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STRATEGIC DRIVERS
CLIMATE CRISIS
INNOVATION
EMPLOYEES AND SOCIETY
Tekfen Group’s main drivers of focus for ensuring its existence well into the future are defined as “Strategic Drivers” in its Sustainability Strategy. The three main headings determined in this context, “Climate Crisis,” “Innovation,” and “Employees and Society,” are also the main subjects of the global sustainability agenda.
Kharampur Natural Gas Pipeline, Russian Federation
Climate Crisis
The environmental, social, and economic impacts of the climate crisis are worsening with each passing day globally. Climate action failure ranks first among long-term threats in the Global Risks Report 2022 published by the World Economic Forum. This risk is also seen as the one with potentially the most devastating effects for the next 10 years.
According to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), if there is no measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the next 30 months, the effects of climate change will increase further, and the surface temperature will rise by 1.5°C or even 2°C during the 21st century. The same report points out that, should the current policies continue, global warming will increase by 2.2°C to 3.5°C in 80 years.
Combating the climate crisis requires scientific planning and roadmaps. Extreme weather events, which were prominent in our country in 2021, are causing drought and deterioration of biodiversity. Climate change, which also negatively impacts access to basic needs such as food, energy, and water, threatens all living things on the planet.
Net-Zero Economy
Net-zero emissions is a global target aimed at tackling climate change by 2050. According to a KPMG report on this, reaching the net-zero target will only be possible if the public, private, and financial sectors work together, and consumers become more aware of the issue. (Net Zero Readiness Index - KPMG)
As of 2022, the global emissions of 132 countries that have set net-zero targets amount to 88% of total global emissions. Turkey aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2053.
The most ambitious global initiative in setting net-zero targets is the European Green Deal, which offers comprehensive legislation on the subject. Presenting a new economic growth strategy in the face of the climate crisis, the Green Deal is a plan that aims to make the European Union climate neutral by 2050 and offers a significant opportunity for the transition to a net-zero economy. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, established as part of this plan and planned for implementation in 2023, foresees taxation per metric ton of greenhouse gases emitted during the manufacturing of products exported to the EU. The scope of the border tax system, which will apply to industries such as iron, steel, cement, fertiliser, aluminum, and electricity, will be gradually expanded. Companies with EU commercial relations are expected to be significantly impacted by the Carbon Border Tax. Minimizing these risks and turning them into opportunities will only be possible if the private sector creates plans and strategies suitable for new conditions by making the necessary investments and performing appropriate research.
With the ratification of the Paris Agreement by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the climate change agenda in our country is now being handled more comprehensively by all stakeholders. The Climate Council held in February 2022 helped with this by reconsidering Turkey’s climate change vision with the understanding of “green transformation” in line with developing and changing conditions.
In line with developments in the world and our country, Tekfen Holding has accelerated its efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
In line with developments in the world and our country, Tekfen Holding has accelerated its efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Management Structure
The ultimate responsibility in combatting climate change rests with Tekfen Holding’s Board of Directors, which approves all decisions taken regarding the climate crisis. Setting targets, determining the budget for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, managing risks and opportunities related to climate change, and internal carbon pricing are some issues and decisions discussed by the Board of Directors.
The Environment Working Group monitors climate-related targets and actions and reports to the Sustainability Committee. Reporting to the Corporate Governance Committee, the Sustainability Committee is responsible for creating the strategies, roadmaps, targets, policies, and reports necessary for the climate crisis, one of the main aspects of the “Bridging Prosperity” vision, integrating sustainability into business processes in line with the Holding’s priorities, and ensuring the active participation of the Group Companies in these processes.
Climate Risks and Opportunities
The primary focus of Tekfen Holding’s climate crisis management is its activities with chemicals, which also cover the fertiliser industry with the highest Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and its contracting activities, which also cover the oil and natural gas industries. The Engineering and Contracting Group and the Chemistry Group, which have the largest shares in Tekfen Holding’s turnover, operate in industries vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which poses significant risks for both fields of activity.
Tekfen Holding identifies climate and water risks and opportunities and integrates them into its business strategies. The main climate risks identified by Tekfen are:
Policy risk
- Due to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the carbon tax payable at the border for the products we export to the EU may lead to a decrease in profitability.
- With the Green Deal, the consumption of chemical fertilisers is expected to decrease by 20% in EU member states, which may lead to a decrease in our chemical fertiliser exports.
- With the Emissions Trading System, which is expected to be implemented in Turkey soon, we will see an increase in operational costs.
Market risk
With the decreasing share of fossil fuels in energy, new investments in fossil fuels are expected to decrease in the coming period. This situation poses a significant risk for our Engineering and Contracting Group Companies, which carry out most of their projects in the oil and gas industries.
Technology risk
Low-carbon technologies in production are influential for Toros Agri, which operates in an emissions-intensive industry.
Reputational risk
International initiatives to combat climate change and the increasing demands of local communities and NGOs may lead to increased stakeholder pressure on Tekfen’s contracting activities in the oil and natural gas industries and fertiliser production activities that cause high N2O (nitrous oxide) emissions.
Physical risk
The agriculture industry is one of the industries at greatest risk from the climate crisis. Extreme weather events such as storms, floods, hail, and heat waves lead to shrinkage of agricultural lands and deterioration of soil quality, which decreases the use of fertilisers and farmers’ access to fertilisers due to reduced purchasing power. Reduced fertiliser use negatively affects agricultural production efficiency and the farmer’s economic conditions while posing a significant threat to food security. While the decrease in fertiliser consumption poses a risk for Toros Agri, the change in precipitation and the frequency increase of extreme weather events will likely adversely affect Tekfen Agri’s agricultural production activities.
Tekfen Group Companies take different steps to manage climate risks and seize opportunities. To that end, a working group has been established within Tekfen Engineering to develop the company’s competencies in designing environmental technologies. This group has researched traditional and next-generation environmental technologies and identified the target markets for the Engineering and Contracting Group. The content of the activities carried out is covered under the following subjects and supported by the relevant projects and communication channels:
Traditional Environmental Technologies: Water treatment, industrial and domestic wastewater treatment, air pollution and control, sulfur recovery and flue gas remediation, and solid waste management.
Clean Energy and Production Technologies: Waste-to-energy (traditional biogas), waste-to-biofuel/biochemicals (gasification process), plastics recycling (chemical recycling), solar power, wind power, hydrogen and fuel cells, biofuel/biochemical production from 2G biomass, carbon capture, storage and reuse.
Environmental Infrastructure: Water supply and distribution, wastewater removal, and sustainable transportation.
Following the Gönen Renewable Energy investment, an example of circular economy solutions, Toros Agri commissioned the Meram Renewable Energy facility in 2020. The company is expanding its share in the organic fertiliser market with both investments. With the filter investment made in the nitric acid unit at the Mersin Plant, the company aims to reduce its N2O emissions by 80 to 85 percent.
Toros Gönen Renewable Energy, Balıkesir
The target of reducing chemical fertiliser use as part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the shrinkage it will cause in the market are among the main risks that Toros Agri must manage. Toros Agri continues its studies on special fertilisers to manage the risks and opportunities brought by changing market conditions. By expanding its product portfolio, the company plans to generate some of its sales volume from organomineral, microbial, inhibitor, and biostimulant fertilisers. The EU certification process of organic fertiliser contents has been completed. Additionally, the project for the development of microbial fertilisers continues as part of the collaboration between Tekfen Holding and TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (MAM). Meanwhile, Tekfen Agri carries out seed breeding projects for seeds resistant to new climatic conditions and drought.
The Group Companies conduct energy studies at all fixed facilities, and energy efficiency projects are determined and implemented accordingly. Tekfen Group also contributes to the “Bridging Prosperity” vision with energy-efficient and sustainable buildings and infrastructure services in its real estate development and facility management activities.
The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) details information on climate risks and management.
Participating in the CDP Climate Change Program for the first time in 2017, Tekfen Holding became one of the Climate Leaders of Turkey by getting an “A (-)” score in the CDP Climate Change Program in 2021.
Climate Targets
In 2021, Tekfen focused on strategic planning for the climate crisis and established the “Tekfen Net-Zero Roadmap” to shape its plan for the transition to net-zero.
As part of the Climate Ambition Accelerator program, spearheaded by the UN Global Compact and launched simultaneously in 25 countries, Tekfen sets science-based emission goals to become climate neutral in line with the 1.5°C target.
Tekfen completed its energy audit reporting studies of energy-intensive fixed facilities within the Group and determined projects related to energy efficiency in 2021. As part of these efforts, site visits and initial determinations were made, and the first phase of valuation, feasibility, and mapping of priority projects for emission reduction was completed and presented to senior management.
Tekfen continues to work towards total compliance with the medium- and long-term emission reduction targets set in 2020. The current medium- and long-term targets of the Group are:
- Target 1: By the end of 2025, total Scope 1+2 emissions will be reduced by 15% compared to 2019.
- Target 2: By the end of 2037, total Scope 1+2 emissions will be reduced by 40.2% compared to 2019.
Tekfen Group Companies completed seven new projects in 2021 that contributed to emission reduction while minimizing operational emissions. Thanks to these projects, the Group has achieved approximately 10,000 MWh in energy savings and nearly 2.1 million TRY in financial savings.
Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions (tCO2e)
(Scope 1+2)
Total Renewable Energy Production
(Waste Heat, Solar ve Biomass - thousand MWh)
70%
With the rooftop solar panels installed at Tekfen Construction’s Ceyhan Fabrication Facility, renewable energy sources meet 70% of the facility’s electricity needs.
Tekfen Construction
In line with net-zero targets, two of Tekfen Construction’s fixed facilities, namely the Ceyhan Fabrication Facility and the South Anatolia Main Repair and Maintenance Facility, switched to using 100% renewable energy as of 2021. In addition to the start of renewable energy production with solar panels, the International Renewable Energy Certificate (I-REC) was obtained for the mains electricity, thereby eliminating Scope 2 emissions from these facilities.
Toros Agri
The installation of the new N2O filtering system continues in the nitric acid unit of the Mersin Plant, which is the largest emission source of Toros Agri. The goal of the filter investment is to achieve a reduction of 80 to 85 percent in N2O emissions, which play a major role in climate change. The project is planned to be completed in 2023 and aims to reduce the Group’s total Scope 1 emissions by 600,000 to 650,000 metric tons of CO2.
Using the steam energy generated as waste heat in the production processes of the company’s Samsun and Mersin Plants resulted in an energy generation of 220,000 MWh, preventing 94,886 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
Tekfen Agri
The European Union and TÜBİTAK projects performed at the Agripark R&D Center continued in 2021. The goal is to improve agricultural productivity and farmer welfare through collaboration with international organisations and universities while reducing the environmental impact caused by operational activities with innovative products resistant to drought and efficiency studies in production processes. The “Innovation” section of the report provides detailed information about these projects.
Tekfen Tourism
Improvement works have been carried out since 2014 to reduce the environmental impact of the Tekfen Tower. As of 2021, the entire building uses LED lighting. The engines of the cooling towers connected to the air conditioning system, one of the biggest energy consumers in the building, were renewed with high-efficiency engines and integrated into the automation system, enabling them to operate at the required speed. Additionally, the automation system of the radiator assemblies in the building was made controllable with a web-based interface, resulting in more efficient and effective air conditioning.
Ceyhan Steel Structure Fabrication Plant, Adana
Natural Resources and Waste Management
With its resource efficiency investments, Tekfen aims to use natural resources such as raw materials, energy, and water more effectively. Tekfen also aims to create more value with less input while contributing to reducing the environmental impact of its stakeholders with products and services such as correct fertilisation guidelines and practices that support reducing water consumption in addition to green buildings. The Group also carries out projects to prevent waste generation at the source, reuse the waste, and thus preserve the value of the resources following principles of a circular economy.
Water Management
The depletion of clean water resources has negative social, economic, and environmental effects. The increasing demand for water and food resources due to the growing population affects many industries, including agriculture. Research shows that the demand for critical raw materials such as water, food, animal feed, and biofuel will be 50% higher in 2050 than in 2012. (UN World Water Development Report 2022 - UN WATER)
In Turkey, the increasing population and poor agricultural practices make the correct use of water resources an even greater necessity. Inefficient use of water resources and excessive water withdrawal cause freshwater ecosystems to deteriorate. Tekfen Group Companies work to identify risks and opportunities related to water, manage water correctly, and reduce their water footprint.
The main water risks identified by Tekfen are:
- The reduced productivity in agriculture caused by the water crisis is expected to have serious economic consequences for small farmers, which may lead to a decrease in fertiliser sales as well as in the purchasing power and the overall number of farmers, who are some of Toros Agri’s most important customers. Tekfen Agri also faces the risk of decreased productivity in agricultural production due to increasing water stress.
- Both water supply and quality are expected to deteriorate. Water quality deterioration will likely lead to increased legal pressure on nitrate pollution caused by agricultural production, which may increase compliance costs for Toros Agri’s fertiliser activities.
Detailed information on water risks and management can be found in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Report.
Tekfen Holding was one of only 3 companies in Turkey and one of 118 companies worldwide to receive an “A” score in the CDP’s Water Security Program, which evaluated 3,368 companies from all over the world in 2021.
Tekfen Group Companies take different steps to manage water risks and seize opportunities.
To use water effectively and efficiently, Tekfen Agri invests in technologies that monitor plants’ water needs and uses smart irrigation systems. Sensors measuring soil moisture and weather stations equip Alanar orchards to ensure efficient water use. Only drip irrigation and mini sprinkler systems are used in these orchards.
Studies are carried out at Tekfen Agri and Toros Agri R&D Centers to develop products and seeds compatible with changing climatic conditions. Toros Agri increases its production and sales of special water-soluble fertilisers through its R&D studies. Special fertilisers are preferred for drip and sprinkler irrigation systems as they require less water. Toros Agri also works to prevent nitrate pollution by supporting farmers in using the right fertiliser at the right time and in the correct place and amount. To do so, Toros Agri uses tools such as training videos, the Toros Farmer Application, and face-to-face farmer training.
The Water and Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Project is still underway at Toros Agri’s Mersin Plant. After completion, the project will enable the treatment of wastewater, the recovery of ammonia and nitrate in wastewater, and the rehabilitation of the existing demineralisation system at the facility.
As part of the commissioning of Tekfen Construction’s ongoing Satellite Haradh Gas Compression Plants Pipeline Package project in Saudi Arabia, a total of 36,000 cubic metres of water was used for the hydrostatic testing of the pipelines with a volume of 79,000 cubic metres and 43,000 cubic metres of water saved through reuse.
Total Amount of Water Withdrawn (megalitres)
Waste Management
Reducing waste at the source, correct disposal, and adopting circular economy principles are critical for sustainability. The adoption of circular economy principles and the renewal of systems in line with these principles lead to positive environmental, social, and economic results. Innovative business models suitable for the circular economy create new employment areas on top of reducing carbon emissions while enabling the creation of new financial resources for the private sector. (Circular Economy: Definition, Importance and Benefits - European Parliament)
Tekfen Group Companies carry out projects to prevent waste at the source and to minimise waste/reduce waste to zero:
The Engineering and Contracting Group recycles or reuses waste generated during construction activities and minimises dust formation by using reclaimed asphalt at temporary construction sites.
There is no process-based product waste arising from Toros Agri’s fertiliser production facilities. Wastes that occur during production are used in reproduction following the quality criteria.
Toros Gönen Renewable Energy and Toros Meram Renewable Energy, subsidiaries of Toros Agri, produce biogas and generate electricity from the organic wastes they obtain from their regions while also producing organic and organomineral fertilisers from gasified waste. Successfully demonstrating the principles of the circular economy, these businesses not only ensure the disposal of organic wastes in the region but also generate energy and introduce new products to the economy.
Tekfen Tourism (Tekfen Services) sorts organic wastes, oil wastes, electronic wastes, and other recyclable wastes coming from the cafeterias at the source and sends them to licensed companies for proper disposal.
Zero Waste
Tekfen Group Companies adopt a waste management philosophy that covers the prevention of waste, more efficient use of resources, prevention or minimisation of waste by reviewing the causes of waste generation, and the collection and recycling of any waste separately at the source. Producing compost and energy from organic wastes, recycling waste and bringing it into the economy, reusing construction waste in other operations, and reducing food losses in agriculture with climate-resilient agriculture models are some of the Group’s best practices.
Having fulfilled the requirements of the Zero Waste Regulation that came into effect in 2019, 10 facilities of the Group Companies were entitled to receive the Basic Level Zero Waste Certificate in 2020 and 2021. At Tekfen Tower, the requirements for the transition to the Zero Waste Management System were fulfilled in 2021, and the application was made for Basic Level Zero Waste Certification.
Following the environmental sustainability strategies that focus on ensuring waste management through recycling and creating circular economy opportunities, a PG (phosphogypsum) Working Group was established within the R&D Center in 2021 to find alternative industrial areas for the use of the phosphogypsum (PG) reserve resulted as fertiliser production activities at Toros Agri’s Mersin and Samsun Plants. The working group focuses on establishing academic and corporate cooperation on the use of PG in numerous fields. Once chemically and physically purified, PG can be utilized in the manufacturing of high added-value products, used as a raw material or as a soil regulator to boost soil and plant productivity in agriculture. It can also be employed as an additive in the plaster and cement industry and as filler in road construction. In 2021, pilot projects on using PG in agriculture were launched, and a calcium sulphate fertiliser was registered.
Tekfen Agri started to measure the environmental footprint of its products by carrying out the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and completed the “Cradle-to-Gate” LCA for sesame seeds in 2020. Tekfen Agri, which received the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certificate as a result of its projects, was not only the first company in Turkey’s agriculture and food industries to receive this certificate but also the first company in the world to receive an EPD certificate for sesame seeds.
As part of the Zero Waste Project carried out at the Agripark R&D Center, vegetable wastes are sent to the biogas facility for energy and organic fertiliser production. With the Agripark Compost Project, the company has invested in a composting machine to compost the organic wastes.
The company’s Nevşehir Potato Seed Warehouse has a total potato seed storage capacity of 7,000 metric tons. Thanks to its high-tech ventilation and cooling systems, the potato seed warehouse has the lowest wastage rate among its counterparts in Turkey.
Toros Agri Ceyhan Production Plant, Adana
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is an essential component for the continuity of life on earth. Genes, species, and ecosystem services are critical inputs to many production processes, and businesses need healthy ecosystems to treat and distribute their waste and maintain soil and water quality.
Operating in industries that impact biodiversity, such as construction and agriculture, Tekfen Group is committed to taking the necessary measures to protect the ecosystem and species during its operations in line with its Biodiversity Policy.
Management of the biodiversity risk is based on the Biodiversity Action Plan, the Ecology Management Plan, and the Environmental Impact Assessment Reports. To that end, the Group carries out activities such as wildlife observation and protection practices, relocation of species found in project areas to similar habitats, and rehabilitation.
Innovation
The pandemic and the changes it has brought are causing rapid advances in new technologies, forcing businesses to adapt to these technologies if they wish to maintain their assets. Current conditions have also significantly accelerated the adoption of new technologies, many of which are now permanent. (8 Technology Trends for Innovative Leaders in a Post-pandemic World - WEF)
On the other hand, uncertainties increase as disruptive technologies replace existing products and services and reveal new opportunities. While investing in innovations, it is necessary to develop robust and agile strategies that include selecting the right technologies at the right time, preparing for different risks that may arise, and accepting changes in talent brought by innovation and digitisation. (Dijitalleşme Yolunda Türkiye 2021 - KPMG)
Industries such as agriculture and construction, which constitute Tekfen’s main business areas, respond to the vital needs of societies and play a key role in their development. Developments such as the climate crisis and the pandemic have revealed that existing business models and technological infrastructures of many industries are not sustainable. Innovation is also critical to tackling post-pandemic challenges faced by global economies and issues such as the climate crisis and equity.
Tekfen Holding companies operate in industries open to innovation and technological development. New engineering practices, digitisation , and automation shorten the business processes in contracting projects, minimise error rates, and contribute to safer working environments by reducing occupational health and safety-related risks. In the agriculture industry, the main subjects of the innovation approach include the development of seeds resistant to changing climatic conditions and drought, responsible use of natural resources, innovative production methods that will increase agricultural productivity, advanced agriculture technologies, and low-carbon fertilisers and harvesting methods. Tekfen Agri and Toros Agri carry out these activities under their R&D Centers’ leadership.
Toros Agri R&D Center, Mersin
R&D and Innovation Culture
One of Tekfen’s sustainability focuses is the promotion of the R&D and innovation culture within the Group, which is vital for the development of innovative solutions that will enhance the company’s business processes and services, enable the development of new products and services, and improve the company’s environmental, social, and governance performance. To this end, Tekfen encourages the participation of both company employees and external stakeholders so that innovative ideas can sprout in all business processes. Innovative approaches in the fields where the company has requirements are supported by competition and reward systems.
Tekfen Construction
To increase employee awareness of innovation and maximize the departments’ contributions to digitisation projects, department managers will select eligible individuals from their respective teams to become business analysts and receive 8 to 10 weeks of main and digital process training. This training will equip them with the necessary knowledge so that the departments’ personnel can identify and define the departments’ needs and test the information technology infrastructure after it is established.
FNN Sustainability Center
The FNN Sustainability Center began operations in January 2021 at Tekfen Construction’s South Anatolia Main Repair and Maintenance Facility in Ceyhan, Adana. The project goal was to build a facility that minimises its environmental impact by integrating various environmentally friendly and human-friendly features into the design and construction processes.
The FNN Sustainability Center generates 77,606 kWh/year of energy through solar panels on 450 square metres, meeting 45% of its electricity needs. Wastewater recycling, landscape uses, endemic plants, façade daylight factors, lighting design, and the energy conservation and sustainability values of the building with special solutions have been documented with LEED Platinum Certification. Following the EPA standard, an efficiency rate of 50% was achieved in water usage with rain and condensate water systems. 20% of the building’s structure uses recycled material, and a green terrace area was designed for recreational purposes in the center.
Tekfen Engineering
Tekfen Engineering held an internal innovation competition in 2021 and rewarded 4 projects at the end. The rewarded projects were:
- Hydrogen Production from Biogas with the DMR Method
- Smart City Solutions for a Better Future
- Taxi Stands and Digital Transportation
- 3D-Printed Structures
Toros Agri
- In 2019, Toros Agri joined the InoSuit – Innovation Focused Mentorship Program established with university-industry collaboration to increase innovation management competence, strengthen innovation management infrastructure, and design corporate innovation systems. Carried out in partnership with the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TİM), Toros Agri, and Mersin Technoscope, the project is coordinated by the Toros Agri R&D Center.
- In line with the InoSuit Project, the INNOVATIVE - Toros Innovation Bulletin was first published in 2019 to support the innovation culture at Toros Agri. The bulletin includes innovations in the agricultural industry, technological developments in agriculture, sustainable agricultural practices, and interviews. In 2021, 12 Toros Innovation Bulletins and 3 R&D Bulletins were published. Additionally, training events were held, and informative posters were prepared for innovative purposes. The INNOVATIVE - Toros Innovation Bulletins are available on the Toros Agri R&D Center website.
Tekfen Agri
- Tekfen Agri began strategic cooperation with the Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), one of Turkey’s leading research centers, in 2019. To that end, workshops with broad participation are held every year to create synergy between the institution and the employees, and ideas and projects are developed with cultural and technical diversity for open innovation.
- With its trademark motto, “Make your dream come true with innovation,” Tekfen Agri carries out various efforts to spread an innovation culture among its employees. The company has an innovation appreciation and reward system, and an employee innovation survey was conducted in 2021 to evaluate the Innovation Club’s activities and learn about the club members’ expectations and suggestions. Additionally, the corporate innovation system survey was conducted to evaluate the company’s innovation management and performance and identify areas for improvement.
- The Innovation Club continued its activities in 2021 with the “Innovation Room,” which was established to encourage in-house innovation and creativity. Innovation Club activities, ideas, situations, and cooperation projects are followed up by the annual internal bulletin.
Idea Management System
As part of the Innovation Club activities to spread innovation culture, 40 volunteers from Tekfen Agri, Alanar, and HTF with different disciplines and experiences came together at 29 events to brainstorm new ideas. In the Idea Management System, where innovative ideas from different platforms are evaluated and selected ideas are put into practice, there are 14 total projects, and 4 of these projects have been implemented. Applications were made to various funding support programs, 1 national and 3 international, and 2 projects received funding support.
R&D Studies
R&D and innovation, which help companies offer products and services with high added value and protect themselves from adverse market conditions and destructive competition, also play a major role in improving environmental performance, which is a key element for sustainable development.
Tekfen continues its R&D studies within a corporate framework, creating shared value in the field of sustainability, improving business processes, and developing innovative products and services. The Group carries out its internal and external R&D, innovation, and entrepreneurship activities through its R&D Centers, Tekfen Ventures, and Boğaziçi University FNN Tekfen Incubation Center.
- In 2021, nearly 28 million TRY was invested in R&D across the Group. Additionally, one patent application and five utility model applications were made.
- Toros Agri R&D Center and Tekfen Agri Agripark R&D Center employ 54 full-time equivalent employees, 16 of whom are full-time R&D personnel. Tekfen Manufacturing Design Center carries out its activities with 23 employees.
Toros Agri
Established in 2017 as a first in the field of plant nutrition in Turkey, the Toros Agri R&D Center develops new environmentally friendly fertiliser varieties that will contribute to agricultural productivity. They also engage in efforts to improve existing products, produce products not previously manufactured in our country, develop and optimise production processes, save energy in production, and reduce environmental impacts.
In addition to the self-sourced studies carried out at the R&D Center, 3 TÜBİTAK 2244 projects, 1 TÜBİTAK 1501 project, and 1 TAGEM project are currently underway. These projects are performed in collaboration with Ankara University, Mersin University, Çukurova University, and Konya Bahri Dağdaş Research Institute.
- SAM Consortium
The SAM Consortium project, applied for in 2020 upon the call of the international sustainability initiative Belmont Forum and under the coordination of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, was entitled to international funding. 11 institutions and organisations from 6 countries, including the United States, Austria, Brazil, Morocco, South Africa, and Turkey, are currently involved in this project. The Toros Agri R&D Center carries out the project in cooperation with the Toros Agri Corporate Sustainability Governance Directorate and Technical Marketing Departments. In line with sustainable development goals, the aim is to support interdisciplinary joint projects with the Sustainable Agriculture Matrix (SAM), which measures sustainable agriculture from social aspects such as economy, technology, environment, climate, and human development. Efforts for the project continued in 2021.
- Anti-Caking Agents Project
The caking problem, which causes physical deterioration in fertilisers due to environmental factors such as handling and various climatic conditions, increases costs by creating inefficiencies in agricultural practices. As part of the project, product-based studies are carried out to prevent the caking problem in different fertiliser varieties, and the goal is to determine the most suitable anti-caking agents in terms of costs and chemical content.
With a new R&D project initiated with the support of TÜBİTAK, the anti-caking product currently used in production was replaced with one that provides higher performance. 2 articles have been published as part of the project.
Toros Agri R&D Center, Mersin
149
Tekfen Agri ranked 149th in Turkishtime magazine’s annual R&D 250 list in 2020.
Tekfen Agri
Tekfen Agri prioritizes innovation and digital agriculture activities to create added value by developing innovative solutions for the problems and opportunities in the agriculture industry. Tekfen Agri Agripark R&D Center, where agricultural biotechnology activities are carried out, is one of Turkey’s first and few technological agriculture centers and was registered as an R&D Center in 2018.
Utilizing Anatolia’s rich biodiversity as a resource, Agripark carries out important activities for the future of Turkish agriculture and provides farmers with disease-free and high-quality seeds and saplings. The R&D Center is currently working on 17 projects. 11 are self-sourced, 4 receive national support, and 2 receive international support.
Agripark uses the tissue culture method to produce 6 types of disease-free and productive potato seeds, which is one of its main fields of activity. Development for 4 more is still underway. Additionally, various R&D projects are carried out at the center for developing potato varieties resistant to disease agents.
As in potato seeds, banana saplings produced in a sterile environment with the tissue culture method provide higher yield and quality for the producers. Agripark emphasizes the development of endemic products and searches for ways to reproduce and develop Turkish delicacies such as Anamur bananas under healthy conditions.
Agripark conducts pioneering projects for wheat, one of the Turkish peoples’ staple foods, and develops efficient and high-quality bread wheat, durum wheat, triticale, and barley varieties by utilizing the rich genetic resources of Anatolia, the historical homeland of wheat. In 2021, 2 durum wheat varieties, 8 bread wheat varieties, and 1 barley variety were produced, which are all different varieties and compatible with different ecologies of grain farming in Anatolia.
In 2021, two bread wheat varieties were registered by the Variety Registration and Seed Certification Center of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. 3 bread wheat varieties and one barley variety were registered, and the required production permits were obtained.
Tekfen Agri Agripark R&D Center, Adana
- The “Ensuring Traceability of Fruits from Tree to Table with Blockchain Technology” project was entitled to receive support as part of the TÜBİTAK 1707 Order-Based R&D Program. The project aims to enable end consumers to easily see a product’s entire journey from the tree to the market shelves.
- Cooperation with the Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Akdeniz University Technology Transfer Office, Çukurova University, TÜBİTAK, and the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM) continued in 2021.
- Agripark’s close cooperation for banana saplings with Tropic Biosciences, which is in Tekfen Ventures’ investment portfolio, also continued in 2021. Tropic Biosciences, which carries out breeding studies to increase the nutritional value and productivity of widely consumed bananas and make them free of viruses and fungal diseases, procures male banana flowers from Tekfen Agri for the start of the process. In 2021, 300 tissue cultures were sent to Tropic Biosciences in root form in special climate-controlled containers.
While climate change negatively impacts efforts to eradicate poverty, it also threatens our ability to achieve sustainable development and global food security. (Climate Change - FAO) The number of food-insecure people has doubled in two years, reaching 276 million compared to 135 million before the pandemic. In addition to climate change, COVID-19, increasing inequality, and wars threaten food security. (Nations Must ‘Act Together, Urgently and With Solidarity’ to End the Food Insecurity Crisis - UN, WEF)
Uncertainty and vulnerabilities in the food supply could turn into a global risk. (New Scenarios on Global Food Security based on Russia-Ukraine Conflict - FAO) That is why adequate agricultural production resistant to climate change is just as critical as ensuring supply security.
Tekfen Agri prioritizes developing varieties resistant to abiotic and biotic stress factors and providing sustainable food safety. With bread wheat breeding activities, which include biotechnological and conventional breeding techniques, the goal is to produce high-yielding, disease- and pest-resistant bread wheat varieties that are suitable for the different environmental conditions of our country and the least affected by global climate change. Tekfen Agri utilizes the experience and knowledge it has gained in wheat breeding for barley, potatoes, sesame, oats, etc.
Tekfen Engineering
- HiFlex Concentrated Solar Power Plant
Tekfen Engineering handles all engineering efforts for solar power, which is one of the main pillars of the EU-supported HiFlex Project initiated by the Italian pasta brand Barilla (one of the world’s largest pasta producers) to reduce the carbon footprint in production in collaboration with 11 companies from 7 countries. As part of the project, Tekfen Engineering tried out various prototypes in 2021, developed control software for the solar tracking system, and started testing control cards. The demo facility, which consists of 5 heliostats (solar tracking mirrors), is planned to be commissioned in 2022 in Technopark Istanbul, which is also home to Tekfen Engineering’s R&D office.
- P&ID Digitisation Project
The first phase of symbol processing in the P&ID (Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams) Digitisation Project, which aims to process engineering documents with image processing and artificial intelligence technologies, was completed in 2021. User interface design, which is the second phase of the project carried out in collaboration with SiMit Lab, the artificial intelligence laboratory of Istanbul Technical University Faculty of Computer and Informatics, continues with the contributions of the Tekfen Engineering software team.
Tekfen Manufacturing
Tekfen Manufacturing, which was awarded the Design Center Certificate by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Industry and Technology, also develops R&D projects in cooperation with TÜBİTAK.
- TİMAŞ Nickel 9 Project
Storage tanks with 9% nickel alloy material are currently not produced in our country, which is why a TEYDEB project was conducted with TÜBİTAK to improve the design and production processes for these types of tanks. Since cryogenic substances (e.g., LNG) stored in the liquid phase at extremely low temperatures (down to -196°C) make steel brittle, special alloys must be used to store these materials. The 9% nickel alloy material maintains its ductility at these low temperatures and can also respond to large storage capacities thanks to its resistance to high pressure. 1 prototype storage tank was manufactured as part of the project.
Tekfen Ventures
The pandemic continued to accelerate digitisation and innovation in 2021. As business models and needs have changed significantly, a substantial increase has been observed in the investments made in the entrepreneurship ecosystem. According to MarketWatch’s January 2022 data, global venture capital investments are estimated to double in 2021 and exceed $621 billion.
Established in 2016, Tekfen Ventures is a corporate venture capital firm that invests in early-stage tech startups in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The company, which closely monitors innovative initiatives in the agricultural, construction, real estate, manufacturing, and urban technology industries in which Tekfen operates, comprehensively examines the market positions, business models, and future plans of these initiatives and invests in companies at the right stage both on corporate and financial levels. Companies in the Tekfen Ventures portfolio have the potential to drastically change traditional business models and make a difference by contributing to the solution of environmental and social problems with their innovative solutions and technologies.
Tekfen Ventures sold Prospera Technologies in 2021 and added two new companies to its investment portfolio. One of these startups, Mosaic, is a tech company operating in the $120 billion residential construction industry of the United States. Mosaic focuses on technologies that will make the construction process more efficient rather than focusing on products and materials to stop the weakening trend of the industry and increase its profitability. Avvir, another construction technology company, uses laser scans and artificial intelligence to detect construction errors.
Tekfen Ventures, which has 13 startups operating in various areas in its portfolio as of 2021, continues its mission of supporting innovative initiatives that redesign the global agricultural, construction, and manufacturing industries in the new operating period.
Tekfen Ventures Investments
You can learn more about these initiatives on pages 122 to 135 of the Tekfen Holding Annual Report.
Avvir
Avvir is a construction technology company that uses laser scans and artificial intelligence to detect construction errors.
Claroty
Claroty protects and optimises industrial environments, including operational technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) with its comprehensive cybersecurity platform.
Latch
Providing the ability to manage building entrances, exits, and every access point inside the building from a single platform, Latch supports more than 2 million unlocking operations per month.
Mosaic
Mosaic aims to standardize the construction process itself rather than products and materials.
Petra
Develops non-contact tunneling technologies that can drill efficiently and inexpensively in all geological structures.
Phospholutions
With its patented RhizoSorb technology, Phospholutions increases the efficiency of phosphorus fertilisers and reduces their environmental impact.
Pivot Bio
Using microbes in the production and uptake of nitrogen, which has a key role in the growth of plants, Pivot Bio products help combat problems such as global warming and surface water loss while contributing to the productivity of farmers.
Quanergy
Quanergy manufactures LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors that can map the field of view in real time by measuring the distance between objects.
Sight Machine
Offering a software platform that provides rapid increases in manufacturing productivity, Sight Machine produces data analysis solutions for the manufacturing industry and can provide real-time reporting by collecting all production information in an industrial facility with its technologies.
Soft Robotics
Soft Robotics develops automation solutions for machine manufacturers to meet the urgent needs of industries subject to labour shortages, worker health issues, and government-mandated food safety regulations.
StrongArm Technologies
StrongArm Tech develops solutions to improve occupational health and safety at workplaces and reduce the risk of accidents while recording, analyzing, and presenting actionable insights to its customers.
Tropic Biosciences
Tropic Biosciences is an agricultural biotechnology company that uses advanced plant breeding and genome editing technologies to develop high-yield crops.
Since 2017, Tekfen Holding Information Technology Group Companies Directorate has carried out the projects and works on the Tekfen roadmap created with a focus on digital transformation.
Digitisation
Digital transformation is now among the top priorities of almost every business. More digitally mature companies can act more flexibly and quickly, adapt to change easily, and achieve much better financial results. (Putting Digital at the Heart of Strategy - Deloitte)
Since 2017, Tekfen Holding Information Technology Group Companies Directorate has carried out the projects and works on the Tekfen roadmap created with a focus on digital transformation. Efforts for the infrastructure, business solutions, information security, and compliance required by the Group Companies continued in 2021, and solutions were produced for demands of remote working, communication and collaboration tools, digitisation of business processes, and cybersecurity. This has enabled cost advantages, hardware and license optimisation, synergy and sharing between companies, operational efficiency, quality service, and better compliance with laws and regulations.
Operational Efficiency
Increasing operational efficiency with the common platforms and applications serving the Group Companies is one of the key digital transformation projects. "Tekflow", Tekfen’s digital process automation platform, has enabled the digitisation of many business processes for better operational efficiency, traceability, and measurability. Common systems commissioned in 2021 included legal contract management, proxy management, the Board of Directors decision process, the internal audit findings tracking system, and the HSE document approval system. Additional projects were completed in the areas of ERP, process optimisation, process automation, and document management for the Group Companies.
The Workplace Health Information System was commissioned to support the health units in the workplaces with an Occupational Health and Safety information infrastructure. The Financial Dashboard project, which monitors key financial data from the Group Companies, was expanded and integrated with Forex.
Digital Work Environment
One of the main goals of the digital transformation roadmap is to provide a digital work environment where Tekfen employees can work regardless of space and time. The achievements so far in infrastructure, communication and collaboration platforms, digital tools, and digitisation of business processes have contributed significantly to adapting to the pandemic. Tekfen Holding implements a hybrid work model, which incorporates a mixture of in-office and remote work.
In Tekfen’s Oracle HR system, used in all the Group Companies, a process was established for remote work requests, and the HR teams’ change requests were fulfilled. Once again, communication platforms, video conferencing, and webinar services were used efficiently and widely in 2021. The self-service IT platform established for Tekfen employees is also used effectively.
Digital work environment projects continued in 2021. The Tekİmza platform was commissioned and has enabled the use of e-signatures in the business processes of Tekfen Holding and Group Companies. The Tekİmza platform was integrated with the "Tekflow" platform for automation of workflows and with the "Bilge" platform for document management needs.
Network and Internet Access Services
Thanks to the Tekfen Corporate Network and Security structure, TekNET, commissioned in 2019, more than 50 workplaces of 10 Group Companies in Turkey can securely access common applications and corporate internet services over a closed-circuit, wide-area network. Location availability rates were increased to 99.5% and higher with redundant circuits, and cost advantage of over 30% was achieved. With 24/7 monitoring of all locations, circuits, and devices by the Network Operations Center, activities are carried out safely and uninterrupted. In 2021, improvements were made in line with the needs of all Group Companies, new locations were opened, new network services were commissioned, and capacity increases were made in parallel with remote working.
Cybersecurity
Remote working systems, which became widespread after the pandemic, have caused an increase in security vulnerabilities, and led to a large increase in cyberattacks globally. Tekfen Holding has taken the following steps to ensure the highest level of cybersecurity:
- Tekfen Holding implements the ISO 27001 Information Security Management System standards to preserve corporate data accurately and keep it confidential and secure. To that end, activities are carried out to identify potential risks to the accessibility, integrity, and confidentiality of corporate information and to monitor identified risks with various controls and technologies according to their scores.
- As part of the business continuity and disaster recovery process, corporate data management is carried out uninterrupted, effectively, and securely. ISO 27001 internal and external audit processes and tests are performed for critical systems. Annual tests are reviewed, and process updates and improvements are carried out and reported.
- Tekfen’s TekNET corporate network infrastructure has led to significant investments in cybersecurity, creating a secure infrastructure in the process. Developments in cybersecurity continued in 2021, and an end-user security system based on behavior analysis was commissioned against next-generation security threats. The activities performed to this end have increased the safety score from 84% to 94%. Additionally, the Cybersecurity Intelligence Service has enabled monitoring of current security events and Tekfen-related developments on the internet and social media.
- The Information Technologies Disaster Recovery Center, which is essential for ensuring business continuity and compliance with the Communiqué on the Management of Information Systems issued by the Capital Markets Board of Turkey, was commissioned at the FNN Sustainability Center built in Ceyhan, Adana. Operated under the Tekfen Holding Information Technologies Group Companies Directorate, the center is available to all Group Companies. Shared services and all critical applications of Tekfen Holding were designed to operate through this center in the event of a disaster. Business continuity tests are conducted annually for critical systems.
- ISO 27001 Information Security Management System standards are implemented across all Tekfen Group Companies, and their effectiveness is constantly improved. Tekfen Holding’s ISO 27001 certificate was renewed after the audit in 2021.
- Studies on compliance with the CMB Communiqué on Management of Information Systems are conducted regularly. With the digital tracking system established to serve this end, the monthly monitoring of the relevant actions and studies continued in 2021. Penetration tests, which are required to be carried out every year by the Communiqué, were performed across all Group Companies, and the findings were followed up in coordination with the companies.
- As part of information security awareness activities, the phishing activities, e-trainings, and announcements involving all Tekfen employees continued intensively in 2021.
FNN Sustainability Center, Adana
Toros Agri
- “Toros Farmer” Application
One of the most important areas of influence in Toros Agri’s value chain is the use of fertilisers. Raising awareness among farmers on the use of fertilisers is essential for reducing any negative effects and managing them correctly. Digital farming applications form the basis of a data-driven agricultural ecosystem. Digital technologies, which support farmers in making decisions and using their resources effectively, have a direct impact on the productivity and quality of the product as they enable farmers to determine needs such as fertilisation and irrigation in agricultural areas, using the fertiliser at the right time and in the right way, and monitoring product development.
The Toros Farmer Application, commissioned by Toros Agri in 2016 to help farmers benefit from technological developments, is a free farmer-friendly decision-support app that can be downloaded on computers, smartphones, or tablets. Offering weather forecasts and soil and plant data, the app gives farmers suggestions while helping with timely and accurate production and operation decisions by following weather conditions on each field. As of the end of 2021, the number of Toros Farmer Application users increased by 15% year-on-year to 19,417 people. Additionally, the drone imaging and analysis technology used by the mobile technical teams of Toros Agri provide farmers with the most accurate information about the health and nutritional status of their fields and the most appropriate fertilisation recommendations.
Tekfen Agri
- Alanar Alansis Traceability Platform
The Alanar Alansis Traceability Platform is a digital transformation project that starts with the registration of fruit varieties collected from the garden with a QR code at the harvest delivery point and continues until the end of all production and shipping processes.
- Fruit Purchase Digitalisation (MAD) Platform
The Fruit Purchase Digitalisation (MAD) Platform is a field control and financial traceability platform that works, integrated with the Alansis Platform at fruit purchase points, as part of the digital transformation project.
Employees and Society
Tekfen Holding regards human capital as the most important resource for increasing productivity, adopting and developing a corporate culture that nurtures innovation and flexibility, staying ahead in global competition, and supporting sustainable growth and considers having qualified and satisfied employees among the key elements of its success. The company believes that being a global player requires a corporate culture that values diversity and internalizes equality of opportunity.
Tekfen follows an inclusive, pluralist, and diverse human resources strategy and offers equal opportunities to its employees, regardless of their religion, language, or culture. As a family of 16,000 people with nearly 6,000 company employees and subcontractors, Tekfen prioritizes providing its employees with a fair, safe, healthy, and productive work environment that encourages development.
Employees by Gender
Local Employment Rate
Employees by Collar Colour
Employees by Nationality
Considering a diverse workforce a strength, Tekfen offers equal opportunities to all employees and rejects discrimination based on religion, language, age, skin colour, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, and more.
Equal Opportunity and Diversity
Building diverse and inclusive teams is essential for employees’ well-being, productivity, and efficiency. Employees, particularly the younger generations who represent the future of work and the workplace, expect to work in organisations that value differences, diversity, open-mindedness, and progressive perspective. (Workplace Diversity & Inclusion: Why it Matters and How You Can Promote It)
Tekfen Holding respects fundamental human rights in all business processes and does not use child or forced labour. Considering a diverse workforce a strength, the Group offers equal opportunities to all employees and rejects discrimination based on religion, language, age, skin color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, and more. Tekfen has a female employment rate of 10% and a female executive rate of 15%. 22 employees are currently benefiting from the nursery service.
Ceyhan Steel Structure Fabrication Plant, Adana
Talent Management
The change in employee expectations brought along by the pandemic has led to greater labour mobility, and more and more employees are leaving their jobs for better working conditions. Kaspersky’s “Securing the Future of Work” report has revealed that 23% of employees in Turkey are considering moving to a new job within the next 12 months.
All companies currently share the risk of a lack of skilled workforce. Demand for digital skills has increased in line with the rapid advancement of automation and technology, creating a talent gap in addition to the current workforce shortage. This demand clearly demonstrates the importance of having a talent management and workforce planning process. (What is Workforce Planning and Why Is It Important? - Randstad)
Tekfen Holding emphasizes talent management for better risk management and offers its employees opportunities for:
- Setting individual goals with the performance management system and evaluating the competencies needed to reach these goals,
- Making remote work regular by establishing a hybrid working model focused on organisational agility,
- Creating training programs to support the personal development of employees,
- Implementing inventory applications that measure the competencies of the managers according to their roles to establish the organisation’s future manager profile.
Performance Management
Performance management is crucial in aligning employee performance with the organisation’s strategic targets. (The Evolution of the Performance Management Process - Forbes) Implemented across Tekfen, the Performance Management System aims to set common targets in all Group Companies and reward high performance fairly. The Performance Management System consists of the following practices:
- Target cards are prepared for each company based on Holding and Group strategies, and company targets are assigned to individuals. At the end of the year, individual achievements are measured through target-based evaluations, and the performance management process is completed by mutual agreement. In 2021, a total of 1,164 performance target cards were logged for indirect employees at the premises of Tekfen Holding and Group Companies, and 7,989 individual performance targets were defined.
- Company-based target cards prepared in line with Tekfen Holding’s strategy are aligned to the level of individual employees. At the end of the year, individual achievements are measured through target-based evaluations, and the performance management process is completed by mutual agreement. In 2021, 30% of the employees were provided with performance evaluation.
- The Performance Management System also evaluates the required competencies. The evaluation outputs made with the 360-degree method are considered in the design of training-development programs and monitored to support employee career planning.
Personal and Leadership Inventory Studies
Personal and leadership inventory studies are performed at various intervals to determine the future management profile and establish the “Promising Manager” pool following the organisation’s strategy and objectives. In 2021, the managerial competencies of 865 lower-, middle-, and top-level managers from all Group Companies were measured using different inventory applications according to their roles.
30%
In 2021, 30% of the employees were provided with performance evaluation.
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Marine Terminal, Adana
Organisational Agility and Hybrid Work
The pandemic has led to significant changes in employee expectations. In addition to a healthy work environment, employees expect a good work/life balance, a strong culture that focuses on employees, and leadership support. (Employee Expectations Have Changed Since 2020. Has Your Company Kept Up? - Recruiter.com) The work-from-home model, which has become widespread with the pandemic, has changed how employees experience the hybrid work environment and their general perspectives on office and work. Hybrid work practices are becoming increasingly common globally, with more than half of employees supporting the transition to hybrid work. (Great Expectations: Making Hybrid Work Work - MS WorkLab) According to PwC’s Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey, 87% of respondents want a hybrid work model. (Geleceğin Çalışma Hayatına Dair Umutlar ve Endişeler Araştırması 2021 - PwC)
To respond to the changing trends of business life and the expectations of its employees, the Directorate of Human Resources of Tekfen Holding Group Companies added organisational agility in 2021 to the digitisation, internal communication, and sustainability focus areas established in 2020. The Group Companies conducted a survey regarding the remote working model implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The remote work model was made permanent given that 82% of the respondents stated their support. Accordingly, the remote work model rules were established, and the Remote Work Management System was commissioned to monitor remote work requests and manage the approval mechanism.
STAKEHOLDER TESTIMONIALS
Sıla Çatalsakal
Human Resources Coordinator, Tekfen Holding
Could you briefly explain Tekfen Holding’s flexible working system?
At Tekfen Group, we have established a system focused on employee satisfaction and efficiency with an inclusive approach that covers the employer, the employee, and the needs of the business alike to adapt our company to the remote work system brought along by the pandemic. We manage the remote work process with the Oracle Human Work Management System, our own ERP module. This system monitors the process and increases efficiency following our internal legislation, the “Uniform Remote Work Method” which defines the rules and methods for remote work.
We believe that remote work can be very effective in terms of quality of life and work efficiency when managed with the right strategy between the employer and the employee. To that end, the work monitored by the manager based on goals and activities must be measurable in terms of performance and efficiency. We emphasize the planning and evaluation of our department managers with their teams in monitoring and coordinating work, especially in the remote work model.
With the remote work model offering flexible working hours, employees can work remotely for up to 10 working days a month in their working environment back at home per the Occupational Health and Safety principles. To keep our offices viable, we allow only up to half of the employees in each department to work remotely at once.
Why and how did you start this process? How did you run the project?
Like most companies, we at Tekfen Group switched to a remote work system with quick and organized planning to protect our employees and their families against the severe consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We first asked the employees for their opinions by conducting a large-scale survey and then created our new system by balancing employee motivation with the company’s expectations. For the management evaluation of the remote work concept in all aspects, we asked 180 respondents for their opinions, including managers and senior executives, consultants, and board members. More than 80% of the company management stated that their work can be done remotely, and claimed that the remote work model could be easily adapted across the company. Meanwhile, more than 70% of the employees specified they wanted to work under a remote work model.
So, we first established the system’s rule set and application standards by developing the “Uniform Remote Work Method." We established the Remote Work ERP system in cooperation with our Information Technologies department and supplied the equipment necessary, such as keyboard-mouse sets, headsets, printers, office chairs, and stationery supplies. We also offered meal and internet allowances to all employees during remote work periods.
What effects has the flexible work model had on the employees and the company?
The number of employees prioritising balance between work and private life was increasing, and we were aware that switching to a remote work system would be inevitable. This intersection has led to the “New Normal Business Life,” a reinforced version of the “New Normal” concept that came into our lives with COVID-19. Trying to adapt to business life in one of the century’s most challenging periods, the new generation is finding its place in business as flexible work systems replace traditional practices. This more creative and effective technology generation also wants to benefit from the conveniences of the digital world in balancing work and private life.
Many small- and large-scale companies did not initially know how to handle the increasing prominence of remote work systems across the country and globally, as they contrasted with traditional work methods. While the conventional system was preferred due to its low risk and becoming second nature, the “Remote Work System,” which emerged out of necessity with the COVID-19 pandemic, has broadened the horizons of companies and showed a new and useful working method is possible. As a result, the flexible work model was made permanent after the pandemic.
We observed that our employees are much more satisfied and motivated with the remote work model, as they can save the time spent in traffic and on the road, work at home or other places, and manage work and working hours more effectively with a task-based approach, organise working hours in line with their schedule, spend more time with their families, and make more time for themselves. The fact that this is a voluntary system has also been a source of motivation for our employees.
What do you think the future looks like for the flexible work model?
The flexible work model has led to the redefinition of the working ecosystem with the office-home hybrid work mix and continues to shape business life with next-generation office solutions and culture. The office concept is no longer defined as the “place where the team comes together to work.” This independence has turned into a motivation tool that improves employee productivity. This personalized, flexible work experience has allowed for fewer office distractions, more employee productivity, and much larger workspaces.
With the widespread use of the hybrid system, there will no longer be any routines, and employees will be able to move away from classical and traditional methods and develop their own unique way of working. They will create their own office rules, determine their schedules with flexible working hours, motivate themselves better, and establish their freedom. As the HR managers of the companies, we will continue to observe the needs of employees and business processes and our efforts to implement practices to boost employee motivation and process efficiency.
Tekfen Holding provides its employees with the expertise required by their positions, strengthens their adaptability to changing conditions, and trains internal leaders via various training and leadership programs.
THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
3,637 hours
EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
3,904 hours
MANAGING THE VUCA AGE WITH COACHING SKILLS PROGRAM
1,973 hours
Trainings and Leadership Programs
Companies can make the work environment more dynamic by providing their employees with new skills and improving the existing ones with training, coaching, and development programs. Providing employees with learning, development, and growth opportunities increases their motivation and commitment to work. It is also recommended that companies invest in new technologies to tap into the existing potential. 37% of professionals claim that the best way to compensate for workforce and talent shortages is to develop existing employees and provide them with new skills. (Future of Work Trends in 2022 - Korn Ferry)
Tekfen Holding provides its employees with the expertise required by their positions, strengthens their adaptability to changing conditions, and trains internal leaders via various training and leadership programs. Tekfen Holding and its Group Companies provided an average of 14 hours of training per person in 2021. Employee training spending totaled 2.85 million Turkish lira. As part of these activities;
- The Leadership Program, established in 2018 in collaboration with Koç University, continued in the digital environment. In 2021, 60 managers and coordinators received 3,637 hours of training. This program aims to contribute to individual development, bring them together with experts from different fields, and offer different perspectives on issues such as strategic thinking, innovation, economy, and global trends. It was completed with a participation rate of 82%.
- The Executive Development Program, · organized in collaboration with Koç University, was carried out from September to December. Consisting of individual awareness, strategic thinking, and team management modules, the program was designed to ensure that lower-level managers first effectively manage themselves and then, their tasks and teams. As part of the program, 3,904 hours of training were provided to 115 chiefs, assistant managers, and group leaders across Tekfen.
- The Managing the VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) Age with Coaching Skills Program, organized in collaboration with Sabancı University to improve the coaching skills of middle-level managers, was designed to teach how leadership and coaching concepts overlap and how to use coaching skills in both private and corporate life. The training was designed in line with the Leadership Potential Inventory results to cover the areas of tolerance to uncertainty, change, and mental agility, which stand out as areas for improvement across the Group. Across the Group Companies, 83 middle- and top-level managers who completed the Leadership Program the previous year received 1,973 hours of training. The goal is to suggest movies and series compatible with the program to the managers who complete the training and ensure that the teachings are sustainable and permanent.
- Launched in 2021, the Internal Trainer Training Program passes the knowledge, skills, and experience of the Tekfen Group on to future generations and contributes to the development processes of the employees. 32 internal trainers were deemed suitable and included in the program’s various modules. Volunteering internal trainer candidates across the company were selected based on factors such as one-to-one interviews, opinions of HR teams and managers, and technical equipment. To support internal trainers in preparing efficient training content and becoming successful trainers, e-learning content covering effective rhetoric, storytelling techniques, effective presentation, and public speaking was included in the program in addition to the Train the Trainer, Participant Management, and Digital Platform training modules. Internal trainers also receive One-on-One Design Coaching training, and the goal is to expand this pool with each passing year. The Internal Trainer Training Program implementation in 2022 is expected to boost employee loyalty and enable savings worth 80,000 Turkish lira in the total cost of the planned training.
Tekfen Atelier
Tekfen Atelier, a training platform established in 2018 to meet the development needs of all company employees under Tekfen Holding, aims to contribute to employee development and increase their knowledge level in various areas with classroom and virtual classroom training, e-learning content, seminars, and webinars. Currently ongoing in the digital environment, the Tekfen Atelier provided 14,147 hours of training in 99 virtual classrooms throughout the year in technical, competence, development, and HSE-quality categories with a participation rate of 88%.
Continuing to support employees through the Learning Management System (LMS) consisting of video e-learning content, Tekfen Atelier expanded its training scope to cover areas such as project management, finance, risk management, occupational health and safety, information security, business ethics, quality management, team management, stress management, and effective communication with areas of the Law on the Protection of Personal Data (LPPD), HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment), and sustainability in 2021. Sustainability training was given to 2,894 employees via the LMS platform.
Tekfen Atelier Mobile App
A total of 1,157 people made 4,396 applications to the 2022 training catalog via the Tekfen Atelier Mobile App. The app was developed to enable quick and easy training requests by all Group Company employees, including those in all projects, premises, and the head office in Turkey and abroad. In addition to the competency, development, technical, and HSE-quality categories, training offered by internal trainers for the first time is included in the catalog. Thanks to the Tekfen Atelier Mobile App, which will be further improved in 2022 with new features, employees’ development processes will be tracked more easily and quickly.
Employee Communication
The work-from-home model brought along by the pandemic has made employee communication even more critical. Companies need to learn about the expectations of their employees to meet their changing needs. Companies must work with their employees to create personalised, authentic, and motivating experiences that strengthen individual, team, and company performance and focus on value creation and employee experience to retain their best employees. (This time it’s personal: Shaping the ‘new possible’ through employee experience - McKinsey & Company)
Tekfen Holding and Group Companies adopt open communication to increase employee job satisfaction and offer channels such as the Tekfen Human Resources (TİK) Mobile App and the Ethics Hotline to establish continuous communication and understand their expectations. Various practices maintain employee communication.
- Internal Customer Satisfaction Survey:
The Internal Customer Satisfaction Survey aims to understand the dynamics between Group Companies and internal units and determine the effects of employees on business processes; provides information on evaluations of various service aspects such as communication, quality, and agility; and raises awareness on areas for improvement. In this study, which has been carried out every year across Group Companies since 2018, areas for improvement are identified to improve the quality of communication and service, and improvement-oriented processes are designed in these areas. In the survey, which was completed in 2021 with a 92% participation rate from all Group Companies, the average satisfaction rate across the Tekfen Group stood at 72% following the consideration of various aspects, such as communication, efficiency, agility, and authorisation. The growth targets for the average of all aspects or a certain aspect over the years are included in the employees’ scorecards, which are monitored following the performance evaluation criterion.
- Employee Effectiveness and Leadership Climate Survey:
Tekfen believes that productivity stems primarily from employees’ satisfaction with their workplace and conducts surveys to measure employee commitment to the organisation and their potential to work effectively. Survey results are reviewed every year, action plans are drawn up, and changes in the relevant areas are monitored over the years. The survey covers the entire Group and reflects employees’ commitment to the organisation, their thoughts about the opportunities provided by the organisation, and their opinions on the company’s strategy and leaders. The survey measures employee satisfaction in aspects such as business processes, trust in leaders (leadership climate), remuneration and fringe benefits, resources, respect and appreciation, performance, and training and included questions about the management of the COVID-19 process and the remote work model for the first time in 2021. According to the results of the survey, which was conducted with a participation rate of 96% by white-collar and blue-collar employees, the employee effectiveness rate across Tekfen Group was 64%. The standard for effective work is 52% in Turkey and 47% worldwide.
The results of the Employee Effectiveness Survey, which measures employee loyalty and the opportunities offered to the employees, are monitored in company-based scorecards. The Trust in Leaders aspect, which shows the views on the ethical stance and management of the company, is included in the scorecards of senior managers.
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded companies of how important it is to emphasise the health and well-being of their human resources to improve employee engagement and performance. To that end, companies should go beyond compliance with Occupational Health and Safety regulations. They must include Occupational Health and Safety among their main goals and improve themselves in that area. (Future of work trends 2022: A New Era of Humanity)
Occupational Health and Safety is one of the top priorities for Tekfen Holding, which operates companies in high-risk industries such as construction and chemicals. The Group aims for zero accidents across all industries and strives to transform the OHS concept into a living culture. In 2021, the Group continued to work intensively to ensure compliance with the OHS Management Systems and spread the OHS culture. Accordingly, on-the-job training continued for job-specific risk identification and relevant measures implementation to develop a behaviour-oriented safety culture with daily site controls and regular site, internal, and second-party audits. Tekfen Construction, Tekfen Engineering, Toros Agri, and Tekfen Manufacturing companies revised their OHSAS 18001 certificate for the Occupational Health and Safety Management System to ISO 45001 to approach zero accidents. This certification covers 5,343 employees (excluding subcontractors) across 8 facilities of the Tekfen Group.
Tekfen Holding appoints employee representatives in communication with employer representatives for national and international projects and ensures that employees’ views on OHS are included in the decision-making processes through regular meetings.
OHS risk assessments of potential projects are made before the start of the projects, and these risk assessments are regularly reviewed for existing projects and facilities. In cases where process safety requires, HAZOP (Hazard and Operability) studies are carried out to identify hazards.
TANAP Compressor and Metering Stations Project, Damal-Ardahan
As of 2020, combatting COVID-19 has been the key OHS focus across Tekfen Holding and all Group Companies in 2021. Crisis committees were established to ensure effective and rapid decision-making throughout the process, and action plans were made and put into practice. Throughout the year, combatting the pandemic was carried out following these plans and under the control of crisis committees. From the pandemic’s first days, all employees were given training on COVID-19 and methods of protection from the pandemic and were kept aware through regular information and publications.
In 2021, a year still under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Services Department was established under the Tekfen Holding Human Resources Directorate, serving the entire Tekfen Group. More than 4,000 PCR tests were performed on volunteering and random Tekfen employees at different locations such as workplaces, homes, hospitals, and airports throughout the year, which was marked by various health measures and close monitoring of employees. Cases and close contacts were actively monitored in coordination with the Human Resources, Administrative Affairs, Workplace Physician, and HSE Departments across the Group Companies, and hygiene kits and masks were distributed regularly throughout the year.
HSE teams manage OHS and Environmental Management Systems across the Group Companies. The HSE & Quality departments under Tekfen Holding constantly monitor the OHS performances of the Group Companies. As of the end of 2021, 287 HSE and 87 healthcare professionals work under Tekfen (This number increases to 479 when including the HSE employees of subcontractors).
Daily site controls and weekly site, internal, and third-party audits are carried out to ensure compliance with the management systems, regulations, and procedures. Tekfen Holding, along with the Uniform Method of HSE internal directive, determines the HSE strategy and minimum requirements for the Group Companies.
Tekfen had one fatal occupational accident in 2021. An employee of one of Tekfen Construction’s subcontractors in the Qatar Al-Khor Expressway Link Roads Project died from an occupational accident.
Performance Indicators (Rates)
LTIR (LTIR= Number of Injuries Resulting in Lost Workdays x 1,000,000 / Total Worked Person-Hours)
2019
0.727
2020
0.615
2021
0.879
TRIR (TRIR = Total Number of Recordable Injuries x 1,000,000 / Total Worked Person-Hours)
1.376
1.037
1.406
LTIR (Lost Time Incident Rate): The rate of accidents with injuries in 1 million work hours, resulting in lost workdays.
TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate): The rate of accidents with injuries in 1 million work hours, requiring medical treatment beyond first aid.
Occupational Health&Safety Performance Indicators
Tekfen Construction vs. IOGP and IPLOCA
According to the Total Recordable Injury Rate (TRIR)
(1,000,000 people)
OHS Training
OHS training is prioritized across all Group Companies to increase the employees’ knowledge of OHS, make OHS a part of the work culture, and reach zero accidents. In this regard, all employees working under Tekfen Holding are provided with equal opportunities. The same rules apply and the same OHS opportunities are presented for all Tekfen employees and subcontractors; the performance indicators for all employees are monitored together.
Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Training
HSE Training (person*hour)
2019
688,602
2020
301,056
2021
514,930
HSE Training Rate (HSE Training/ Total Worked Hours) x 100
0.89%
0.53%
1.01%
Tekfen Construction GAT Facility, Adana
Tekfen Construction
Project-specific HSE plans, HSE procedures, and risk assessment reports are prepared before starting any activity in any project or workplace. These documents are based on Tekfen Construction’s Corporate HSE Plan and Procedures and ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management System standards, the requirements specified in the legal regulations of the relevant country, and the customer’s HSE requirements. At this stage, all potential risks related to the activities are determined, and measures are planned to reduce their impact.
The HSE Risk Management Procedure has been established in line with the Tekfen Construction Corporate HSE Plan. This procedure defines hazard identification and risk assessment methods.
HSE Observation Cards are monitored across all projects and workplaces, which enables all employees to share any cases of HSE non-compliance or good practices. The HSE team regularly evaluates the feedback, records it in the HSE Observations List, and monitors any required actions.
The HSE Personnel Development Program was established in 2021 to contribute to the professional development of HSE employees working in Tekfen Construction’s projects and workplaces, bring HSE professionals together on the same platform, and have them inform each other of the good practices they manage. As part of the program, online training was organised under 9 headings with 67 HSE personnel from all levels participating.
Tekfen Construction updated and re-published the Off-the-Job Safety Handbook, which was prepared as part of the Off-the-Job Safety program started in 2018 to raise employee awareness of HSE issues, both in and out of the workplace. The updated book, dedicated to frontline healthcare professionals who have worked hard in combatting COVID-19, was also published on the official website of the International Pipe Line & Offshore Contractors Association (IPLOCA), one of the key organisations in the global oil and gas industry.
Tekfen Construction was awarded the IPLOCA Health and Safety Award in 2021 for its “Operator Training with Virtual Reality Equipment” project. The award-winning project allows the operators of elevated work platforms to evaluate their competencies before they are recruited and gain experience through periodic training without facing the risks arising from the real equipment.
Click to read the book
Tekfen Construction’s occupational safety achievements in 2021:
- Al-Thumama Stadium Project (Qatar) - 25 million work hours without lost time
- Haradh Satellite Compressor Stations Pipelines Project (Saudi Arabia) - 20 million work hours without lost time
- Area 51 Multi Well Pad Pressure Management Project (Kazakhstan) - 15 million work hours without lost time
- Kharampur Gas Pipeline Project (Russia) - 3 million work hours without lost time
- Tüpraş İzmit Refinery, FCC Revamp Installation Works Project (Turkey) - 1 million work hours without lost time
- Tax Ministry Administration Building (Azerbaijan) - 2 million work hours without lost time
- Tüpraş İzmit Refinery, Maintenance, and Repair Services Project (Turkey) - 1 million work hours without lost time
Hazard Hunting Headquarters (3H)
The Hazard Hunting Headquarters (3H), developed by Tekfen Construction as a hands-on HSE training area project involving employees, was implemented as a pilot project in 2021. The personnel who received theoretical HSE training during the recruitment phase visit the 3H area after the training and see the work areas, work equipment, hand tools, and good and bad examples of specific activities. The project aims to improve risk perception and get the employees to adopt the habit of identifying hazards, making work areas safer in the process.
The 3H Practical Training Area was established on an area of approximately 1,000 square metres. In the pilot project, 5 million work hours were completed without lost time. While the average LTIR was 0.401 in similar projects, this rate was 0.238 in the pilot 3H project.
Toros Agri retained its “Protect & Sustain” certificate at the “Excellence” level in 2021.
Tekfen Engineering
Tekfen Engineering started the Incident/Observation Notification Campaign project to identify workplace hazards, improve working conditions, make the work environment safer, and take precautions before accidents occur. As part of the project, which aims to identify workplace hazards by improving incident and observation reporting performance, it was decided that 4 of the incident/observation/near-miss notifications made by the employees would be rewarded. 38 notifications were received for the duration of the project. The project resulted in a significant increase in the otherwise low number of near-miss notifications, and measures were taken regarding situations that could potentially cause occupational accidents.
Tekfen Manufacturing
Implementing an HSE Management System following the ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 standards, Tekfen Manufacturing has been working without any lost time since 2018, adding up to 1,197 days.
Toros Agri
In 2018, Toros Agri became Turkey’s first and only company awarded the “Protect & Sustain” certificate by the International Fertiliser Industry Association (IFA). Observing compliance with human safety, product safety, quality, and environmental standards over the value chain extending from fertiliser production to consumption, the certification process evaluates the effectiveness of monitoring, measuring, and continuous improvement studies of the effects on the entire value chain to ensure responsible production, distribution, and consumption. Processes of the facilities, regional warehouses, and main activities are evaluated as part of the annual audits of the IFA “Protect & Sustain” program. As a result of the audits, Toros Agri retained its “Protect & Sustain” certificate at the Excellence level in 2021.
In 2021, process safety audits were performed across all high-risk facilities of Toros Agri in compliance with the Process Safety Regulation, which was prepared based on the Tekfen Process Safety Model. The relevant notifications and updates were made, and periodic maintenance and audits of critical equipment were carried out. Actions for improvement were determined and systematically monitored, personnel performing maintenance and audits of critical equipment were certified, and change maps of important personnel working in hazardous chemical and hazardous processes were updated.
Tekfen Manufacturing Derince Facility, Kocaeli
Social Investments
Social, cultural, and environmental activities have formed an integral part of the corporate culture that Tekfen has implemented from day one. Using some of its added value in social projects, Tekfen realises various corporate responsibility projects in education, culture and arts, and development. Tekfen Holding shapes its social investment programs in line with its “Bridging Prosperity” vision, which forms the framework of its sustainability understanding. Social projects that will contribute to the resolution of social and environmental problems are designed in a way that will benefit both Tekfen and society in line with the understanding of creating common values.
Alongside the Tekfen Foundation, Tekfen Group Companies also allocate resources to various social responsibility projects congruent with their own goals and strategies. In 2021, Tekfen Group Companies donated 16.38 million TRY in aid and donations.
Tekfen Foundation
Tekfen established the Tekfen Foundation for Education, Health, Culture, Art, and Protection of Natural Resources in 1999 to contribute to social and cultural activities under a corporate framework and help build a livable future in harmony with nature. Drawing inspiration from its founding partners, Tekfen Foundation allocates significant resources to education, the country’s biggest requirement for a better present and a sustainable future, and culture and arts, some of the primary indicators of a society’s development. Tekfen Foundation, having realised countless projects to date, has been operating as a public interest group since 2004.
Tekfen Philharmonic is the Opening
Concert Orchestra of the Istanbul
Music Festival between 2019 and
2022.
Education
The Tekfen Foundation provides scholarships to high school and university (undergraduate) students to support the education of successful students in Turkey who need financial support and the children of Tekfen employees. Having contributed to the graduation of nearly 3,000 students to date, the Tekfen Foundation provided scholarships to 553 students in the 2020–2021 academic year. The Foundation, which also provides its scholars with intern opportunities at Tekfen Group Companies and mentoring support, had to suspend the internship program in 2021 due to the pandemic but continued the mentoring program that was started the year before.
Culture and Arts
Tekfen Philharmonic, which has a special place in the country’s culture and arts, is the art institution of the Tekfen Foundation. Founded in 1992 as a chamber orchestra with the participation of artists from 11 countries in the Black Sea region and going on to bring together musicians from 23 countries with the inclusion of countries from the Caspian Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, Tekfen Philharmonic is a cultural ambassador that serves as a bridge of friendship between the three seas.
Social Development
Women Farmers Loan Project
Considering the active participation of women in the workforce to be one of the most fundamental prerequisites for a sustainable society, sustainable local development, and a sustainable family economy, Tekfen Foundation Turkey Waste Prevention Foundation (TISVA) started the Women Farmers Loan project in 2021 to support women entrepreneurs who want to work in agriculture but do not have the financial means to start their own business. As part of the scope of the pilot project started on May 14, World Farmers’ Day, 80 low-income female farmers in the Aegean Region were granted loans of 5,000 to 15,000 Turkish lira depending on their agricultural activities. Women farmers entitled to receive loans are also provided with training and consultancy support by Toros Agri’s expert agricultural engineers to enable them to manage their business in the best way possible. Following women farmers from the Aegean, 23 more female farmers from the Western Mediterranean were provided with loans as part of the program.
Tekfen Holding
Tekfen Holding continues its tradition of supporting the play of a local group at the Istanbul Theater Festival every year. Tekfen’s support as the primary sponsor of the Darüşşafaka Basketball Team ended in 2021.
Employee Volunteering Projects
- Save at Home to Secure Your Future
Approaching the environment with respect and conducting its activities with the lowest impact on nature, Tekfen Holding started the Save at Home to Secure Your Future project to encourage its employees to show the same effort at home. The project supports reducing the household consumption of resources such as electricity, natural gas, and water, and aims to save money by helping the home economy and the environment. In the “Recycling” competition, held in glass and battery categories, the participants get the chance to win various prizes for the glass and battery waste they bring to their workplaces. As part of the Save at Home to Secure Your Future program, which covers about 500 Tekfen members and their families, participants are provided with weekly content, including environmentally friendly practices and tips for more savings. In doing so, it contributes to increasing employees’ environmental awareness.
- Tekfen Backyard
An idle piece of land at the Tekfen Holding Ulus Campus was turned into a small orchard named the “Backyard.” Jams were made from strawberries grown in the hobby garden, organized with the voluntary support of experts from the Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanical Garden (NGBG) and Group Companies employees, and sold at an auction held by Tekfen.
Tekfen Construction
Education
Tekfen’s support for the Tekfen Foundation Special Education Application Center in Ceyhan, Adana continued in 2021. The school, opened by the Tekfen Foundation under Tohum Autism Foundation’s consultancy in 2014 and built with the complete renovation and furnishing of an idle building, plays a considerable role in meeting the educational needs of children with autism. In line with the school’s needs, Tekfen Construction overhauled and renewed the two existing containers in the garden in 2021 and gifted a new container. Intelligence games, visual arts, music, and sensory development workshops are held in these containers.
Sponsorship
Tekfen Construction, which has realized numerous highway projects in Turkey and different parts of the world, is among the sponsors of the book “Karayollarının Asırlık Yol Çizgileri” (Century Old Road Lines of General Directorate of Highways) published in 2021 by the Turkish Employers’ Association of Construction Industries (INTES). The book, which serves as a major publication for the history of Turkey’s highways, tells the story of the highways from the Ottoman Empire to modern Turkey with comments from many people.
Toros Agri
Education
In 2021, the company continued to meet the maintenance, repair, and general needs of Toros Agri Anatolian High School and Toros Agri Primary School, which were opened in the region of Toros Agri’s Ceyhan Production Facility.
Local Development
Increasing productivity with its agricultural inputs since day one, Toros Agri stands by Turkish farmers and aims to raise their living standards with its support for farmer training and awareness-raising efforts on the use of correct fertilisers. One of the pioneering efforts of Toros Agri in helping farmers benefit from technological developments is the “Toros Farmer” app developed in 2016. You can learn more about the Toros Farmer Application in the Innovation section.
Toros Farmer Academy
The fertiliser industry is critical to ensuring sustainable food safety, an issue that has become even more prominent with the pandemic. Toros Agri considers increasing the population of educated and conscious farmers necessary for ensuring efficiency in fertiliser use and effective agriculture. Aiming to develop Turkish agriculture, raise awareness of farmers on good agricultural practices, and increase their productivity and welfare by supporting farmers with issues such as correct and balanced fertiliser applications and soil, leaf, and water analyses since day one, Toros Agri started the Toros Farmer Academy (Training Bus) and Agricultural Technique and Digital Marketing projects in 2018.
Put on the road as part of the project, the Toros Agri Training Bus visited 96 locations in 2021 and trained farmers and distributors on the correct use of fertilisers. Supporting farmers by visiting every region of Anatolia with specially equipped vehicles, the Agricultural Technique and Digital Marketing team conducted 5,398 distributor visits, 7,975 farmer discussions, 184 agricultural institution visits, one drone activity, and 20 farmer meetings across the country in 2021. During the production season, 15 demonstration trials were performed in seven regions. The trials with the combined use of Toros’s organic solid fertiliser and organomineral fertilisers produced better results than the others. These results were also shared in the publications and promotional activities performed during the year.
More information about social investments is available in the 2021 Annual Report.