İzocam, the leading brand that introduced environmentally friendly and healthy insulation to Turkey 58 years ago, is determined to reduce its carbon footprint with every step it takes! But do you know how you can reduce your carbon footprint?
İzocam, the world-famous insulation brand of Turkey, has been leading the insulation industry for 58 years with its products that use recycled materials, do not harm human health and are proven to be environmentally friendly. Supporting the natural by being inspired by nature, İzocam is determined to reduce its carbon footprint with every step it takes! But do you know how you can reduce your carbon footprint?
What has İzocam done so far to reduce its carbon footprint?
With the aim of being carbon neutral by 2050, İzocam, which has prevented the release of 650 million tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere with the insulation products it has produced since the day it was founded, has started to implement many projects that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, limit water consumption and wastewater generation, adapt alternative raw material sources to production processes, and contribute to the circular economy. Working with the motto of “İzocam stands behind sustainable
tomorrows” and with the aim of making the world a better home, the company received full marks in its 2022 environmental scorecard thanks to a series of projects and investments it implemented throughout the year.
İzocam has recently taken an important step that contributes to its target of environmentally friendly facilities, and has been awarded the “Basic Level Zero Waste Certificate” issued by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization of Republic of Turkey for all its facilities. İzocam, which implements recycling and efficiency projects by establishing energy monitoring systems in its stone wool and glass wool production facilities within the framework of its target of reducing both carbon emissions and energy costs, replaced the lighting equipment in all its facilities with environmentally friendly ones in line with its target of reducing energy use. İzocam, which has reduced its emission levels well below the limits set in Europe with the improvements it has made in its needled glass wool products designed especially for furnace manufacturers, changed the packaging of İzocam Foamboard into an environmentally friendly one, in a way that emphasizes its contribution to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), after it has renewed the packagings of its stone wool and glass wool products. İzocam, which uses up to 80% recycled materials in its production processes, serves sustainability with its local products that contain at least 30% recycled content, while offering a healthy life to all living things and nature with the content of its products. In addition, İzocam is the first company in the Turkish insulation sector equipped with the EUropean CErtification Board for mineral wool products (EUCEB) certificate, which is a proof that the fibers that penetrate the body through the skin and respiration are removed harmlessly from the body. Given the recycled materials used in the production of İzocam stone wool and glass wool products, the buildings that use these products can get green building certificates such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) - BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) certificates. In addition, İzocam brand polystyrene-based XPS (extruded polystyrene) and EPS (expanded polystyrene) products do not contain hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), which is a type of brominated flame retardant and a permanent organic pollutant. These İzocam branded HBCD-free XPS and EPS products are produced within the framework specified by the laws in a way that will not harm the environment and human health.
İzocam has put environmental responsibility at the center of all its decisions and actions within the framework of its 2022 social responsibility activities. Turning its course to the seas in order to draw attention to sustainability, the fight against global climate change and the right to a good life, İzocam has set sail for the seas with the sailing team it has established with the motto of “İzocam stands behind sustainable tomorrows”. İzocam Sailing Team, consisting of professional racers as well as İzocam employees who received basic sailing training from the Sailmaster team, took part in a total of 4 trophies and 34 races throughout 2022. İzocam, which has organized an important event on the Istanbul Bebek coast with the aim of leaving blue shores and a living sea for future generations, has removed 35 kilograms of waste from the sea in just 3 hours and transferred them to the recycling facilities within the scope of the coast and seabed cleaning event it has held in cooperation with “Deniz Temiz Derneği (Clean Sea Association)/Turmepa (Turkish Marine Environment Protection Association)” and “Aktif Balık Adamlar Spor Klubü Derneği (Active Aquanauts Sports Club Association)”. In addition, with the sapling donation project it has realized in cooperation with the The TEMA (The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats) Foundation, İzocam afforested an area the size of approximately 17 football fields.
What can you do to reduce your carbon footprint?
To put it simply, the carbon footprint is defined as the carbon dioxide equivalent of the greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of an individual, family, institution or country. The more we increase our carbon footprint by acting unconsciously, the greater and more permanent damage we cause to nature. We need to reduce our individual carbon footprint and live respectfully to natural resources in order to leave a more livable world to the future generations. Working with the goal of making the world a better home, İzocam lists simple yet effective ways to individually reduce your carbon footprint as follows:
- Pay attention to energy efficiency in buildings
Insulating living spaces is the first step towards energy efficiency. Even a building constructed with the least possible insulation stipulated by the regulations results in more than 60% energy savings compared to an uninsulated building. In addition, simple measures such as turning off unused electrical devices, not using electricity unless necessary, choosing energy-saving light bulbs for lighting, and running washing machines and dishwashers at full capacity also help you reduce your carbon footprint.
- Use green energy
Instead of fossil fuels, use natural and renewable green energy sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, plants, geothermal energy. For example, you can reduce your carbon footprint by installing solar panels in your homes or preferring residences that use solar energy systems.
- Do not buy unnecessary electronic devices
Nowadays, the use of electronic devices such as multiple mobile phones, computers, tablets, televisions, hair stylers is becoming widespread. But in order to reduce your carbon footprint, you should not buy more electronic products than can meet your basic needs.
- Walk a lot
Prefer walking instead of driving when going to nearby places.
- Use a bicycle
Cycling, as an alternative to driving at suitable distances, significantly reduces carbon emissions associated with fuel consumption.
- Prefer public transportation
In cases where walking and cycling cannot be used to reach your destination, prefer public transportation instead of driving your private vehicle. Doing so will greatly reduce your carbon footprint.
- Maximize the number of passengers traveling with you on your travels by car
In cases where you have to travel with your own private vehicle, maximize the number of passengers in the car by reaching out to people who are traveling in the same direction as you.
- Reduce your air travels
Given its intense fuel consumption, long-distance air travel is one of the modes of transportation that increases the carbon footprint the most. You can prefer travelling by train instead of air travel for domestic or international transportation.
- Prefer hybrid vehicles
Hybrid vehicles that can automatically control the connection between gasoline and electric motors are a good alternative to fossil fuel-powered vehicles to reduce your carbon footprint.
- Give importance to recycling
Sort your plastic, paper, glass, packaging and bottle wastes and throw them into the relevant recycling bins.
- Change your consumption habits
Behaviors such as avoiding unnecessary shopping, using your items for as long as possible, and even reducing food wastes will reduce your carbon footprint.
- Protect nature and green
Keep green areas clean, protect them and increase their number as much as you can. You can start by keeping nature clean, planting trees and growing green plants.
- Limit meat consumption
Limiting meat consumption is listed as one of the ways to reduce the carbon footprint, as the natural resources and energy consumption used in the production of farmed tuna fish and salmon, as well as beef and poultry, cause serious carbon emissions.
- Prefer local and organic food
Pay attention to consuming local and organic foods that reduce the carbon footprint as they are more easily produced and require less transportation.
- Help raise awareness of the society
In addition to raising awareness individually about reducing the carbon footprint, help raise the awareness of the society on this issue by disseminating information through joint studies.