Koton, a key player in the global fashion industry, participated in the COP28 conference held in Dubai. The panel was attended by Yılmaz Yılmaz, Chairman of Koton; Şahika Ercümen, representing Koton’s Respect for Water Collection; Anthony Leiserowitz from Yale University; and Burak Kuyan, CEO of Galata Wind Energy.
Koton, a leading fashion brand from Türkiye, is deeply engaged in initiatives for gender equality and sustainability.
At COP28’s “Story of Us” panel, Yılmaz Yılmaz, Chairman of Koton, discussed the company’s dedication to sustainability. He stated, “Our 2020 sustainability manifesto, titled ‘Respect for Life’, focuses on four main pillars: Respect for Our World, Society, People, and Business.
‘Respect for Our World’ includes us being the first Turkish retail brand to sign the ‘Better Cotton’ initiative in Türkiye. In 2022, approximately 25% of our products were produced from sustainable sources,” he said.
“72% OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE WOMEN”
Yılmaz continued, “Our ‘Respect for Society’ pillar is exemplified by our ‘Handmade’ Collection. Launched in 2016, we’ve provided work to 6,000 women in Southeastern Anatolia, opting for manual labour over cheaper machine embroidery.
‘Respect for People’ underlines our commitment to an equal, inclusive, and diverse working environment. With approximately 72% of our employees and 54% of our managers being women, we focus on empowering women in all aspects of life. Our adherence to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles and receiving the Great Place To Work certification in 2023 highlight our commitment to being a women-friendly company.”
“SUSTAINABILITY’S SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN TÜRKİYE”
“Sustainability is both a challenge and an opportunity for Türkiye. Our proximity to Europe and advanced local production capabilities provide significant benefits. Our objective is to increase the percentage of sustainable products in our total product range by 2024. By 2026, we aim to halve single-use plastics, increase recycled packaging by 50%, and enhance our sustainable product line. In 2022, we recorded a 22% decrease in plastic waste compared to the previous year, and from the second half of 2023, we have stopped the use of plastic bags in our stores across Türkiye,” Yılmaz stated.
“IMPORTANCE OF PRIVATE SECTOR AT COP28”
Reflecting on COP28, Yılmaz Yılmaz said, “The participation of private sector companies is indispensable at such summits. Companies have a significant role to play. As the scope of COP widens each year, the involvement of businesses, governments, and individuals becomes more crucial. This growing participation is pivotal in influencing the decisions taken at these conferences.”
