The 490 billion-dollar economy was ‘packaged’ The packaging industry met at the traditional fast-breaking dinner organized by the Turkish Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD). In the panel titled “Post-Disaster Mental Health, Ethics and Economy”, Prof. Dr. Acar Baltaş and Prof. Dr. Emre Alkin took place as a speaker. Making a speech about the present and future of the packaging industry, Zeki Sarıbekir, President of the Turkish Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD), stated that the world and Türkiye are going through tough times and said, “Due to the pandemic process, we could not get together at our fast-breaking event for 4 years. At the beginning of this year, on February 6, we experienced the biggest earthquake disaster in our country, which affected 11 provinces. We are in deep sorrow. Congratulations to our country. While planning our iftar invitation, we hesitated at first. The extraordinary solidarity and unity our country has displayed in such painful times has once again shown us the importance of being together.”
Foreign trade surplus of 2.7 billion dollars in 2022
Noting that the importance and necessity of packaging is understood more in such times, Zeki Sarıbekir said, “As packaging manufacturers, we do not only care about food and beverage but also health, cleaning, hygiene, etc. We serve all sectors, especially products. Thanks to the packaging, the products reach the consumers in a healthy and hygienic way. As the packaging industry, we act with this awareness. We continue production in order not to disrupt the supply chain.”
Informing that the Turkish packaging industry reached a market size of 28 billion dollars in 2021, Zeki Sarıbekir said, “In 2022, our industry exported 3 million 300 thousand tons of packaging to 180 countries and achieved an export income of 7.5 billion dollars. In 2022, the foreign trade surplus of our sector was 2.7 billion dollars, and we continued to increase our contribution to closing the foreign trade deficit, which is one of the most important problems of the country’s economy. However, we continue to perform above the Türkiye average with our export unit price.”
2030 target is 50 billion dollars
Zeki Sarıbekir said that they aim to increase the market size of the Turkish packaging industry from 28 billion dollars to 30 billion dollars, per capita consumption from 325 dollars to 380 dollars, and exports to 8 billion dollars in 2023, the 100th anniversary of the establishment of our republic, and continued his words as follows, “We think we can reach it by the end of 2022. That’s why we re-set our new target for 2023 as $10 billion. We provide an economic movement of approximately 490 billion dollars in our country with packaging. In Türkiye, 60 percent of the total GDP (819 billion dollars) was made possible by packaging. By 2030, we have set a target of 50 billion dollars for our sector size and 20 billion dollars for exports. As a sector, we have a high competitive power and potential. The products of the Turkish packaging industry are exported directly and indirectly to 180 countries in the world. The Turkish packaging industry is taking firm steps towards becoming the packaging center of Eurasia.”
Sustainability roadmap of the packaging industry
Zekir Sarıbekir underlined that, as the packaging industry, they focus on growing and making more contributions to the country, on the other hand, they have accelerated their work on sustainability for the future. Zeki Sarıbekir said, “We are continuing our efforts to complete our ‘ASD Sustainability Report’ in order to raise awareness and guide the packaging industry about sustainability. We will publish the first sustainability report of our industry. We think that our report will set an example for creating the sustainability roadmap of the packaging industry.” Stating that responsible production, energy efficiency, renewable energy, circular economy, greenhouse gas calculation-reduction and the European Green Consensus can be listed among the priority issues for reducing the effects of climate change, Zeki Sarıbekir said, “Our sector members should have their carbon footprint measurements done. We must follow the production and trade processes and change targeted in the European Green Deal. We must build our production processes on the basis of the circular economy, which is a sustainable production model that keeps resource efficiency at the highest level.”