“Our decision to participate in MEFPU this year was based on the positive feedback we received at the event and the ever-changing dynamics in the industry. The event offered a great platform to introduce our innovative products and solutions and to follow the latest trends in the industry.”
~ Interview with Meryem Rhinaoui, Export Sales Manager, KİMPUR
- You have a fantastic range of products for the entire PU industry. Tell us a little about your best-selling products and what is driving the demand.
Our top-selling products are the KIMrigid Rigid Foam Systems, which cater to the construction industry. These systems are particularly popular for their energy insulation capabilities, with sandwich panels and spray foam systems leading the way. Additionally, our KIMfoot Footwear Systems, designed for the shoe industry, and KIMflex Flexible Foam Systems, tailored for the furniture sector, also see strong demand.
- How is the Middle East and Africa Market for PU performing currently? What markets are specifically booming?
The Middle East and Africa market is a highly dynamic region with high growth potential for our polyurethane (PU) systems. Rapid urbanisation, increasing population and living standards, especially in the construction sector, are continuously increasing the demand for PU. In particular, the construction and infrastructure development sectors are booming, driven by rapid urbanization and the need for sustainable building materials. The footwear industry is also thriving, especially in regions with growing middle-class populations, where the demand for durable and comfortable footwear is increasing. Additionally, we see a rising interest in furniture manufacturing, as both residential and commercial sectors expand. The heating and cooling segment is experiencing growth as well, driven by the need for energy-efficient solutions in response to the region’s climate conditions.
Our focus on providing tailor-made polyurethane solutions aligns well with the specific needs of these markets, and we are committed to supporting our clients with innovative and sustainable products that meet the unique demands of the Middle East and Africa regions.
- Tell us about how you instill sustainability into your business.
As Kimpur, sustainability is not just an obligation for us, but an indispensable part of our daily operations. We are aware of our environmental, social and economic responsibilities for a sustainable future and in this direction, we continue our work in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By developing innovative solutions, we aim to both reduce our environmental impact and contribute to society. In this direction, we have a production approach based on sustainability. While supporting energy saving thanks to the polyurethane systems we produce, we contribute to the circular economy by integrating materials such as pet and graphene into our production. Thus, we adopt an approach that is both environmentally sensitive and beneficial to society.
In addition to producing energy-saving polyurethane systems, we include products such as PET and graphene in our production in order to contribute to the circular economy. In this way, we adopt an approach that is both environmentally sensitive and beneficial to society.
Our commitment to sustainability manifests itself in a wide range of areas, from the raw materials we use to renewable energy sources. By installing solar panels at our two production facilities in Turkey, we aim to utilise 55% of solar energy at our Düzce facility and 20% at our Gebze facility. These steps are an indication of our determination to reduce our use of fossil fuels. In addition, we ensure energy savings by making continuous improvements in our production processes in accordance with ISO 50001 Energy Management System standards.
In order to effectively manage our greenhouse gas inventory and our impact on climate change in our production facilities, we have been calculating our carbon footprint in accordance with the ISO 14064 standard for four years. We strive to minimise our impact on the environment by recycling our wastes and bringing them back into production. We raise awareness of our employees through regular training and encourage them to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint both in the office environment and in their daily lives.
This year, we created our 2030 climate change roadmap with our sustainability committee and we focus on these targets with the participation of all our departments. We analyse the environmental impacts of our products by addressing their life cycle comprehensively and make continuous improvements accordingly.
We are proud to see that our efforts in this area are also recognised internationally. For example, we were ranked 104th in environmental topics among 500 chemical companies worldwide by Refinitiv, an independent rating organisation in the UK. We believe that this success reflects our determination and efforts in the field of environmental sustainability.
By 2030, we aim to use 25% bio or recycled content in our products and we continue our R&D activities without slowing down to achieve this goal. In addition, we develop projects for decarbonisation and recycling together with our local and international stakeholders. For example, we applied to Horizon and Eurostar calls with two separate projects in 2023.
We share all these activities and targets in detail in our Integrated Report, which we publish on our website. Our efforts, which are comprehensively presented in the report, once again demonstrate our commitment to sustainability and our determination in this regard.
- Tell us about KIMlife and specifically about your policies about health and safety in your manufacturing processes.
KIMlife is the foundation of our Human Resources processes at Kimpur, focusing on the well-being and development of our employees. When it comes to health and safety, we place the utmost importance on creating a secure and healthy working environment for all our team members.
We take comprehensive measures to prevent any potential injuries or health issues, whether minor or severe, that could arise during our operations. To achieve this, we utilize the latest technology to create a safe and healthy working environment for all our employees. Beyond this, we are committed to fostering a strong safety culture among all our employees through targeted training programs. We strictly adhere to legal regulations and proactively identify and mitigate any risks that could impact workplace safety.
To enhance our safety management, we employ systems like ‘Near Miss Reporting’ and ‘Suggestion Reporting,’ where employees can provide feedback. We regularly review these submissions to ensure continuous improvement in our safety protocols, integrating our health and safety policies with our environmental and quality management systems.
- You exhibited with us at MEFPU 2023. How did you find the event and what made you return this year?
Taking part in MEFPU 2023 was a very productive exhibition experience for us. The event offered us the opportunity to meet with industry leaders and experts, introduce our innovative solutions and closely follow developments in the industry. During our participation, we had the chance to both build strong relationships with our existing customers and interact with potential business partners.
Our decision to participate in MEFPU this year was based on the positive feedback we received at the event and the ever-changing dynamics in the industry. The event offered a great platform to introduce our innovative products and solutions and to follow the latest trends in the industry. In addition, the opportunities to develop collaborations and partnerships were important to strengthen our current position in the industry and share our sustainability goals.
Ultimately, the experiences and connections we made at MEFPU 2023 were a strong motivation for us to take part again this year. The opportunities and feedback provided by the event were seen as a valuable and strategic investment for us. By being present at the event this year, we aim to follow the developments and innovations in the industry, as well as to introduce Kimpur’s sustainability and innovation-oriented solutions to a wider audience.
