News

Çimentaş’s Sustainability Journey

Carrying 76 years of industrial experience into the future through a focus on sustainability, safety, people and social value, Çimentaş plays a strong role in the sector’s transformation journey with its holistic approach extending from climate and carbon management to the circular economy, from occupational health and safety to employee development.

As one of the well-established companies in Türkiye’s cement industry, Çimentaş continues on its path by combining its production strength with a vision for a sustainable future. Founded in İzmir in 1950 as the first private cement company in the Aegean Region, Çimentaş today operates with the global expertise of Cementir Holding. With its group structure active in cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and waste management, the company stands out not only for its production capacity but also for its approach to environment, people, safety, and society.

For Çimentaş, sustainability is not a single project or a short-term goal, but a core principle embedded in its business model. The company and its group entities address climate and carbon management, alternative resource use, circular economy, water management, biodiversity, occupational health and safety, employee development, and social contribution not as separate topics, but as interconnected elements of a single transformation journey.

This approach is supported by publicly disclosed sustainability targets. In line with the Cementir Group’s sustainability roadmap, key focus areas include reducing carbon emissions by 2030, lowering natural resource consumption through alternative materials, replacing fossil fuels with waste-derived fuels, improving energy efficiency in production, and expanding the use of low-carbon products. The Group’s 2050 net-zero emission target provides the overarching global framework guiding this transformation.

Low-Carbon Production

Çimentaş focuses on reducing environmental impact in its production processes, increasing energy efficiency, expanding the use of alternative fuels, and contributing to the sector through low-carbon products. One of the key indicators of this approach is the company’s commitment to environmental transparency, strengthened by its Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). The EPD certifies, in a scientific, transparent, and independently verified manner, the environmental impacts of a product throughout its entire lifecycle—from raw material sourcing to production and use.

The use of alternative resources plays a critical role in Çimentaş’s low-carbon production strategy. The company aims to reduce the consumption of fossil and natural resources by increasing the use of alternative fuels and raw materials in its processes. In this context, it explores secondary resources—namely waste streams—in the regions where its plants operate and assesses their suitability for industrial use.

In traditional cement production, the high temperatures required for clinker production are largely achieved through fossil fuels. By replacing these with alternative fuels, natural resources can be preserved. The absence of solid or liquid waste in high-temperature combustion environments, combined with no negative impact on product quality, enables a more responsible energy supply model. This approach opens up significant opportunities for Çimentaş in its carbon reduction journey.

The company’s green product approach is another key pillar of this transformation. Its high-performance cement product IDEALCEM™ and supplementary cementitious material MİNERALİN™ stand out within its sustainability- and innovation-driven product portfolio. These products deliver high performance with lower clinker content, contributing to reduced carbon emissions associated with cement production and supporting the sector’s transition to low-carbon solutions.

Returning Resources to the Cycle

Circular economy principles play a defining role in Çimentaş’s sustainable production model. The company aims to establish a more responsible production system by ensuring the efficient use of natural resources, recycling waste, incorporating alternative raw materials into production, and enhancing industrial symbiosis opportunities. The activities of Group company Süreko in waste management, recycling, and the production of alternative fuels from waste further reinforce this approach.

Çimentaş’s environmental commitment extends beyond production processes. Rehabilitation plans are implemented in mining areas, and afforestation projects are carried out in operational regions. In addition, the company monitors biodiversity and reports on it regularly to support environmental conservation. In terms of water management, it promotes the efficient use of water resources and strengthens reuse opportunities through rainwater harvesting systems.

Strengthening the Safety Culture

Çimentaş believes that sustainability encompasses not only environmental aspects but also people and safety. Occupational health and safety is treated not merely as a compliance area, but as an integral part of the corporate culture. The company’s HSE rules provide the fundamental principles aimed at preventing workplace incidents and accidents. These rules are applied across all operations under the principle that “Each of us, for all of us.” forming the foundation of preventive safety practices.

The company’s distinctive approach in this area is also reflected in the awards it has received. Çimentaş has been recognized in three categories at the “Adding Value to OHS” Awards organized by the Cement Industry Employers’ Union (ÇEİS), one of the most prestigious award programs in the sector. The “Safety at Work / Safety in Process” project implemented at the Elazığ Plant received both the Grand Prize of the Year and first place in the Digital Solutions category, while the “Bize Değer” project was awarded second place in the Health and Wellbeing category. These achievements demonstrate that safety culture at Çimentaş is addressed through a holistic perspective that includes digitalization and employee well-being, beyond field practices.

A Future Strengthened by People

Another key pillar of Çimentaş’s sustainability vision is its people and culture approach. The company considers employee satisfaction, engagement, development, and an inclusive work environment as fundamental to long-term success. Its organizational culture is built on values such as dynamism, quality, respect for people, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability, with a strong emphasis on providing a healthy, safe, and supportive workplace.

Çimentaş’s people-centered approach is further reinforced by practices that enhance the employee experience. The “Outstanding Employee Experience” recognition achieved under the Happy Place to Work program reflects the company’s commitment to employee satisfaction, engagement, and a strong corporate culture. In addition, Çimentaş systematically supports learning and leadership development through programs designed for employees at different career stages. One notable example is the WELEAD Leadership Development Program, which won a Gold Award in the “Best Development Program” category at the Brandon Hall Excellence Awards, demonstrating international recognition of the company’s commitment to employee development.

Çimentaş also sees supporting social development in the regions where it operates as part of its corporate responsibility. Through its contributions to projects in education, healthcare, culture, arts, and the environment, the company aims to create long-term value. Initiatives carried out through the Çimentaş Education and Health Foundation (ÇESVAK) further strengthen its role as a responsible stakeholder that contributes not only economically but also socially.