As the first step in its waste management approach, the Company aims to minimize waste generation as much as possible. In this regard, environmentally friendly and reusable alternatives are preferred to reduce the use of plastic and single-use products. By meeting drinking water needs through water purification systems and promoting the use of durable, reusable beverage containers instead of single-use cardboard cups, the Company aims to conserve natural resources and reduce overall waste generation.
Value to Our Future: Sustainable and Livable World
Waste Management
Ziraat Bank considers waste management and resource efficiency as fundamental components of environmental sustainability. Through electronic document management, e-signature, e-archive, digital slip, and digital credit card applications, the Bank aims to reduce the use of paper and plastic. By expanding digital review and on-screen control practices in operational processes instead of physical documentation, the Bank contributes to the reduction of natural resource consumption.
Complementing these digitization-focused initiatives, Ziraat Bank also implements physical infrastructure investments to support the effective on-site execution of these practices. In this context, physical waste areas have been established to support efficient waste management within the Bank. Among the investments made are three waste compactor machines. These investments aim to enhance the efficiency of waste management processes and strengthen practices designed to reduce environmental impacts.
Ziraat Bank systematically manages waste generated at its Head Office and branches by separating it at the source. In this framework, waste is collected under different categories, such as packaging waste, non-recyclable waste, medical waste, and hazardous waste, to ensure proper management and appropriate disposal processes. Suitable temporary storage areas are maintained within the Bank for each waste type, and waste is processed regularly. In this way, the Bank aims to ensure controlled, orderly, and efficient waste management in line with its environmental sustainability approach.
To enhance the monitoring and measurability of these practices, in 2025, Ziraat Bank established an infrastructure aligned with the Environmental Management System in compliance with ISO 14001 standards, enabling more systematic tracking of waste volumes and recycling rates. Within this scope, process steps were defined to monitor waste by type and quantity, and a digital SMS was designed to consolidate relevant data into a single structure and enable periodic reporting.
In this framework, the implemented digitalization initiatives, infrastructure investments, source-separation practices, and monitoring systems demonstrate that Ziraat Bank’s approach to waste management is structured at the corporate level. The Waste Management Roadmap established by the Bank to ensure consistent, measurable, and continuously improvable implementation in the field is presented below.
Zero Waste Management
Ziraat Bank continues its efforts within the framework of the “Zero Waste Regulation” to ensure waste separation at source, strengthen recycling processes, and comply with legal requirements. By expanding zero waste practices across its service points nationwide, the Bank aims to both reduce environmental impacts and enhance its reporting and monitoring infrastructure.
As of 2025, services continued to be provided at all branches and units in compliance with the Zero Waste Regulation. By the end of 2025, Zero Waste Certificates had been obtained for 1,668 service points of the Bank. For service buildings whose certification process is ongoing, it has been stated that approval processes will proceed upon completion of additional criteria requested by the Provincial Directorates of Environment. Meanwhile, renewal applications are being submitted for branches whose certificates have expired.
In 2025, in order to enhance the monitoring of zero waste practices, efforts were carried out to improve the data quality of the Zero Waste Management System available on the Bank Portal, thereby aiming to strengthen the reporting infrastructure.
The Bank not only maintains zero waste management within the scope of existing legal obligations but also considers new initiatives supporting waste reduction and the circular economy approach. In this context, alternatives such as compost, fertilizer, or animal feed production from food waste generated in the cafeteria are planned to be evaluated. In addition, the Bank aims to obtain a Net Zero Waste Certificate and is conducting studies to ensure compliance with the relevant certification standards.
Training and awareness activities are also conducted to expand zero waste practices at the corporate level. In this regard, the “Zero Waste” training presentation prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye was assigned to relevant staff through the Bank’s training portal and completed within the specified timeframe. In 2025, employees continued to receive training to support the sustainability and effective implementation of zero waste practices across the organization.
Waste Management Roadmap
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In the second phase of the waste management roadmap, clearly designated bins for different waste streams have been placed in office areas to ensure waste separation at source. This approach aims to enhance the effectiveness of recycling processes and support the proper management of waste through appropriate methods.
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The Bank considers employee awareness a fundamental element in achieving a lasting transformation in waste management. In this context, trainings are conducted across the Bank to enhance waste management practices and environmental awareness, and to encourage employees to adopt responsible habits that help reduce waste generation, including topics such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction. Through these initiatives, the Bank aims to integrate its waste management approach into its corporate culture, rather than limiting it to operational measures alone.
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The waste management approach is also supported by supply chain processes. Within the framework of responsible procurement principles, priority is given to the sourcing of environmentally friendly products, with the aim of integrating waste-reducing considerations into purchasing decisions.
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Monitoring and reporting of waste management performance constitute an important component of the roadmap. In this context, the Bank registers its data in the Zero Waste System, which enables the segregation and tracking of waste types, the management of recycling processes, and regular reporting. Through this system, the Bank ensures that waste management performance is monitored on a continuous basis and reported regularly in line with its sustainability objectives.
Paper Savings Achieved Through Recycling
Ziraat Bank continues its initiatives to reduce paper consumption in order to enhance resource efficiency and minimize waste generation. In this regard, the use of recycled paper is addressed in conjunction with digitalization-driven process transformation. While paper requirements in operational processes are reduced, practices are also implemented to ensure that generated waste paper is directed to recycling processes.
The consumption of A4 photocopy paper used across all units and branches of Ziraat Bank amounted to 182,000 packages in 2025. The fact that 100% of the paper procured during the year was produced from fully recycled materials demonstrates that circular economy principles are adopted in the Bank’s paper procurement approach.
The paper-saving and recycling approach is not limited to reducing consumption; it is also supported by directing documents that have reached the end of their retention period to recycling. In this context, Ziraat Bank sells archived documents and waste paper that have completed their legal retention periods to contracted authorized companies for recycling purposes, thereby managing its waste processes with a recovery-oriented approach. Within this scope, approximately 1,115 tonnes of waste paper were recycled in 2025.
The Bank’s digital transformation initiatives directly contribute to reducing paper use in operational processes. In this context, the physical document/report submission and archiving practices implemented by the Board of Inspection were terminated; transferring audit and investigation reports to the system, together with e-signature and virtual archive applications, resulted in A4 paper savings.
Steps have also been taken to reduce paper usage in branch operations. Process adjustments were made to enable digital signature of documents during account opening transactions, thereby preventing unnecessary paper consumption. In the 2025 reporting period, 274,828 transactions were completed with mobile approval and 548,408 transactions with SMS approval; in total, 823,236 account opening transactions were carried out digitally. Considering that an average of 15 pages of paper are used in the real customer identification process, during this period a total of 10,292,946 pages of paper were saved4,534,662 pages through mobile approvals and 5,758,284 pages through SMS approvals.
Furthermore, digitalization in the Bank’s correspondence processes also contributed to reducing paper consumption. During the year, approximately 337,130 letters were sent using digital signature and the Registered Electronic Mail (REM) system. This prevented the consumption of approximately 1.7 million sheets of paper. In 2025, initiatives to reduce paper use through the expansion of digital processes continued. In this context, to increase consumer loan disbursements via digital channels, an incentive mechanism was implemented by setting loan interest rates at lower levels compared to the branch channel. In addition, even in loan disbursements conducted through branches, customers are enabled to receive loan agreement approvals digitally, thereby aiming to reduce paper usage. These steps support the Bank’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact by managing operational efficiency and resource savings together.
Ziraat Bank manages different types of waste generated within its operations in a manner that minimizes environmental impacts. Reuse, recovery, and recycling through licensed organizations are implemented together. In line with this approach, the Bank aims to ensure the safe disposal of electronic and metal-containing waste while also contributing to their reintroduction into the economy as raw materials.
Faulty IT equipment generated at the Bank’s units and branches is primarily collected at Bank service centers. Devices deemed suitable are repaired and refurbished for reuse, thereby extending their lifespan and reducing waste generation. Out-of-use IT materials, sheet-metal-based equipment such as system cabinets and air conditioners, batteries, and scrapped ATM machines are sold to companies authorized by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye for transportation and processing, and are included in recycling processes. This prevents environmental risks while enabling materials to be recovered as raw inputs. Within this scope, approximately 1,149 tonnes of waste materials were recycled in 2025.
Electronic Waste Management
Electronic waste generated as a result of the operations of units and branches of Ziraat Bank is managed under control in line with the objective of reducing environmental impacts. To prevent improper disposal of decommissioned electronic devices and equipment, the Bank collects such waste in designated waste storage facilities and monitors the process through a centralized structure.
Collected electronic waste is sold as electronic scrap and directed to recycling processes. In this way, environmental risks are reduced, and materials are recovered for reuse as raw inputs. Within this scope, approximately 58 tonnes of electronic waste materials were recycled in 2025.
Waste Reduction and Resource Efficiency in Operational Processes
In 2025, Ziraat Bank expanded digitalization- and automation-focused applications to prevent waste generation and ensure efficient use of resources. These applications, which reduce manual processes and physical output requirements, support the zero-waste approach by limiting paper consumption and process repetitions.
Within this scope, an automatic task assignment structure was established based on SLA and tolerance periods, and tasks were automatically assigned to users according to parameters determined from waiting times in workflow pools. This application optimized workforce planning and increased operational resource efficiency.
In expropriation, legal inquiry, and deposit investigation processes, automatic task initiation was enabled for correspondence received via REM, eliminating the need for manual routing. This accelerated processes while ensuring more efficient use of operational resources.
To reduce physical outputs, the signed printing and electronic delivery of receipts was implemented. Through this project, it became possible to provide customers with system-generated signed receipts and send them via email, thereby reducing paper consumption and operational waste and expanding zero-waste practices.
Additionally, artificial intelligence-supported character recognition technology was used to automatically read EFT, transfer, and promissory note instruction information. This reduced errors and repetitions associated with manual data entry, resulting in time and resource savings in processing workflows.
Furthermore, processes related to Social and Economic Support (SED), Disability and Home Care, and Foster Family payments under the Ministry of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Türkiye were revised. By automating the transfer of payments belonging to deceased individuals to the relevant institutional accounts, unnecessary processing and document generation were prevented, enhancing resource efficiency in public payment processes.
Total Waste by Type
Waste Quantities by Type for 2025 (%, kg)
Recycled Waste by Category
Recycled Waste Amount
Recycled Solid and Liquid Waste (kg)
