With the collaboration carried out in line with the zero waste vision put forward under the leadership of Emine Erdoğan, Founder of the Zero Waste Movement, President of the United Nations Zero Waste High-Level Personalities Advisory Board and Honorary President of the Zero Waste Foundation; It is aimed to carry out joint studies in the fields of zero waste, sustainable aviation, circular economy and combating climate change.
The protocol signed in the program held with the participation of Zero Waste Foundation President and COP31 High Level Climate Champion Samed Ağırbaş and Turkish Airlines General Manager Ahmet Ollamış aims to bring together the Zero Waste Foundation's stakeholder network and awareness capacity with THY's global aviation experience and operational power.
“Cooperation with Turkish Airlines is Also Important to Us”
Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High Level Climate Champion, stated that the cooperation with Turkish Airlines brings together Turkey's environment and climate vision with a strong global brand and said, "Today, we are signing an important cooperation that brings together Turkey's environment and climate vision with a strong global brand. Turkish Airlines is also important for us as it is the first company with which we signed a cooperation agreement. Zero Waste was initiated in 2017 by Ms. Emine Erdoğan." "The movement has turned into a global movement that finds response in 81 provinces of Turkey and 193 countries around the world. In this context, we want a society that reduces waste and protects its resources, and we are working for a more livable, more fair world together with many international organizations, especially the United Nations," he said.
“COP31 will be a meeting where action will be seen”
"The 'World is Our Common Home' vision put forward by First Lady Emine Erdoğan puts protecting our resources, reducing waste and leaving a more livable world to future generations as one of the fundamental responsibilities not only of environmental policies but also of our common future," said Ağırbaş, touching on Turkey's COP31 Presidency process and said, "Today, we have taken this vision to a further point with the strong climate perspective put forward by our Minister Murat Kurum during Turkey's COP31 Presidency." "COP31 will not only be a meeting where negotiating tables are set, but also a meeting where action is seen and the facts on the ground are discussed. As the High Level Climate Champion of COP31, I continue to work to mark a meeting where the facts on the ground are discussed."
“We will carry out joint studies in a wide area”
Regarding the work to be carried out within the scope of cooperation, Ağırbaş said, "We will carry out joint studies in a wide range of areas, from reducing waste and bringing it back into the economy to preventing food waste, from resource efficiency to reducing carbon emissions, from passenger awareness to sustainable aviation practices. We also believe that the work we will carry out together with Turkish Airlines will contribute to the vision put forward by Turkey regarding the future of sustainable aviation. Because success in the world of the future will be measured not only by how fast we move, but also by how smartly, efficiently and responsibly we use our resources."
“We are happy to be a part of COP31”
Turkish Airlines General Manager Ahmet Olmuş expressed their satisfaction that Turkey will host COP31 for the first time and said, "We are very pleased that the Conference of the Parties, the highest-level decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, will be hosted by Turkey for the first time in Antalya on 9-22 November 2026. As Turkish Airlines, we are happy to be a part of COP31."
“We Will Organize a Global Sustainable Aviation Forum”
Drawing attention to the forum to be held at COP31 within the scope of the cooperation with the Zero Waste Foundation, Ollamış said, "As part of our partnership and cooperation with the Zero Waste Foundation, we will be organizing the Global Sustainable Aviation Forum on Energy and Transport Day at COP31. The forum we will organize during this period, when COP31 will bring together the stakeholders of the global climate agenda in Turkey, will provide a dialogue platform to discuss the decarbonization process of aviation and its role in sustainable economic development at a high level." used.
Commenting on the scope of the signed protocol, Ollamış said, "Within the scope of the protocol, we will carry out new studies together in the fields of zero waste, sustainability, circular economy, resource efficiency, carbon footprint reduction, sustainable aviation and combating climate change."
“We Increase Fuel Efficiency by Reducing Emissions with Our Operational Improvements”
Stating that the cooperation directly overlaps with Turkish Airlines' current sustainability practices, Ollamış said, "The protocol we signed directly overlaps with our current practices in the areas of carbon footprint reduction, operational and resource efficiency, sustainable aviation fuels, waste management, food waste reduction and circular economy. We continue to work in line with our 2050 carbon neutral airline commitment in line with our country's 2053 net zero target. We increase our fuel efficiency by reducing emissions with our new generation aircraft and operational improvements." he said. At the end of his speech, he thanked those who contributed to the realization of the cooperation and said, "On this occasion, I would like to thank First Lady Erdoğan, who contributed to this protocol and put forward this initiative, and our brother Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation, with whom we will sign the protocol here today, and I hope that the protocol will be beneficial."
Aiming to Increase Resource Efficiency and Reduce Waste in Aviation
Within the scope of the cooperation, studies will be carried out to increase resource efficiency in aviation operations, prevent and reduce waste generation, manage cabin and passenger-related waste, and prevent food waste.
It is also planned to implement national and international projects to reduce carbon footprint. The collaboration aims to develop applicable studies on more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste in the aviation ecosystem.
Joint Works at COP31 and International Zero Waste Forum
It is also planned to carry out joint studies in important platforms such as the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, hosted by Turkey under the leadership of Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and COP31 President Murat Kurum, and the International Zero Waste Forum organized by the Zero Waste Foundation.
While it is aimed to share good practices and raise global awareness in the fields of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), operational efficiency, emission reduction and circular economy, projects will be developed to bring zero waste awareness and sustainable living culture to large masses.
Awareness Studies for Passengers
One of the important topics of the cooperation will be passenger awareness. In this context, awareness activities will be carried out for passengers through informative content, videos and announcements on THY's selected flights and digital communication channels.
In addition, technical workshops and joint organizations will be held with the participation of industry stakeholders, public institutions, academics and international organizations, where circular economy and waste management issues in aviation will be discussed.
Strong Contribution to Sustainable Aviation
Bringing together environmental sustainability, knowledge, awareness and global impact on the same ground with the cooperation between the Zero Waste Foundation and Turkish Airlines; It is aimed to contribute to Turkey's green transformation and 2053 Net Zero Emission targets.
By disseminating the "Zero Waste" concept in the sky and in all processes of the aviation ecosystem, it is aimed to support a sustainable structure in which resources are protected, waste is reduced and economic and environmental value is strengthened.
