Abstract:

The concept of sustainability is a concept that needs to be emphasized for. Regardless of the field of activity, for a business, the basic issues such as access to the resources needed, the use of resources, the environmental impacts of the produced products, must include the philosophy of sustainability. Economic, social and environmental sustainability, which forms the three fundamental dimensions of sustainability, plays a major role in achieving the resources we use today as complementary subdimensions to future generations. This study was conducted to reveal the perspectives of sustainability of eight large-scale that carry out production activities in different areas in Turkey. 8 separate enterprises carrying out the production and/or processing of radiators, furniture, white items, paint, glass, food, car, agricultural products are the sample of the study. With 13 open-end questions addressed to managers in these enterprises, a quality research has been carried out and the data obtained from these enterprises in different fields has been attempted to identify common and differentiated points in the field of sustainability. For these, what the meaning of sustainability is, what areas are focused and what studies are done in these areas, in addition to their expectations, the obstacles faced, the successful practices and the impact of these practices on the company's products and the society, the market, the customers and employees. The data obtained was analyzed through a quality research program. This research is believed to be beneficial in terms of the perspective of the concept of sustainability, by identifying the current situation in our country, to guide future researchers.

Abstract:

The concept of sustainability has a great attention and widely recognition from different sectors and corporations by all means. Regardless of the area of activity, a company should have sustainability philosophy when accessing to the resources needed for an enterprise, using of these resources and the environmental impacts of the products produced. Main elements of sustainability, which are economic, social and environmental sustainability, have an important role for current resources in order to maintain them for the next generations. This study is carried out to present 8 large-scale companies’ point of view about sustainability which have production operations in various fields in Turkey. The sample of this study constituted from 8 separate companies that produce and/or process radiator, furniture, white goods, paint, glassware, food, automobile and agricultural goods. Executives from these companies answered 13 open-ended questions and with these answers a qualitative research is performed. Common and differentiated points were defined as using data of companies. The meaning of sustainability, focused areas, planned and realized projects, expectations, the obstacles, the successful implementations and reflections of these applications on their products were explained. On the other hand, society, market, customer and employee based effects were questioned. The obtained data were analyzed by a qualitative research program and current status was determined. It is thought that, with this research, current point of view of Turkish companies is defined in terms of sustainability perception and applications and it will be useful for future academicians who intend to make a research about assessment of sustainability in companies.

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