Category: SUSTAINABILITY

Imagine that there is a way to reduce environmental damage and turn a waste product into a fertiliser that can create lasting benefits for your soil and plants. This process is called composting. So what is compost?

Composting is the science and art of turning once-living organic waste into a rich, nutritious soil supplement. This article focuses primarily on composting methods you can implement in your home.

Contents

• What is Compost?
• Why is Compost So Important?
• How to Make Compost: Components of Compost
• What Can You Compost?
• What You Cannot Compost?

What is Compost?

Composting and composting is a natural recycling process. Organic materials such as leaves and food waste decompose spontaneously in nature over time and become valuable fertilisers for the soil. 

This is where composting comes into play: By accelerating this process, we support the transformation of organic matter by bacteria, fungi and other living organisms.

The resulting material is called “compost”, which resembles fertile garden soil. This compost, known as “black gold” among farmers, contains plant nutrients. It can be used in gardening and agriculture.

Organic waste can be processed in various ways, from large industrial plants to small community-based composting systems.

Why Is Compost So Important?

• Reduces Waste Amount

Composting is a great way to recycle the organic waste we produce at home. Food scraps and garden waste comprise more than 28% of our “rubbish”. (1)

Food waste is not only a huge burden on the environment but also costly to process. Home composting allows us to divert some of this waste from landfill and turn it into a practical and nutritious substance for our gardens.

• Reduces Methane Emissions

If the food we waste were a country, it would be the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the United States. This alone is enough to show the seriousness of the situation, because the food we waste produces greenhouse gases equivalent to about 3.3 billion tonnes of carbon, and it does this by producing methane gas in the airless environment of a landfill.

Methane has an effect 86 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. This gas is responsible for more than 25 per cent of climate change. (2) But the good news is that reducing methane emissions is one of the most effective steps we can take to help slow the rate of global warming. This benefit of composting is too great to ignore.

• Improves Soil Health 

Composting food waste and other organic materials instead of throwing them away can contribute to the creation of nutrient-rich soil. Compost can serve as a healthy alternative to chemical fertilisers. Like pesticides, chemical fertilisers are produced with fossil fuels. Producing them causes greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming.

Generally more effective than conventional fertilisers, compost contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, the three essential nutrients for agriculture. In addition to these nutrients, which are essential to support healthy soil, compost is known to improve soil structure. 

In this way, the soil can better store nutrients and water and becomes more resistant to plant diseases. As a result, this helps support crops and achieve higher yields of vegetables, flowers, fruit and other crops.

• Provides Water Saving

When the soil experiences a lack of water, agriculture and ecology can be adversely affected. Fortunately, better water retention is one of the other environmentally friendly benefits of compost. 

Compost not only supplements the nutrient content of soils but also increases their water-holding capacity. Compost can hold 20 times its weight in water, so adding just 1% organic matter to the garden can help the soil hold thousands of gallons of extra water. In an increasingly arid world, this is another composting benefit that is needed.

• Prevents Erosion Hazard

Drier soils are more prone to erosion, where soil is washed away by wind or rain and washed away from the landscape. As a further benefit of compost, adding compost to the soil increases the amount of organic matter, which helps to reduce erosion. 

Controlling erosion can help reduce water pollution, promote healthy plants and provide many other environmental benefits.

According to the US Composting Council, the composting process reduces soil erosion in several ways. (3) It increases water absorption, allowing water to penetrate the soil instead of being rapidly removed. 

It therefore slows down the flow of surface water. Compost also holds the soil together, especially on sandy soils prone to erosion. You can think of fresh compost as a “glue” that can hold the soil together thanks to the humus produced during the decomposition process of organic matter.

How to Make Compost: Components of Compost

Organisms that break down waste organic matter need four essential elements to survive: nitrogen, carbon, air and water. All compostable materials contain carbon, but also varying amounts of nitrogen. 

Successful composting is about using the right combination of materials. It is necessary to achieve the best carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and to maintain the right amount of air and water. The ideal carbon-to-nitrogen ratio should be 25 to 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen. 

If carbon is high, the disintegration time is prolonged. Too much nitrogen-containing material can create a slippery, wet and foul-smelling pile. These problems can be easily solved by adding carbon or nitrogen-containing material, as needed.

• “Green” Ingredients for Nitrogen

Nitrogen is an essential element for the growth and reproduction of plants and animals. A higher nitrogen-to-carbon ratio is usually found in fresh organic materials. Some green household materials include waste grass, food scraps and coffee grounds.

• “Brown” Ingredients for Carbon

Carbon is also vital and is found in brown plant material. Carbon is the food source for decomposers. Brown materials include dead leaves, twigs and paper.

• Oxygen and Water

Decomposers, like other organisms, need oxygen and water. For fast composting, it is necessary to provide the right amount of air and water. Optimal air flow can be achieved by layering materials, dividing materials into small pieces and turning the piles regularly. The ideal pile should be wet like a squeezed sponge in terms of water.

• Heat

Hot composting is a process in which green and brown materials, with a balance of air and water, create ideal conditions for the growth of aerobic organisms. Aerobic organisms (species that reproduce in oxygenated environments) reproduce by breaking down waste, with an optimum temperature between 54 and 60 degrees Celsius. 

• Regular Ventilation

Aeration promotes an aerobic environment, which speeds up the composting process and reduces odours. It is recommended to aerate your pile once a week in summer and every three to four weeks in winter. You can increase the natural airflow by adding pipes or large rods.

• Maintaining Humidity Level

Moisture is essential for composting – your pile should always have the texture of a squeezed sponge. A pile that is too dry can slow composting, while a pile that is too wet can create an anaerobic environment, cause bad odours and slow decomposition. If your pile is dry (or add more wet material), water it; if it is too wet, add carbon-heavy brown materials.

• Size

The ideal size for a compost bin or heap is 0.9 cubic metres. To add food or garden waste to your bin or heap, first cut it into smaller pieces. The smaller the pieces, the faster the decomposition. The main rule is not to add anything thicker than a finger thick.

• Location

The ideal compost location is a dry and shady area. If you live in a damp location, avoid placing your pile under gutters or in places with poor water drainage; otherwise, the pile can get too wet. If you live in a sunny location, find a shady spot so the compost does not dry out too quickly and you do not have to add water constantly.

• Compost Start-up and Maintenance

To build your pile, add the green and brown materials alternately in thin layers and finish the last layer with brown. You can keep adding materials until you reach the best height of 0.9 metres. 

Add water to the pile as needed as you layer it. Then leave the pile for four days to allow initial decomposition. You can then ventilate it regularly and check the humidity level.

What Can You Compost? 

• Waste grass
• Withered leaves and small twigs
• Wood chips and sawdust
• Saman 
• Fruit and vegetable waste
• Coffee grounds, filters, tea bags
• Cardboard rolls
• Waste in the dryer and vacuum cleaner hopper
• Fireplace ash
• Waste from houseplants
• Nuts in the shell
• Shredded newspaper
• Cotton and woollen cloths

What You Cannot Compost? 

• Dairy products. May cause odour and attract harmful organisms.
• Medicated garden residues. Chemicals can kill beneficial compost organisms.
• Coal or barbecue ash. Both can contain substances that can be harmful to plants.
• Plants that are diseased or infested with insects. 
• Pet faeces. It may contain parasites, bacteria or microbes harmful to humans.
• Meat scraps or fish bones. They can cause foul odours and attract harmful organisms.
• Twigs or leaves of the black walnut tree. May release substances harmful to other plants.
• Vegetable oil, animal fat or any type of used fat. It can cause foul odours and attract harmful organisms.

An office worker generates approximately 1 kg of office waste per day, consisting of paper, plastic, and food scraps. Switching to a zero waste system in the office not only helps the environment but can also reduce the company’s costs in waste management.

Simple yet effective changes can assist in implementing Zero Waste policies, enhancing environmental awareness culture, and boosting business productivity. In this article, we’ll share tips on developing a waste-free office policy and increasing efficiency in your workplace.

Contents

1. Why Should We Switch to a Zero Waste Office?
2. 7 Suggestions for Zero Waste in the Office

Why Should We Switch to a Zero Waste Office?

Implementing Zero Waste in the office can increase efficiency and productivity in the workplace, as well as contributing to the environment:

• Environmental Protection: A zero waste office helps consume less natural resources and reduce waste. This protects the environment by reducing the amount of waste and its negative impact on the environment.

• Cost Savings: Waste reduction strategies can reduce costs for the business. At the same time, utilizing waste through recycling and recovery can provide a source of income.

• Reputation and Customer Attractiveness: Zero waste practices demonstrate the business’s environmental awareness and commitment to sustainability. This strengthens the reputation of the business, providing a valuable opportunity to attract environmentally friendly and conscious customers and clients.

• Legal Compliance: In some regions, zero waste practices may become legal requirements. By adopting zero waste policies, the business complies with legal regulations.

• Employee Satisfaction: Environmentally friendly practices can help employees feel better at work and contribute to the company culture. A sustainability-focused work environment can increase employee engagement and satisfaction.

7 Suggestions for Zero Waste in the Office

1. Papers Out, Digitalization In

One of the easiest ways to reduce waste in the office is to reduce paper use.is to reduce. Encourage those who try to share documents digitally rather than printing them. This both saves paper and reduces the need for physical storage space.

It is important to adopt a paperless policy to reduce paper usage. Encourage employees to engage in digital transformation processes such as using electronic signatures, storing files digitally, and electronically transmitting invoices and receipts. Digitalization speeds up business processes and facilitates access to information for everyone in the office.

If You Must Use Paper,

• Use a smaller font
• Fit more text by narrowing margins in documents
• Do not use cover sheets on faxes. Instead, use an adhesive label on the first page of faxes.
• Buy products in bulk to minimize packaging
• Set computers and copiers to print automatically, double-sided
• Remove duplicate names and outdated entries from mailing lists
• Reuse envelopes by placing a label on the old address
• Reuse file folders and shipping boxes
• Shred newspapers and reuse them for packaging

2. Get Recycling Bins and Reduce Disposable Products

Install designated recycling bins for paper, plastic, glass and other recyclable materials.Place these boxes with labels in easily accessible places in the office.

To further reduce plastic waste, encourage employees to bring reusable water bottles and coffee mugs. Make it easy for employees to fill their bottles and mugs by providing filtered water stations and coffee machines. Reduce the use of single-use plastic products (plastic forks, straws, cups, etc.).

3. Review Your Packaging and Purchasing Preferences

An important way to reduce packaging waste in the office is to encourage sustainable purchasing practices. Prioritize suppliers and vendors that offer minimal or recyclable packaging. Opt for bulk buying and products made from recycled materials to reduce individual packaging.

By making sustainable purchasing choices, you can minimize the amount of waste entering your office and contribute to a circular economy.

4. Use Eco-Friendly Office Supplies

There are many sustainable substitutes for common plastic office supplies, such as plastic-bound colored pencils.

You can use reusable paper clips or push pins instead of metal ones. A bucket of plastic pens can be replaced with a refillable fountain pen or a box of wooden pens. You can also switch from plastic cellophane tape to paper tape that contains soluble materials.

5. Consider Joining WWF Turkey’s Green Office Diploma Program

With the Green Office-Green Transformation program that WWF Turkey has been running since 2011, institutions are encouraged to make environmentally friendly choices.

The program aims to reduce the impact of offices on nature, and WWF officials provide guidance on natural resource use, waste management and purchasing processes.

For detailed information: Green Office Diploma Program

6. Turn Off Electronic Devices

Forming a habit of switching off your desk lamp, devices, and desktop computer will result in substantial energy savings over time. With everyone in the office on board, the savings and benefits will escalate further. 

Ensure to unplug devices like printers when not in use, as they still draw power even when idle.

7. Make Sustainability a Habit in Your Employees with ecordingApp

ecordingApp is a mobile application that allows you to earn ecoPoints when you take steps against the global climate crisis by performing tasks that benefit the world. With these points, you can meet your own needs and contribute to the environmental needs of the world.

ecordingApp was designed as a tool that empowers brands and institutions to combat the global climate crisis. In this way, you can ensure that your employees acquire sustainable living habits in their daily lives and get closer to your company’s sustainability goals.

Step into sustainable living by having fun as a team while creating a zero waste office environment with ecordingApp.

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For the last decade, electric vehicles have been in vogue as a pivotal technology to reduce carbon emissions and oil use and combat climate change. With the worldwide stock of electric cars expected to rise to over 145 million by 2030, many car manufacturing companies such as Jaguar, Audi, GM and Mercedes have pledged to switch to fully electric car production within the next five to ten years. (1) 

At the same time, many countries, especially EU countries, are encouraging the purchase of electric vehicles. While this so-called “environmentally friendly” transport alternative is spreading day by day, everyone is questioning the same thing: How sustainable are electric vehicles really?

While experts generally agree that rechargeable vehicles are a more climate-friendly option than regular cars, they have some environmental impacts depending on how they are charged and manufactured. This article has prepared a guide to some of the biggest concerns and how they can be addressed.

Contents

• A Quick Reminder: What is an Electric Car?
• Environmental Impact: Electric vs. Petrol Car
• Let’s Summarise the Pros and Cons of Electric Cars

A Quick Reminder: What is an Electric Car?

Plugging in their transport is a new concept for most people who are used to filling up fossil fuels to get from A to B. With a dashboard that looks like a giant smartphone, electric cars can seem like something from the future.

Yet their technology is not new. Like your average automatic transmission car, an electric vehicle starts with the ignition, accelerates with the accelerator and stops with the brake. The main difference from a petrol car is the design of its engine.

Electric vehicles run on batteries that need to be recharged periodically, using a charging station connected to the electrical power supply. This is familiar to many because it is the same way we charge our phones and computers.

Most electric vehicles use a lithium-ion battery with a relatively simple design. The engine of a comparable internal combustion engine vehicle has around 2,000 parts, while an electric vehicle engine has only 20 moving parts. 

What are the main differences between electric vehicles?

• They work quietly.
• They can accelerate more easily without gear shifts.
• Extremely hot or cold weather can drain the charge faster than mild weather.

Environmental Impact: Electric vs. Petrol Car

The pollution caused by petrol vehicles is not limited to the exhaust from the tailpipes. The extraction of petrol, its refining into fuel and its transport to petrol stations also generates large amounts of carbon emissions and air pollution. 

Today, even though petrol car manufacturers have reduced CO2 emissions, the production process continues to have a negative impact on the environment.

On the other hand, producing electric car batteries also creates emissions. Due to the complex manufacturing process, an electric car can use twice as much energy during production as a petrol car, emitting more CO2.

Nevertheless, electric vehicles remain the cleanest option for transport, as the way they operate is much more sustainable overall. Due to their use of electricity as fuel, driving compensates for high production emissions. 

On average, an electric car produces half the carbon emissions of a petrol car over its lifetime and performs completely better in terms of sustainability.

When electric vehicles reach the end of their service life, the upcycled battery can be upcycled so that it can be reused many times. On the other hand, up to 90 per cent of battery materials can be recycled.

Electric cars alone are not a magic solution to address climate change. However, they are a valuable tool for reducing emissions from transport and a much more sustainable alternative to fossil-fuelled cars. 

Although their production and end-of-life have a negative impact on the environment, their carbon footprint is much lower than that of fossil-fuelled vehicles when their overall life cycle is taken into account.

With innovation in the sector advancing at a rapid pace, tomorrow’s electric vehicles are likely to widen the sustainability gap compared to today’s petrol vehicles.

A survey in Turkey shows consumer interest in electric and hybrid vehicles is growing rapidly. Compared to last year, the rate of consumers who say the next vehicle they will buy will be hybrid or electric has increased to 27%. 

Moreover, with the entry of Tesla, the leading electric vehicle manufacturer, and TOGG, a locally produced electric vehicle, into the Turkish market, 29% of consumers say they will definitely buy an electric or hybrid vehicle in the future. In comparison, this rate rises to 90% when the price offer is attractive. 

Let’s Summarise the Pros and Cons of Electric Cars

Cons

• Entirely electric vehicles work thanks to the lithium batteries inside them. However, the production of these lithium batteries can cause excess carbon emissions. 

• Most electric vehicle batteries are produced in China, South Korea and Japan. These are economies where carbon utilisation in electricity generation (rather than renewable sources) is generally quite high.

• One of the most important disadvantages of electric vehicles compared to petrol-powered vehicles is their short range when fully charged. Therefore, vehicles with ordinary internal combustion engines are currently better for long-distance journeys.

Pros

• Electric vehicles emit no CO2 from the tailpipe when they are in operation. This means an enormous reduction in emissions: Driving an electric vehicle saves an average of 1.5 million grams of CO2 per year. (2) 

• Electric cars produce no emissions during use, which means they do not contribute to air pollution. This is especially important in cities where air pollution levels can be dangerously high.

• Electric vehicles use less energy because they have fewer parts and feature regenerative braking, a system that retains energy during braking and is more resistant to wear and tear than conventional brake discs.

• Another significant advantage of electric vehicles is that they do not need to be filled with gas or petrol, which are becoming increasingly expensive. Unlike gas-powered cars, electric vehicles contain two to three times fewer engine fluids such as oil, transmission fuel and coolants that must be changed regularly. This dramatically reduces fuel, repair and maintenance costs.

• Electric cars run very quietly, which significantly reduces noise pollution.

Without radical action, the amount of plastic in the oceans is expected to triple by 2040. However, with a major transformational change, this amount can be reduced by 80 per cent. One of the most effective ways to reduce the use of plastic is to switch to refillable, reusable and refillable packaging.

In this article, we examine refill and reuse solutions and examine some of the conscious brands with refill products in Turkey.

Contents

• What is Refillable Packaging?
• Why Refill?
• What is the Contribution of Refillable Packaging to the Planet?
• Brands with Refillable Products

What is Refillable Packaging?

Refillable packaging, or refill products, is a system that allows users to continue using a product without creating new waste. This means that instead of buying a new packaged product to replace the depleted contents, the existing one is refilled and used. This approach is both practical and sustainable and minimises the negative impact on the environment by reducing the waste and energy required to produce new packaging.

Why Refill?

Plastic pollution has become a very visible indicator of the damage we as humanity have caused to the planet we live on and to other living creatures on this planet. Most of us have surely encountered the sad images of plastic pollution in the oceans, seas, rivers and our natural environment.

Our small changes as individuals really do work. But we can’t do it alone, we need collective action. To indeed “turn off the tap” on plastic pollution, companies need to stop producing so much plastic and keep fossil fuels underground. 

Major brands, businesses and retailers must invest in reuse and refill systems instead of using single-use packaging to reduce plastic pollution.

• For the Oceans

Worldwide, 8 – 12 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean annually. Every year, 100,000 marine mammals, turtles, and 1 million seabirds die from plastic pollution. (1)

Studies have shown that 90% of birds in the ocean have plastic in their stomachs. By choosing refill products, we can be part of the solution, not the problem.

• For the Planet

Most plastics are petroleum products and their production requires energy. The plastics industry is therefore one of the sectors where urgent action is needed to tackle the climate crisis. Refilling offers the opportunity to move away from dependence on the fossil fuel economy. Giant companies that feed the world with fossil fuels for energy also supply plastic raw materials. To put a “stop” to the global climate crisis, we have to curb this plastic madness.

• For Our Health

Plastic pollution is also a human health problem. Because microplastics are now circulating in our blood.

Plastic products contain chemical additives and these substances inevitably lead to serious health problems.

What is the Contribution of Refillable Packaging to the Planet?

According to a report for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, buying refills instead of new ones can reduce CO2 emissions by 70%, energy use by 65% and water use by 45%. (2) 

Refillable packaging forms part of the circular economy model, which encourages using, sharing, reusing, repairing and recycling materials and products for as long as possible.

The “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” campaign is an example of this model, as it encourages the reuse of materials and suggests recycling them when they can no longer be used.

Refill products are based on the idea of encouraging consumers to think about the use of natural resources. In this way, people are made more aware of the impact of their consumption habits on the environment.

This shift in consumer priorities is helping brands to think about how they can extend the life of their products and packaging, as well as their environmental impact.

Brands with Refillable Products 

1. The Purest Solutions

The Purest Solutions Ecological Refill Packaging is a packaging alternative that enables products to be presented in an environmentally friendly way using refillable packaging. 

This type of packaging can be recycled without harming the environment, minimising the use of plastic waste. The Purest Solutions offers its customers the convenience of refilling their products, allowing them to consume 77% less plastic. 

These ecological replacement packs are designed to be able to fill the original pack twice and aim to reduce the amount of waste by taking measures against environmental impacts.

2. Atelier Rebul

Adopting an environmentalist approach since its inception, Rebul has become part of an eco-friendly product movement by promoting the principles of ‘Refill/Reuse/Reduce’.

Cologne and ‘Signature Collection’ perfume bottles have designs that can be refilled in stores. In addition, liquid soaps offered in “Refill” packaging are produced using 78% less plastic than standard 250 ml packaging.

These new packs allow you to refill your favourite liquid soap, reuse existing bottles and reduce packaging waste.

3. ebebek

ebebek encourages the recycling of plastic, glass and metal packaged products. With the Packaging Recycling Piggy Bank, everyone who shops at the Istanbul Bostancı store can contribute to nature and benefit from discounts.

In addition, with the Baby Me Detergent Filling Station, consumers can fill their empty bottles with detergent, fabric softener, pacifier bottle cleaner, and stain remover products from Baby Me, ebebek’s own brand.

4. OMO 

Migros and OMO collaborated and launched the Refilling Unit. This unit aims to reduce plastic production and reduce the amount of plastic waste. 

This unit, located in the Ataşehir MMM Migros store, allows consumers to fill empty OMO Liquid Detergent bottles and buy products at more affordable prices. The pilot application aims to reduce the amount of plastic waste per year and this project aims to be extended to other stores.