Sustainability at Kaleseramik

According to the Global Risk Report of the World Economic Forum (WEF) published in 2020, when evaluated in terms of their possibility and impact, eight of the top 10 risks are related to the environment and climate crisis. The Green Deal announced by the European Union (EU) at the end of 2019 includes the EU's goal of being the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050 and the steps to be taken to reach this target.

The climate crisis continues to be one of the most important issues of our era. Facing the seriousness of the situation, as Kaleseramik, we act with a focus on sustainability in all our production processes starting from the design to build a sustainable future and we monitor our performance in line with the goals we have set. Thus, we take international standards as a guide in environmental management with this mission. We aim to be a part of the global transformation by working hard to reach maximum efficiency considering all the issues affecting the world today, from climate change to drought.

Our Economic-Social-Corporate Governance (ESG) Policies

As Kaleseramik, we consider the economic, social, and environmental impacts of our short, medium, and long-term strategic goals; and we cluster our strategy dimensions under the relevant ESG criteria.

We evaluate our economic activities under the strategic dimensions of the main agendas of innovation, digital transformation, and sustainability in the supply chain,

our activities with social impact under the social dimensions of the main agendas of occupational health and safety, providing value to employees and talent management, relations with society and impact on society,

and our activities with environmental impact under the strategic dimensions of the main agendas of raw material use, energy and carbon emission management, waste management, and water management.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a universal call of action published to eliminate poverty, protect our planet, enable all humans live in peace and prosperity. As Kaleseramik, we develop our processes, products, and services in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We especially shape our processes and take necessary actions within the context of;

• 8- Decent work and economic growth
• 9- Industrial innovation and infrastructure
• 11- Sustainable cities and communities
• 12- Responsible consumption and production
• 13- Climate Action

Our Activities, Products, and Actions

As a result of the improvements that we implemented in our production facilities, our Kaleseramik facility was awarded as "Turkey's Most Efficient Industrial Facility" in 2013 by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. We have reached an important milestone in our sustainability journey by making our production processes transparent and obtaining an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) approved by independent organizations for all our products.

In addition to these, all our ceramic tile products have been awarded the "GREENGUARD GOLD" certificate by successfully passing the highest standard Indoor Air Quality test.

As Kaleseramik, we continue to break new grounds in our goal of delivering the most accurate products with the highest quality to our consumers in the scope of our principle of quality and environmentally friendly production. We have received the Health Product Declaration (HPD) in our wall tile product groups. We are the first ceramic manufacturer in Turkey to have HPD certificate.

We are following a path based on creating new solutions for buildings. As Kaleseramik, we offer friendly solutions to our consumers and business partners with our economically efficient and eco-friendly products designed with the "Smart" philosophy. With the awareness of protecting water, the world's most valuable resource, as a treasure; we design, manufacture, and encourage the use of ambitious products that are water efficient. We were deemed worthy of the "Golden Plumb Awards" of the "Building Industry Center", which is expressed as the "Oscars of the Turkish construction industry" with our "Kale Smart Wall-Hanging Toilet Seat with Washing System" product that we created with our "Smart" approach.

Kalesinterflex

Kaleseramik has developed a new technology whose effectiveness on bacteria and especially harmful viruses such as Covid-19 has been confirmed by clinical tests.

Kaleguard Defense

Kaleseramik has developed a new technology whose effectiveness on bacteria and especially harmful viruses such as Covid-19 has been confirmed by clinical tests.

Kaleguard Defense-applied matt-surfaced ceramics prevent the reproduction of invisible and dangerous microorganisms, stop their development, and provide long-term hygiene.

Cura Tile by Kale

Cura Tile by Kale products, which take their name from "curing" the user health and the natural environment, has been developed with the aim of allowing the users to breathe healthily and safely in our era, where indoor air quality is more important than ever.

In addition to their innovative and sustainable production technologies, Cura Tile by Kale products pave the way for both environmentally friendly industrialization and sustainable urbanization with their natural structure.

NOTE: Infographics highlighting the 4 main features of Cura Tile by Kale can be used. According to your preference, space renders in the catalog/mailing design can also be added.

Source: Cura Tile by Kale Product Catalogue, p.6.

Smartedge (Thin Section) Washbasin

Our thin-section Smartedge washbasins contribute to the preservation of natural resources with their raw materials and energy savings compared to conventional washbasin production.

You can reach the details of our products, which we designed with the environment and human health in mind, on our catalog pages.

Water, Energy, and Raw Material Efficiency

Recovery efforts carry great importance for the future of the Turkish ceramics industry, which produces largely using local raw material resources. The reflection of recycling in the use of resources also demonstrates itself as a contribution to the preservation of our country's natural water reserves, especially these days when the importance of water resources is increasing.

We continue to carry out our work based on resource efficiency in all our operational processes. With this understanding, we have increased the material-oriented recycling studies we have been carrying out in our production processes over the past year.

We have increased the recycling rates by over 70%. Thus, we not only save on water and energy consumption required for production processes, but we also contribute to the sustainability of raw materials.

Along with the reduction in resource consumption, we also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It would not be wrong to say that every kind of work that will ensure fewer greenhouse gas emissions is valuable today as we feel the effects of climate change much more.

It is an inevitable situation that various wastes will occur throughout the life cycle of ceramics, starting from the acquisition of raw materials, through various stages of production including maintenance, laboratory, and office activities. These wastes continue to be recycled by being classified according to their types. In addition, we continue to save in natural resource consumption with our efficiency-oriented works in our production areas, from the use of high-efficiency equipment in production to lighting applications.

And we develop cyclical and sustainable processes by using the waste heat generated in the production processes in greenhouse facilities that produce organic agriculture.

Delivering Value to Employees and Talent Management

We believe wholeheartedly that our colleagues who joined us with our "Kalegends" new graduates’ recruitment program will develop themselves both in personal and technical issues, have a stronger presence in business life, make a difference in our companies, and carry our inspiring works by receiving training on different topics from expert trainers and learning from their experience.

As part of our talent management efforts, we continue to annually enrich the content of the Kales of the Future "Leader Development Program" and "Digital Transformation and Innovation Academy" programs that we realize together with Sabanci University.

We have also launched the "Mentoring Program from Us to Us" to strengthen the technical, managerial, and communications skills of our employees, to transfer culture and values between generations, to experience new ideas, and to obtain new perspectives.

We have initiated the Kale Masters program by designing the internal trainer process to encourage increasing the number and quality of internal training to strengthen the learning organization culture.

As of 2021, we have expanded the scope of the postgraduate program and launched the "Postgraduate Education Support" program for any university preferred by our employees.

#CareForYourWorld

As Kaleseramik, we prioritize investment in impact-oriented circular projects for a sustainable future. Arguing that everyone has a responsibility for a more equal, fairer, and greener world, we aim to create conscious awareness and encourage everyone to act by getting inspiration from that.

As we all know, we are going through a period of escalating global issues and increasing inequalities. In this process, we know that it is not possible to achieve different results by doing the same things.

As Kaleseramik, with this awareness, we chose to return to our core and look within and have evaluated the days we live as a stage of awareness. We believe that the little changes we start in our small worlds in line with our "Care For Your World" approach -which we have announced with our awareness of feeding on the responsibility instead of the problem- will merge and transform into a great movement.

Let us come together and extend the "Care For Your World" movement and raise our hopes for a more livable future...

Today each individual has the potential to make a difference in her/his street, neighborhood, city, country, and finally on the planet starting from herself/himself, her/his habits and home.

As Kaleseramik, we continue to follow the agenda on local and global sustainability risks and work to add new meanings to living spaces. We are ready to take good care of your home, your world, and you...

Kaleseramik R&D Center

Kaleseramik R&D Center was established with a vision to develop products with high added value by realizing innovative, environmentally friendly, and unique projects set in line with the future strategies of Kale Construction Products Group with its experienced staff.

At Kaleseramik R&D Center, we work to make Kaleseramik a company with high competitiveness in the international stage with more than 30 researchers, designers, and technicians in our facility with an area of 5,500 m2. We also work to create an R&D and innovation culture and enable its sustainability, to develop new sustainable production techniques, equipment, and products, and to contribute to ceramic science and engineering.