At the “The Material Carrying the Modern World: The Unnoticed Power of Plastic” meeting organized at the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ICI), the contributions of plastic to the economy, industry, and daily life were discussed. As the Federation of Plastic Industrialists (PLASFED), we closely followed this valuable event, where significant assessments were made for our sector and light was shed on the future.
The meeting titled “The Material Carrying the Modern World: The Unnoticed Power of Plastic,” organized by the Istanbul Chamber of Industry 35th Group Plastic Raw Materials and Plastic Injection Products Industry Professional Committee, was held on June 10, 2026, at ICI Odakule. During the meeting, which saw intense interest from industrialists, academicians, sector representatives, and students, the position of the plastic sector in the economy, its contributions to industry, and the transformation process focused on sustainability were discussed.
The opening speech of the meeting was delivered by Ömer Karadeniz, member of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry Assembly and President of the 35th Group Professional Committee. In his speech, Karadeniz stated that plastic is one of the invisible yet indispensable elements of modern life, and pointed out that it undertakes critical tasks in many fields ranging from the healthcare sector to automotive, defense industry, and agriculture.
Expressing that the Turkish plastic sector is among the most important sectors of the country's economy with its production capacity, technological infrastructure, export power, and entrepreneurial ability, Karadeniz emphasized that the sector creates significant economic value with thousands of businesses and hundreds of thousands of employees. Stating that sustainability, circular economy, and recycling issues are among the primary agenda items of the sector, Karadeniz said that the plastic industry acts with the awareness of its environmental responsibilities.
In the meeting moderated by Hakan Güldağ; Prof. Dr. Mehmet Atilla Taşdelen, Faculty Member of Yalova University Engineering Faculty Polymer Material Engineering Department; Selçuk Gülsün, Chairman of the Executive Board of Tisan Engineering Plastics Ind. Trade Inc.; Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Yıldırım, Member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences; and Dr. Mevlüt Çetinkaya, Advisor to the SOCAR Turkey Refinery-Petrochemical Business Unit, took part as speakers.
At the meeting, the wide sphere of influence of the plastic sector, extending from production to exports, and from technological developments to sustainability practices, was evaluated. Participants reached a consensus that plastic is a strategic material that provides significant economic and environmental benefits through proper use and effective recycling practices.
The event, which took place with high participation, brought together sector representatives and students on the same platform and made a significant contribution to the exchange of ideas regarding the future of the plastic sector.
This content has been translated using artificial intelligence technology.