Corporate Social Responsibility

 

Demonstrating our commitment to preserving cultural heritage, the Şişecam Glass Art Collection showcases 520 meticulously curated artifacts spanning approximately 3,500 years of glass-making history. Officially registered with the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, this prestigious collection is housed and displayed at Şişecam Headquarters. Featuring exceptional glass pieces from Ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations, the collection offers valuable insights into historical craftsmanship techniques and chronicles the fascinating evolution of glass throughout the ages.

 

At Şişecam, we honor and preserve our cultural heritage through our distinctive History-Culture- Glass Collections, which elegantly capture Anatolia's rich historical and cultural tapestry. Through meticulously curated collections including Ottoman, Blue and White in Glass, Artistic Writing in Glass, Enameled Glass, Mosaic, Anatolian Civilizations, Ashura, Istanbul, Crystalline Tiles, Talking Coins, Zevk-i Selim, World Heritage in Glass, and Lost Treasures, we not only safeguard our invaluable cultural heritage but also ensure its transmission to future generations, embodying our commitment to historical stewardship and cultural preservation.

In the 90th anniversary of our establishment, we sponsored the excavation works at the Ancient City of Perge in Antalya in order to contribute to the deep-rooted history of glass. Through this project, which supports the examination and preservation of Roman-period glass furnaces and glass remains, we aim to illuminate the history of glass production in Anatolia. During the excavations carried out in the stadium structure of the Ancient City of Perge, five glass furnaces dating back to the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, along with glass remains found in their vicinity, were uncovered. These findings will be analyzed at Şişecam’s R&D and Science Center, contributing to scientific research and ensuring their preservation. This collaboration also stands out as an important part of our vision to create sustainable value through the protection of cultural heritage.

At Şişecam, we remain steadfast in our commitment to empower future generations through quality education. Our comprehensive educational initiatives reflect our dedication to nurturing talent and creating lasting value. In 2023, our Şişecam Education Incentive Scholarship program provided TL 24.5 million in vital educational support to 5,755 children of employees pursuing studies across primary, secondary and higher education levels.

As part of our commitment to educational excellence, Şişecam has established two flagship educational institutions serving as centers of vocational learning and professional development. Yenişehir Şişecam Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School welcomed 245 students during the 2022-2023 academic year since its founding in 2019. The Private Şişecam Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Mersin Tarsus Organized Industrial Zone (MTOSB), provided quality education to 803 students in 2023. Together, these institutions have proudly graduated 1,684 students, with 832 graduates successfully transitioning to professional careers, demonstrating our meaningful contribution to workforce development and societal advancement.

Demonstrating our environmental stewardship, Şişecam strategically develops dedicated forests across our operational regions. We systematically allocate 5-10 decares for afforestation at each facility, enhancing biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Since our inaugural project in Yalıköy, Istanbul (2000), we've expanded to 368 acres of thriving ecosystem. Our Bilecik and Denizli facilities showcase our commitment with 608 decares of afforested land. The Mersin region benefits from 48,500 trees planted through our community engagement initiatives, while our landmark 400-acre "Şişecam Memorial Forest" in Yatağan stands as testament to our environmental leadership.

Launched in 2011, the Glass Again Glass Project—one of Türkiye’s most comprehensive sustainability and social responsibility initiatives—aims to raise awareness of glass packaging recycling and to create lasting behavioral change across society. Within the scope of the project, recycling education has been provided to more than 250,000 primary school students. Over 20,000 glass recycling containers have been made available for use by municipalities, and the recycling of 2.15 million tons of glass waste has been achieved. As a result, energy savings equivalent to the annual heating and hot water needs of 90,000 households have been generated, and carbon dioxide emissions equal to the amount that 66 million trees could absorb in one year have been prevented.

Established in 1982 at the Çayırova Social Facilities and officially recognized by the General Directorate of Youth and Sports in 1984, the Şişecam Sports Club embodies our commitment to athletic development and community engagement. Through our specialized programs in canoeing, rowing, and sailing, we cultivate discipline, teamwork, and athletic excellence among promising young talents. Under the guidance of our expert coaching staff, we provide comprehensive training environments that empower athletes to maximize their potential while instilling core values of perseverance and sportsmanship. We take immense pride in our athletes who represent both Şişecam and our nation with distinction on national and international stages, reinforcing our dedication to fostering holistic development through sports excellence.

As Şişecam, we continue to support projects that contribute to the cultural and artistic value of glass in the year of our 90th anniversary. In this context, we supported the first solo exhibition in Türkiye of Swedish artist Åsa Jungnelius, held at Pera Museum.

Glass pieces brought to life by Şişecam’s master glassmakers using the free-blowing technique were transformed into four distinguished artworks through Åsa Jungnelius’s designs. These works were presented to art lovers at Pera Museum under the title “A Line Written with Earth, Fire, Water and Air.” Shaped through traditional handcraftsmanship, the artworks reinterpret the relationship between glass and humanity through the language of art.

While preserving the glassmaking craft passed down from master to apprentice, Şişecam continues to carry this heritage into the future by bringing it together with different disciplines.