‘Cleaner Production’ Will End Buyuk Menderes River Basin’s Pollution

With the Buyuk Menderes River facing increasing water risks, WWF-Turkey and the South Aegean Development Agency (GEKA) have launched an innovative program to promote investment by local and international textile companies and financial institutions in cleaner production techniques, which will reduce pollution in the critically important river and yield economic benefits. The initiative – entitled […]

With the Buyuk Menderes River facing increasing water risks, WWF-Turkey and the South Aegean Development Agency (GEKA) have launched an innovative program to promote investment by local and international textile companies and financial institutions in cleaner production techniques, which will reduce pollution in the critically important river and yield economic benefits. The initiative – entitled ‘Cleaner Production Methods in the Textile Sector’ – supports textile companies to adopt processes that use less water, chemicals and energy, and reduce solid waste and wastewater.

Under the initiative, WWF and GEKA will conduct Cleaner Production trainings for textile manufacturers as well as feasibility studies that provide specific recommendations for each manufacturer.

“By EUR 12 million investment, annual saving is EUR 10 million”

“This groundbreaking initiative will reduce pollution in the Buyuk Menderes basin, which will benefit not just its textile industry but also other economic sectors and internationally important wetland protected areas,” said Aslı Pasinli, CEO of WWF-Turkey. “By creating a pipeline of bankable projects, we are helping to secure the huge investments that are needed to stimulate economic growth and improve the condition of our critical freshwater resources in the Buyuk Menderes river basin. Supporting this movement is very important for our future together. We aim to establish a work model for Turkey and protect economical sustainability and sectorial competition at the same time.”