Following the publication of its 2021–2022 Sustainability Report, IC Holding presented its strategy and projects to its stakeholders at the first-ever IC Holding Sustainability Day. At the event, where the IC Sustainability Team completed its 18-week certification program by presenting their graduation projects, leading figures in sustainability gathered for a panel discussion titled “Our Country’s Sustainability Transformation and Collaboration for Sustainable Development.”
IC İbrahim Çeçen Investment Holding (IC Holding), which operates in five main sectors—construction, energy, tourism, industry, and infrastructure—presented its centralized sustainability management system and its “Impact of Development” sustainability strategy to its internal and external stakeholders at the IC Holding Sustainability Day.
The event, which began with opening remarks by IC Holding CEO Murad Bayar and Murat Sungur Bursa, President of the Sustainability Academy, continued with a presentation by Sustainability Communicator Sertaç Doğanay, and was followed by a panel discussion titled “Our Country’s Sustainability Transformation and Cooperation for Sustainable Development,” featuring Konca Çalkıvik, Secretary General of the Business World and Sustainable Development Association; Semra Sevinç, Board Member of the Sustainability Academy; Dora Üreten, Director of Escarus—the sustainability consulting firm of the Industrial Development Bank of Turkey; and Fatih Erdem, TANAP Director of Quality, OHS and Environment Director Fatih Erdem.
Noting that the sustainability transformation is inevitable for companies aiming for lasting success in their respective sectors, IC Holding CEO Murad Bayar stated, “Until a few years ago, sustainability meant a social responsibility project for most of us, has now become a concept we discuss in terms of how to make it the focus of our business. We at IC Holding are taking steps with full awareness of our duties and responsibilities. I am delighted that we have established our sustainability management system, published our sustainability report, and hosted such a well-rounded event in as little as 1.5 years. “We will continue our social investments through the IC İbrahim Çeçen Foundation by developing projects in various areas—including educational scholarships for university students, as well as sports, the environment, and cultural development,” he said.
Murat Sungur Bursa, President of the Sustainability Academy, stated that he believes sustainability efforts will contribute to the organization’s brand development, the hiring of more qualified individuals, and the happiness and productivity of employees, noting that sustainability is not merely about the sustainability of the work being done; but also the sustainability of the company, the country, and humanity.
Leading figures in sustainability gathered for the panel
Speaking at the “Our Country’s Sustainability Transformation and Cooperation for Sustainable Development” panel held during the first part of the event, Konca Çalkıvik, Secretary General of the Business World and Sustainable Development Association, noted that we are still far from the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target and stressed that companies must transform their business practices and strategies to address the climate crisis. Highlighting the transformative power of the business world, Çalkıvik stressed that companies must implement ambitious strategies and actions—including those that encompass their value chains—to achieve net-zero emissions, become nature-positive, reduce inequalities, and contribute to a just society.
Semra Sevinç, a member of the Sustainability Academy’s Board of Directors, said, “The world we live in today is a world of inequalities and crises. Companies must manage all these crises while continuing to grow. At this point, companies need to focus on ‘Good Growth’ by changing their mission, vision, and ways of doing business,” she said.
Dora Üreten, Director of Escarus, who shared her views during the panel, provided insights into how sector-specific collaborations for sustainable development differ from conventional partnerships. Fatih Erdem, TANAP Director of Quality, Occupational Health and Safety, and Environment, shared his experiences regarding sustainability management in the energy sector and the projects they have implemented.
IC Sustainability Team Graduates
The IC Sustainability Team—formed with the participation of 50 volunteer employees from IC Holding and trained through a certification program developed in collaboration between the Holding’s education platform, IC Academy, and the Sustainability Academy—received their certificates after presenting their graduation projects. Having completed a total of 40 hours of training over 18 weeks across 12 different topics, the Sustainability Team will shape the Holding’s sustainability efforts for the next 10 years and lead its vision.
IC Holding Sustainability Day concluded with the IC Sustainability Team presenting 10 different graduation projects, followed by a certificate ceremony and a dance performance by the dedicated staff of “Artı 1 by IC Hilton Bomonti.”
https://en/sustainability.ic.com.tr/
