Environmental Management

In line with its sustainability approach and commitment to tackle climate crisis, Arçelik works to minimize the environmental impacts of its products throughout their lifecycle thanks to new generation practices, and to reduce its environmental footprint by effectively managing all stages of value chain. 

Arçelik initially received BS 7750 Environmental Management Systems Standard in 1994 for its Dishwasher Plant just two years after it was introduced as the first Environmental Management Standard of the world. Afterwards, upon BS 7750 Standard’s recognition as ISO 14001 in 1996, Arçelik has started to apply ISO 14001 Standard of Environmental Management System.

Arçelik implements ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) integrated with ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS) and ISO 50001 Energy Management System (EnMS).

Arçelik calculates the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions sourced by its facilities by using IPCC-2006 and in accordance with ISO 14064-1 GHG Standard. Arçelik's GHG values have been verified by an independent body in accordance with ISO 14064-3 Std. in “reasonable assurance level”, since 2010.

In addition to the stated policies, Arçelik bases its environmental and energy management on international standards. Arçelik has been managing all its business processes with the help of international management systems since 1994, and Arçelik regularly check the efficiency and continuity of these systems through audits by independent institutions.

The Sustainability Council is the highest unit responsible for all environmental management issues. The Council’s work is supported by the Environmental, Energy, Green Chemistry, Climate Change, Sustainable Supply Chain and Occupational Health & Safety Working Groups. The strategies and goals of the Council are examined and implemented by the Climate Change Working Group which consists of the Director of Quality, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs, the Managers of the Environment and Energy, Environment and Energy Specialists and Production Managers. Responsible for integrating climate crisis efforts, the Group meets quarterly and ensures that all work complies with Arçelik’s strategies, policies and legal regulations. 

Arçelik Sustainability Council is led by the CFO. The Council consists of the executive management team including the Arçelik Chief Finance Officer (Chairperson), Arçelik Chief Executive Officer, Arçelik Chief People Officer, Arçelik Chief Commercial Officer, Arçelik Chief Marketing Officer, Arçelik Chief Strategy & Digital Officer, Arçelik Chief Technology Officer, Arçelik Quality, Sustainability & Corporate Affairs Director, Arçelik Global Communications Director, Arçelik R&D Director, Arçelik Legal & Compliance Director, Arçelik Human Rights Director, Arçelik Sustainability Manager, Arçelik Enterprise Risk & Insurance Management Manager.

Arçelik’s Sustainability Council and the Climate Change Working Group identify policies and strategies regarding sustainability and the climate crisis, from which we establish collaborations, ensure that decisions taken are implemented, and track performances to make sure targets are met. All work carried out in sustainability is regularly reported to the member of Board of Directors*, Koç Holding Head of Durable Consumer Goods Group, who gives a report to the Board of Directors every four months. These reports are discussed and finalized by the Board of Directors.

*Our Company's Board of Directors resolved on March 28, 2019 that the appointment of Fatih Kemal Ebiçlioğlu, the President of Consumer Durables Group of Koç Holding and Arçelik Board Member, and Fatih Özkadı, the Director of Quality, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs, to inform the Board of Directors about the activities of the Company's Sustainability Working Group.

Arçelik Environment Manager (Central Environment Management Department), who directly reports to Quality, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Director, manages environmental sustainability management related issues and leads Environmental Coordination WG, Climate Change Coordination WG, and Green Chemistry Coordination WG. 

Environmental performances of Arçelik's plants are monitored monthly with the environmental performance report and reported to the top management every three months. The continuity of EMS is controlled by internal audits and the audit results are shared with top management in management review meetings.

The efficiency and continuity of management systems are assured by Internal System Audits carried out regularly as well as the inspections by independent organizations.

Environmental performance of the suppliers is evaluated by inspections and audits. 

Thanks to its strength legal requirements compliance management system, ARÇELİK has neither monetary fines nor non-monetary sanctions indicating non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

We consider environmental management extremely important in the fight against the climate crisis and environmental pollution, and every year we increase our investments and expenditures in this field. Amount of investments and expenditures are given in the Environmental Management part of the 2021 Sustainability Report.

We measure air emissions to maintain air quality, and we share our results with the relevant official institutions. We also ensure that our performance is evaluated by independent and accredited laboratories that measure the level of compliance with regulations. Emission values for all our plants fell within legal limits. The waste gas treatment devices such as activated carbon filter, wet scrubber, dust collector, cyclone with a sieve, and bag filter provide NOx, SOx, VOC, and PM reduction in our Arçelik Hitachi Thailand and China manufacturing plants within the scope of environmental legislation. Additionally, Beko Thailand manufacturing plant has a dust collector and bag filter for PM reduction. Also, our Television Plant in Turkey has cassette filters for PM reduction. These initiatives provide to minimize NOx, SOx, VOC, and PM emissions.