Building the Future with a Net-Zero Emission Goal

As the umbrella organization of the Turkish cement industry, TÜRKÇİMENTO brought the industry's journey toward sustainable production and environmental transformation to the forefront on June 5th, World Environment Day. TÜRKÇİMENTO CEO Volkan Bozay stated, “As a sector, we continue to take significant steps both in combating the climate crisis and in line with our green development goals.”

In his statement on the occasion of World Environment Day, TÜRKÇİMENTO CEO Volkan Bozay emphasized the sector’s intense efforts to contribute to Turkey's green development targets. He noted that as of 2024, the industry has reached a substitution rate of approximately 5% by using 6.6 million tons of alternative raw materials and met 13% of its thermal energy needs by using 2.1 million tons of alternative fuels. He stated that incorporating industrial waste into production supports both resource efficiency and the circular economy.

Highlighting the necessity of a strategic transformation to achieve net-zero emissions, Bozay said, “Our sector is making a concerted effort to fulfill its responsibilities in the green transformation process. According to the ‘Low-Carbon Roadmap for the Turkish Cement Sector,’ prepared under the coordination of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the sector requires an investment of approximately USD 30 billion by 2053 to achieve around a 95% reduction in emissions. A lasting and effective transformation must be supported not only by the private sector but also by public support and financing models, alongside the development of the necessary legislation and infrastructure. This will enable us to reach the targeted levels of alternative raw material and fuel usage.”

Bozay also emphasized the sector’s obligation to pursue energy efficiency and renewable resources due to the high energy demands of cement production. “Through investments in waste heat recovery (WHR), solar (PV), and wind energy (WPP) systems, about 10% of the sector’s electricity consumption is now met from these renewable sources. Sector stakeholders have accelerated their environmental investments to adapt to obligations such as carbon pricing and regulatory compliance, thereby gaining strong momentum in the transformation process. In 2024, environmental investments reached TRY 1.6 billion, with annual environmental expenditures hitting TRY 300 million,” he said.

Reaffirming the sector’s readiness to fulfill its role in the green transformation, TÜRKÇİMENTO CEO Volkan Bozay concluded his remarks with the following evaluation:

“With the regulation promoting the use of Green Cement, which came into force in 2025, it is estimated that approximately 11 million tons of carbon emissions will be prevented over the next decade. This will also help avoid the import of 1.3 million tons of coal and petroleum coke, contributing to both economic savings and energy supply security. This environmental benefit is equivalent to the contribution that approximately 500 million trees would make to nature, and it represents a significant step toward a sustainable future.

As the Turkish cement industry, we are investing not only with today in mind but also with a vision for the future. Every step we take in areas such as the circular economy, the use of alternative fuels and raw materials, renewable energy investments, and carbon capture aims to support our country’s green development goals.“With the regulation promoting the use of Green Cement, which came into force in 2025, it is estimated that approximately 11 million tons of carbon emissions will be prevented over the next decade. This will also help avoid the import of 1.3 million tons of coal and petroleum coke, contributing to both economic savings and energy supply security. This environmental benefit is equivalent to the contribution that approximately 500 million trees would make to nature, and it represents a significant step toward a sustainable future.