The first webinar of the “Water Management Programme in the Textile Industry” was held in strategic partnership between İTHİB and SKD Türkiye, with sponsorship from Beymen Group and Sanko Holding.
At the first webinar titled “Global Trends in Water Management in the Textile Industry and Brand Expectations from Manufacturers,” global trends in water management in the textile sector, transformation requirements in the supply chain, brand expectations from manufacturers, and sustainable production perspectives were discussed from a multi-stakeholder approach. The opening speeches of the webinar were delivered by SKD Türkiye Chair of the Board Ediz Günsel, İTHİB Board Member and Chair of the Textile Sector Sustainability Committee Sultan Tepe, Beymen Group CEO Elif Çapçı, and SANKO Holding Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Enise Ademoğlu Matbay.
The event will deliver gains in water management
The programme, carried out through sectoral cooperation, aims to strengthen common understanding in water management within the textile industry and develop more effective collaboration among stakeholders in line with increasing water stress, evolving regulations, and sustainable production expectations. The sectoral insights, best practice examples, recommendations for policymakers, and data and content supporting the industry’s contribution to water management are identified as key outcomes of the initiative.
Beymen CEO Elif Çapçı stated that sustainability efforts are conducted under the “Beymen Promise” umbrella. She noted that water management in the textile industry is no longer solely an environmental issue, but a strategic matter that directly affects production continuity, supply chain resilience, and the sector’s competitiveness. She added that discussing water management also means addressing resource efficiency, cost structure, and the future operating conditions of the industry.
Around 88% of Türkiye’s land is at risk of desertification
SKD Türkiye Chair of the Board Ediz Günsel also stated that the textile industry has long been one of the country’s most important sectors in terms of production strength, export capacity, and employment generation. He noted that sectoral success is now measured not only by how much is produced, but also by how resources are managed.
“Approximately 88% of Türkiye’s land is at risk of desertification, and textiles is among the most water-intensive sectors. Water management in textiles is not only an environmental responsibility but a strategic transformation area that will strengthen Türkiye’s production capacity, export competitiveness, and position in global value chains. For this reason, we designed the Textile Industry Water Management Programme within a broad framework ranging from water efficiency to wastewater management, circular water use, and best practice examples,” Günsel said.
İTHİB Board Member and Chair of the Textile Sector Sustainability Committee Sultan Tepe also highlighted the strategic importance of the textile industry for the Turkish economy. Emphasising that the sector creates a strong ecosystem from production to exports, employment, and value added, Tepe stated that water management is now at the centre of the sustainability-driven transformation.
SANKO Holding CSO Enise Ademoğlu Matbay noted that the impacts of the climate crisis are now being felt in a much more tangible and measurable way.
Guest speaker Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kitiş from Süleyman Demirel University presented a comprehensive framework on global trends in water management in the textile industry, risk areas, and sustainability-driven transformation topics.
