The Zero Waste Forum, organized under the patronage of First Lady Emine Erdoğan and in collaboration with the Zero Waste Foundation, was held in Istanbul from October 17 to 19, 2025.
The forum, attended by representatives from 104 countries, featured significant exchanges of ideas on the themes of "Human, Space, Transformation" focusing on environment, economy, and social transformation.

Our Board Chair TÜRGEV, Attorney Hatice Akıncı Yılmaz, emphasized that the Zero Waste vision, inspired by First Lady Emine Erdoğan, is a movement of conscience built on the foundations of "respect for creation, avoiding waste, and a sense of stewardship."

In her speech, our Chair stated:

"The Zero Waste vision, which serves as an example to the world under the leadership of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, reminded us of our responsibility towards every being that our Lord has entrusted to us on earth.
As TÜRGEV, we strive to keep this sense of stewardship alive in every project we undertake with young people. Because the earth does not belong to humans; humans are the stewards of the earth.
The youth who embrace this awareness will fulfill their duties towards both the environment and humanity with faith, loyalty, and merit."

Our Chair noted that the essence of zero waste includes the understanding of protecting resources, not wasting blessings, and respecting existence:

"Waste is not only the depletion of resources but also the depletion of conscience. Every young person raised with a sense of stewardship learns the value of blessings and the abundance of sharing."

Yılmaz expressed that this understanding has transformed into a strong culture of solidarity within the sisterhood ecosystem of TÜRGEV, highlighting that young women are involved in pioneering projects that combine environmental sensitivity with social responsibility.

Emphasizing that under the umbrella of TÜRGEV, initiatives such as "Güzel İşler Fabrikası", the "Vocational Training Awareness Project", and environment-focused volunteer activities have enabled young people to take active roles in production, environmental awareness, and sustainability, our Chair stated:

"This awareness, blossoming under the leadership of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, transforms compassion into a power in the hearts of young people.
Protecting nature is not only an environmental responsibility but also a moral one. We work with young people with a sense of loyalty to the soil, fidelity to water, and compassion for humanity."

Our Chair concluded by stating that the outputs of the forum will be of great importance for Turkey's sustainability vision as they will form the basis for the 2026 Zero Waste Report:

"The awareness blossoming in the hearts of youth today will be the foundation of a just, livable, and conscientious world of tomorrow."

TÜRGEV creates a solidarity network that is productive and aware, by merging the sense of stewardship with the "sisterhood ecosystem" in each of its activities.
This ecosystem is becoming a carrier of sustainable transformation in many areas, from environmental sensitivity to social entrepreneurship, from vocational awareness to a culture of volunteering.

As TÜRGEV, we believe that the awareness of zero waste is not only an environmental responsibility but also a moral and humanitarian one.
We continue our efforts with the vision of Youth Raised with a Sense of Stewardship to ensure that young people grow up as peaceful, productive, conscious, and sensitive individuals towards the environment.