Burkasan continues to make a name for itself globally with its investments in recycling and sustainability. Through its collaboration with Unilever-Turkey since 2020, Burkasan has remained a role model for Turkey in the use of recycled plastics in bottle-to-bottle production. The result of this partnership, Burkasan’s modern, high-tech, and high-capacity plastic recycling facility, contributes to the development of the recycling industry in Turkey while strongly supporting a global company like Unilever in reaching its sustainability goals.
A delegation of global and Turkish executives from Unilever visited Burkasan’s plastic recycling facility in Bursa, where they examined the facility’s advanced technological infrastructure firsthand. The program continued with a workshop organized by the Unilever-Turkey team in Istanbul, which not only deepened the collaboration between the two companies in sustainability but also marked a starting point for taking this partnership to a global scale.
Increased Use of Recycled Plastics
Hamit Candan, Global Sustainability Manager for Hard Plastics in the Home Care Category at Unilever, stated that their collaboration with Burkasan plays a critical role in achieving Unilever’s sustainability goals. Candan reminded that Unilever aims to reduce its use of virgin plastic materials by 30% by 2026 and by 40% by 2028, emphasizing that Burkasan is a reliable partner in reaching these ambitious targets.
“Unilever works with many suppliers on a global scale. Burkasan stands out as one of the most advanced recycling companies in the world,” said Candan, adding that Burkasan delivers superior performance in terms of both quality and process management. “We speak the same language with Burkasan, which is one of the biggest strengths of our partnership. Thanks to this collaboration, we are confidently advancing towards Unilever’s global sustainability goals.”
Candan expressed that Burkasan’s technological infrastructure, quality standards, and shared vision have taken the partnership to the next level. He also noted that Burkasan has become a key solution partner for Unilever not only in Turkey but also in the global market. “By collaborating with Burkasan in recycling processes, we are producing sustainable solutions both environmentally and financially,” Candan said, adding that they aim to embark on even larger projects in the future.
We Are on the Path to Becoming a Global Player in Recycling
Burkasan’s General Manager, Birhan Denktaş, expressed his satisfaction with the long-standing collaboration with Unilever, emphasizing their goal of expanding this partnership to the global level. “In 2018, we set out with just an idea, and in 2020, we built one of Turkey’s most modern plastic recycling facilities as part of this project. Since 2021, we have been producing recycled materials used in the packaging of Unilever’s products sold in Turkey. One of our primary goals is to take this collaboration to the global level,” he said.
Denktaş highlighted Burkasan’s leading position in the industry due to its investments in recycling technologies. He noted that the modernization efforts at their plastic recycling facility in Bursa have positioned Burkasan as a significant supplier not only for Turkey but also for the global market.
The General Manager also stated that Burkasan continues to invest in nearly all areas of waste management and recycling. “Almost all of our investments are part of a project. Our goal is always to provide solutions that meet the recycling and sustainability needs of our customers. We are committed to making further investments both in Turkey and abroad,” he added.
Burkasan’s Global Journey
Burkasan’s Sales and Foreign Trade Manager, Yasin Demirtaş, noted that their collaboration with Unilever demonstrates that Burkasan is prepared for larger projects in global markets. “We have a long-standing partnership with Unilever. Through this collaboration, we have successfully pursued our goals of increasing the use of recycled plastics, and we are on the path to growth in the global market,” he said.
Demirtaş explained that Unilever visited Burkasan’s facilities to gather detailed information about their technological infrastructure and production capacity. “Particularly, the improvements we made to our high-density polyethylene recycling line in 2022 have put us a step ahead in the industry. At Burkasan, we produce recycled plastics of quality close to that of virgin materials, which makes us competitive in the global market,” he added.
By supplying recycled plastics to Unilever’s global operations, Burkasan is advancing toward becoming a worldwide solution partner. Demirtaş said, “Our interactions with Unilever are providing valuable opportunities for our future projects. With our facilities, technological infrastructure, and team, we are ready for these projects. As Burkasan, we will continue to create new opportunities in recycling and expand in global markets.”
