- Category Group:
- Sustainability Categories
- Category:
- Award for Most Innovative Sustainable Supply Chain Management
- Organization Name:
- Turkcell
- Organization Description:
Turkcell is Turkey's leading technology provider, offering integrated voice, data, and value-added services like streaming via mobile and fixed networks. On July 11, 2000, it became the first Turkish company listed on the NYSE. As a key regional player, Turkcell is dedicated to delivering high-quality communication with wide coverage in Turkey and expanding its services abroad.
Since 2024 Q1, our Supply Chain Management (SCM) organization has spearheaded a transformative strategy that integrates advanced digital technologies with deep social responsibility. Moving beyond compliance, we have established a regenerative ecosystem that aligns seamlessly with our corporate Sustainability Committee's goals and the Integrated Annual Report.
The cornerstone of our innovation is the launch of the AI-Powered Supplier Sustainability Assessment System. By leveraging artificial intelligence, we have automated the calculation of ESG scores for our diverse supplier base. This data-driven platform allows us to monitor performance against our aggressive 3-year sustainability goals, ensuring that our procurement decisions are guided by real-time sustainability metrics rather than cost alone.
Recognizing that sustainability is not just environmental, we placed a strategic priority on the "Social" aspect of ESG. In partnership with an expert consultancy firm, we conducted a comprehensive Human Rights Due Diligence study. This initiative provided a transparent assessment of our value chain, identifying risks and establishing a gold standard for ethical labor practices. To institutionalize this culture, we launched an internal "SCM Sustainability Leadership Program," appointing "Sustainability Ambassadors" within the team to drive these values forward. We believe that a supply chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Therefore, we launched our comprehensive Sustainability Program at the Supplier Summit, with direct endorsement and participation from our CEO and C-level executives. This launch was supported by the Supplier Ecosystem Training Series, covering critical topics such as Compliance, Human Rights, and evolving global regulations. Furthermore, we designed a Sustainability Certification Program to recognize and incentivize high-performing suppliers. To foster continuous innovation, we hosted a Sustainability Hackathon, awarding prizes for the most disruptive green ideas generated by our stakeholders.
On the operational front, we revolutionized our logistics network. Through advanced data analytics, we optimized distribution routes and restructured our regional warehousing-specifically with the new Ankara depot-drastically reducing our carbon footprint. We collaborated with 3rd-party logistics partners on energy reduction and introduced sustainable packaging solutions.
Simultaneously, we enhanced data quality to refine our emission calculations (Scope 3).
Finally, we turned waste into value. Our "Techno-Waste to Education" project repurposes electronic waste (e-waste) to fund educational resources, while our scrap management processes were overhauled for maximum recycling efficiency. These efforts are underpinned by our infrastructure strategy, where we increased the localization ratio of our Data Centers and secured Green Building certifications.
Entry Sources & Additional Supporting Information
Driven by evolving global regulations (e.g., EU Green Deal), investor expectations, and our corporate responsibility, this initiative aims to position Turkcell as a sustainability pioneer. We recognized that the Supply Chain is the most critical lever for impact. Our goal was to move beyond basic compliance to create a regenerative ecosystem. Specifically, we aimed to:
- Measure and elevate supplier ESG maturity using data-driven tools.
- Drastically reduce Scope 3 emissions through accurate calculation and logistics optimization.
- Mitigate compliance risks-specifically in Human Rights.
- Foster a culture of innovation and awareness across our workforce and partners.
We executed a multi-dimensional strategy integrating technology, society, and operations:
- Digital Governance: We launched an AI-powered Supplier Sustainability Assessment System. This platform automates ESG scoring, allowing us to monitor supplier development via the dynamic dashboard.
- Strategic Sourcing: We embedded sustainability into the heart of procurement by assigning 5-10% weight to ESG criteria in tender technical scoring.
- Social Impact & Diversity: prioritizing "Social" metrics, we conducted deep-dive Human Rights Due Diligence and launched training programs. We also championed Supplier Diversity, supporting women entrepreneurs and suppliers in earthquake-affected zones.
- Engagement: The program was officially launched at our Supplier Summit with C-level endorsement. We followed up with a Sustainability Hackathon to crowd-source innovative green solutions.
- Green Operations: We revolutionized logistics through route optimization, established a new hub in Ankara to reduce mileage, and converted e-waste into educational funding through circular economy projects.
- Success is guaranteed through strict alignment with corporate strategy and rigorous KPIs. We set ambitious targets: covering 95% of procurement volume in assessments and achieving 100% renewable energy use by 2030. Progress is tracked transparently via real-time dashboards and reinforced by continuous ecosystem training.
We have shared the Integrated Annual Report 2025 and the document in the attachment.