Source:adanahabermerkezi.com

Türkiye’s Strategic Move in the Green Transition Discussed at ADASO

At the “Turkey’s Strategic Move in the Green Transition” meeting, organized by ADASO in cooperation with the Turkish Plastics Industry Research, Development and Education Foundation (PAGEV) and the Recycling Economic Enterprise of PAGEV, the future of the plastics sector was discussed. During the meeting, it was emphasized that Europe’s Industrial Simplification initiative opens a huge window of opportunity for Turkey and that the country has the potential to become a global hub for recycling.

The event, held at the Sakıp Sabancı Meeting Hall, was attended by Zeki Kıvanç, TOBB Board Member and Chairman of the Adana Chamber of Industry, Yavuz Eroğlu, Chairman of TOBB Plastic, Rubber, and Composite Industry Council as well as President of PAGEV and PAGÇEV, and representatives of the plastics sector.

Kıvanç: “The Wind is Now Blowing Hard in Europe”

Opening the meeting, ADASO Chairman Zeki Kıvanç addressed industrialists and drew attention to the paradigm shift in global trade. Highlighting that rules in the plastics sector have now gone beyond environmental concerns to become direct economic barriers, Kıvanç stated:
"The wind is now blowing very hard in the plastics world. Regulations in Europe are no longer just about protecting the environment—they aim to directly shape trade and our export markets. If we do not adapt to this transformation today, we risk being excluded from global value chains tomorrow. Today, competition is measured not only by production capacity but also by sustainability practices."

Pointing out that European industry is losing ground due to high-cost regulations, Kıvanç added:
"For the past six months, the concept of Industrial Simplification has been widely discussed in Europe. The aim is transformation without halting production. Europe’s simplification initiative presents a huge window of opportunity for countries like Turkey with flexible production capabilities. We must seize this opportunity effectively."

Eroğlu: “Europe Exports Regulations, Turkey Should Be the Production Hub”

Eroğlu emphasized that due to Europe’s aging population, the region exports regulations rather than production with a focus on safety and health:
"Europe is currently facing a dilemma: either they will adopt protectionism or take a strong production partner with them. The closest production hub is us. Adana alone handles almost 50% of Turkey’s polyethylene recycling. With this strength, we should turn Turkey into a marketplace."

Eroğlu also highlighted changes in the OECD waste shipment regulation, noting that from May 21, 2026, non-OECD countries will no longer be allowed to receive waste from Europe. He stated that this situation provides Turkey with both a significant raw material advantage and a strategic edge over global competitors, adding that technical barriers such as the “impurity rate” in domestic legislation must be overcome quickly.

Emphasizing that the key to making Turkey a hub for recycling is the REPLAS Plastic and Fiber Recycling Fair, Eroğlu said:
"Just as Germany has the K Fair, we are turning REPLAS into a global brand. This year, we have also included fiber recycling. We will bring together all major buyers, from automotive to textiles, in this marketplace. We look forward to welcoming everyone to our fair on March 26-28."

For more detailed information, click here: ADASO'da Yeşil Dönüşümde Türkiye’nin Stratejik Hamlesi Tartışıldı - Adana Haber Merkezi