2020.

BSCD Turkey General Secretary Konca Çalkıvik opened the meeting by her welcoming speech and then BCSD Turkey Technical Advisor Ferda Ulutaş İşevi took the floor to briefly introduce the event. Then she continued with her presentation and informed participant about the platform activities around the metal industry, which is determined as a priority sector under the platform. She also provided information on the applications for 4th term of The Circular Vouchers.

Following the opening speeches, KPMG Netherlands Sustainability Manager Dr. Arda Işıldar made a presentation on Electronic Wastes, Critical Metals, Circular Economy and Climate Change and he informed the participants about the role of the critical materials in electronic wastes in transition to a more circular and sustainable economy. He stated that the amount of worldwide e-waste generation is around 55 billion tons and the amount for Turkey is equal to 6.5 kg per person. In his presentation, he mentioned that 85% of e-waste is disposed without any processing, and 30% of electronic wastes that are collected are still reusable. He concluded his speech by emphasizing that reducing and reusing waste as a first step are the key priorities in a circular economy.

Erman Car, member of the board of directors of the Chamber of Metallurgical and Materials Engineers Training Center (METEM), took the floor to provide information on Non-Ferrous Metals and Recovery Applications.

Car mentioned the importance of non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, copper and zinc in the value chain and indicated that these metals are suitable for recycling and that it is expected for them to have a wide range of applications (electrical cars, renewable energy systems, etc.) in the near future. He also stated that these metals have a significant reserve in terms of urban mining. In other words a 12-year aluminum demand can be addressed with the materials that are already in circulation (pots, beverage cans etc.) around the world.

In the last part of the event, BCSD Turkey Project Consultant Ferda Ulutaş İşevi and BCSD Turkey Specialist Melis Cengizhan presented the “Metal Industry Guide”, which aims at increasing and expanding the applications of industrial waste through by-product evaluation, secondary raw material use of the metal industry and its sub-sectors.

Through the event, 70 participants from 30 companies were provided detailed information about the circular economy approach in the metal industry both at a national and international level. Applications in the industry were also discussed from the point of circular economy approach and potential opportunities for the businesses.