The principles we work by

Çığır Kimya aims to be a global leader in its sector: admired for its performance, offering original, high-quality and reliable products at accessible prices through advanced technology, respecting human health and the environment to international standards, and adding value to the lives of society and its stakeholders.

Our company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, GMP, IFS, BSCI and BRCGS PM certificates. Our quality control department tests products in modern laboratories at every stage of production, and we are audited regularly through internal and external audits by international audit firms and export customers. Every stage of production and every step of raw material and packaging purchasing is inspected and controlled.

Our customer- and consumer-focused approach drives us to keep improving at making “high-quality and reliable” products, and this approach extends to our business partners.

To continually improve our Integrated Management System, we commit to:

• Offering reliable, high-quality products by using our advanced technology effectively with the participation of all our employees, and doing our work right the first time.
• Ensuring our products hold international quality leadership in their sector.
• Continually improving our system in line with customer and consumer expectations and keeping their satisfaction at the highest level.
• Controlling, reducing and preventing anything in our activities that could cause environmental pollution.
• Using global resources efficiently and fulfilling our responsibilities to our customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and society.
• Acting with honesty and transparency in everything we do, avoiding unfair competition and supporting fair competition.
• Doing our part, together with all our employees, to leave a liveable world to future generations and to support sustainable development.
• Combining our employees’ competence and creativity with our vision, providing continuous training and spreading a culture of quality.
• Supporting suggestions to achieve continual improvement.
• Reaching team and company goals in a spirit of teamwork.
• Following the rules of our integrated management system (instructions, specifications, processes, procedures) and legal requirements, continually auditing the system’s effectiveness, and raising awareness among our employees and suppliers.
• Providing a healthy and safe working environment and always putting occupational safety first.
• Setting up systems to monitor and control the condition of buildings, machinery and equipment so they stay efficient and safe.
• Building healthy relationships with our suppliers, including them in our quality management system, and selecting and training them carefully.

Our key strengths

• Well-equipped quality control and R&D laboratories
• Modern, technologically advanced production machinery
• An expert team of qualified employees
• An effective documentation system
• An ERP system integrated with our processes
• Our automation solution partner Başar Kimya, giving us flexibility in product design and production
• Marketing reports that let us continually analyse customer expectations
• Hygiene at every stage of production, supported by automated lines
• Fast responses to questions about product assurance, tolerances and quality control
• Following new technologies in capacity use and efficiency to reach the highest capacity

Approved by top management as part of our integrated management system.

As Çığır Kimya, we commit to:

• Analysing and minimising the health and safety risks that may arise in the working environment.
• Organising training to build and develop occupational health and safety awareness among our employees.
• Taking every measure required by OHS legislation and other requirements to protect the health and safety of employees, subcontractors, visitors and our staff working off-site; providing tools, equipment and personal protective equipment and ensuring they are used when needed.
• Ensuring the consultation and participation of employees and, where present, their representatives.
• Identifying and eliminating in advance, through effective risk assessment, unsafe conditions and behaviours that could cause occupational accidents or diseases.
• Ensuring that subcontractors and visitors also follow our occupational health and safety rules.
• Making our company an example of OHS practice for the authorities, chambers of industry and associations we work with.
• Adopting the goal of zero occupational accidents and zero occupational diseases, and working with all our strength to become an exemplary organisation in occupational health and safety.
• Working in line with the rules of our integrated management system and the law, and continually auditing, improving and reviewing the system.

Approved by top management as part of our integrated management system.

With a sustainable development approach and environmental awareness, Çığır Kimya has made it a principle to protect the environment at every stage, from production inputs to the use of our products, and has taken on the responsibility of leaving a clean and liveable world to future generations.

To continually improve our environmental management system, we commit to:

• Going beyond compliance with national and international environmental legislation and also meeting our customers’ environmental expectations.
• Using clean, environmentally friendly technologies to reduce all waste at source; preventing pollution; supporting the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems; disposing of and recovering waste as required by law; and contributing to sustainable resource use and to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• Identifying our environmental aspects and taking them into account when setting objectives and targets.
• Using environmentally compatible products and considering this criterion when selecting suppliers.
• Continually improving efficiency and savings in the use of water, energy, raw materials, auxiliary materials and natural resources, with the suggestions and contributions of all our employees.
• Using renewable energy as far as possible and keeping our emissions, including greenhouse gases, below legal limits.
• Sharing our environmental policy with all our employees, customers and society, and informing employees, customers and suppliers about our environmental commitment.
• Working to reduce emergency risks, preventing environmental pollution in line with these principles and continually improving our performance in every area.
• Fulfilling our legal requirements and compliance obligations.

Approved by top management as part of our integrated management system.

This policy covers how Çığır Kimya organises its energy management practices, uses energy effectively and efficiently, prevents waste, reduces energy costs and improves efficiency to protect the environment. We have taken on the responsibility of putting our energy efficiency policy and its objectives into practice together with our internal and external stakeholders.

Çığır Kimya is committed to continually improving its energy management and energy performance by using energy effectively in all its processes.

To fulfil this commitment, we have adopted the following principles:

• Protecting the environment, reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency to support the low-carbon economy, in line with national and international directives on tackling climate change.
• Developing energy efficiency projects that have a positive effect on climate change.
• Carrying out practices that suit our purpose and context, support our strategic direction and meet the needs of internal and external customers.
• Following all applicable legislation and other requirements on energy use, efficiency and consumption, and acting on them quickly.
• Reviewing our objectives and targets periodically and providing the resources needed to achieve them.
• Supporting the design of equipment, systems and processes that improve energy performance.
• Raising efficiency awareness among our employees through training and information, and reducing losses and leaks.
• Supporting the purchase of energy-efficient products and services.
• Making energy performance and energy management, regularly reviewed and improved by top management, part of our corporate culture.
• Recording, continually reviewing and, when necessary, updating this energy policy.
• Fulfilling our legal requirements and compliance obligations.

Approved by top management as part of our integrated management system.

In line with the principles of social, economic and environmental responsibility, Çığır Kimya puts efficient and sustainable water management at the centre of every stage, from production inputs to the use of its products.

This policy aims to eliminate unnecessary water use, protect local water sources, make the infrastructure and technology improvements needed for effective water use, and introduce sustainable landscaping.

In this context, we commit to:

• Applying a water efficiency system in our activities, ensuring its effectiveness and continually improving it.
• Fully complying with legal and other requirements on water use, water efficiency, wastewater management and pollution control.
• Setting, monitoring and targeting water performance indicators to reduce water consumption.
• Introducing technologies and good practices that minimise water use and support reuse and recovery.
• Using water efficiency as an evaluation criterion in the design of new facilities, equipment and processes.
• Preferring water-efficient products, equipment and services in our purchasing.
• Offering training and awareness programmes on water efficiency, water saving and sustainable water management to our employees, contractors and other stakeholders.
• Taking responsibility for protecting groundwater and surface water and reducing the impact of climate change on water resources.
• Making this policy understood, applied and accessible by all employees, contractors and stakeholders.
• Fulfilling our legal requirements and compliance obligations.

Approved by top management as part of our integrated management system.

Biodiversity covers the variety of organisms living in terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems and the ecological complexes they form, including genetic diversity within species, the diversity of species in an area and the different characteristics of whole ecosystems.

To leave a liveable world to future generations, Çığır Kimya has made protecting ecosystems a core principle in all its activities.

Accordingly, we commit to:

• Taking measures to minimise the negative effects of our activities on biodiversity.
• Taking the steps needed to apply sustainable production and consumption models.
• Providing biodiversity training and awareness programmes for our employees.
• Identifying and monitoring the possible effects of all our activities on biodiversity, with the aim of protecting the diversity of species, habitats and ecosystems and the ecological balance.
• Tackling climate change by developing nature-based solutions, and putting in place nature- and ecosystem-based practices that reduce the impact of climate change on biodiversity.
• Reducing the risks and negative effects of pollutants to levels that do not harm biodiversity or ecosystem functions.
• Contributing to the protection, enrichment and sustainability of biodiversity.
• Not using chemicals that harm human health or biodiversity, and complying with all national and international legal requirements in this area.
• Working with our supply chain and stakeholders to raise environmental and social awareness of biodiversity, and supporting their nature conservation initiatives.
• Supporting the sustainability of natural resources, ecosystems and biodiversity through our waste management activities.
• Integrating the results of biodiversity impact assessments into our decision-making.
• Encouraging sustainable consumption by informing our stakeholders, and supporting a sustainable ecosystem from a life-cycle perspective.
• Fulfilling our legal requirements and compliance obligations.

Approved by top management as part of our integrated management system.

To continually improve our social compliance management system, Çığır Kimya commits to the following:

• Child labour. Out of respect for children’s healthy development and right to education, we do not employ anyone under the age of 16, and we follow the rules and principles for the employment of young workers.
• Recruitment. In hiring, we value compliance with company rules and social compliance requirements as much as technical and professional knowledge.
• Employee awareness and secure employment. We inform employees about their personal rights, company rules and working conditions at recruitment and at regular intervals, and no employee is employed without social security, in line with national law.
• Working hours. Working hours and overtime comply with the laws and regulations in force.
• Wages and payments. Wages are never below a fair living wage that covers decent living costs, and overtime is paid at the rates set by law.
• Compliance with laws and other obligations. We follow the laws and regulations in force, our customers’ business partnership rules and international social responsibility standards.
• Non-discrimination. All employees have equal rights. There is no discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, social class, religion, national origin, gender or political affiliation.
• Communication. We keep communication between employees, and between employees and managers, open and ongoing.
• Preventing harassment and abuse. We maintain a working environment free from verbal, physical or psychological harassment or coercion.
• Forced and compulsory labour. There is no work bound by contract or debt. All work is voluntary and we do not employ illegal workers.
• Supplier management. We evaluate our suppliers’ social compliance and follow up the results with action plans.
• Our customers. We are honest and sincere when giving information about the quality, features or potential hazards of our products, and we do not engage in unfair, misleading or deceptive commercial practices.
• Training. We organise internal and external training to raise OHS awareness and support our employees’ professional and personal development.
• Occupational health and safety. We see people as our most valuable asset, provide the necessary equipment and training, comply with local laws and keep the risks arising from our activities at acceptable levels.
• Environmental awareness. We prevent pollution and reduce it at source, based on our environmental aspects and impact assessment, and encourage our employees to do the same.
• Ethical business conduct. In our relations with customers, suppliers, employees and authorities, we act transparently, comply with anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws and standards, carry out the necessary risk analyses and train all employees in ethical behaviour.
• Freedom of association. We respect our employees’ right to join trade unions or other workers’ organisations and to bargain collectively.
• Protection of young workers. We are committed to protecting the rights of all young workers who are not yet adults.

Approved by top management as part of our integrated management system.

This policy sets out our approach to human rights for our employees and business partners. It is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Global Compact, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the fundamental ILO Conventions, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and national law.

Built on mutual respect, Çığır Kimya works to act in line with human rights in its relations with employees, customers, business partners, competitors and communities, to encourage them to do the same and to prevent human rights violations.

Our principles:

• Equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion. Hiring, placement, career development, training, pay and promotion decisions are based on qualifications, performance, skills and experience, regardless of race, religion, nationality, gender, age, marital status or disability. We work to attract, develop and retain open-minded talent from diverse backgrounds.
• Non-discrimination. No discrimination is allowed on the basis of age, gender, race, colour, language, religion, philosophical or political opinion, ethnic origin, economic status, sexual orientation, health, disability, appearance, dress or lifestyle. Discrimination or retaliation of any kind is not tolerated.
• Collective bargaining and freedom of association. We respect employees’ right to join a union and bargain collectively without fear of retaliation.
• Freedom of expression. We prevent anything that would hinder employees from expressing themselves freely at work and provide the means and environment to do so.
• Occupational health and safety. Protecting the health and safety of employees, visitors and business partners on our premises is a top priority. Our OHS Committee regularly identifies and resolves risks.
• Forced labour. No one is employed against their will. All employees work of their own free will, under equal conditions.
• Child labour. In line with the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, we do not employ child labour.
• Violence and abuse. We do not tolerate any form of physical, verbal, sexual or psychological harassment, abuse or threat, including intimidation.
• Working hours, wages and benefits. We comply with the law on wages, working hours, overtime and benefits, aim to avoid overtime and support work–life balance.
• Personal development. We encourage development opportunities, investment in training, and recognition programmes that reward success, innovation and creativity.
• Data privacy. We apply high data privacy standards to protect the personal information of employees and business partners, in line with the law.
• Political activities. We respect employees’ lawful political participation; such activities should take place outside working hours and without company resources.

Approved by top management as part of our integrated management system.

This policy sets out our approach to bribery and corruption clearly and protects our company’s reputation. As an integral part of our code of ethics, it defines the responsibilities and rules for preventing bribery and corruption in all our activities.

Bribery means obtaining a material or non-material benefit from another party so that a person acts against the requirements of their duty or outside the normal course of business, for example by doing, not doing, speeding up or slowing down a task. It can take many forms, including cash, gifts, event invitations or tickets, debt forgiveness and charitable donations. As it is a criminal offence as well as a matter of business ethics, we expect employees to treat it as part of their personal responsibility.

Our commitments:

• Çığır Kimya complies with the laws and regulations on bribery and corruption in every country where it operates, as well as universal legal principles and ethical and professional rules.
• We take a “zero tolerance” approach to bribery and corruption and conduct our activities fairly, honestly, legally and ethically.
• Offering any payment or anything of value to obtain an unlawful or unethical benefit, even for the company’s benefit and even where such practices are common in the industry, is prohibited. The value of the benefit, or whether anything is done in return, does not matter.
• Anyone facing a bribery or corruption situation should report it to the disciplinary committee, their department head and/or Human Resources.
• We keep the identity of anyone who reports a concern confidential and protect them against any retaliation or penalty.
• We protect the legal rights of public authorities, suppliers, customers, employees and other stakeholders. All accounting transactions are recorded completely, accurately and fairly, and internal controls prevent unrecorded transactions.

Approved by top management as part of our integrated management system.

This policy ensures that Çığır Kimya’s activities are carried out honestly and ethically, protecting the trust of our customers, suppliers, business partners, investors, employees and communities, and in full compliance with competition laws and regulations wherever we operate.

In this context, we commit to:

• Competing with other companies in our sector actively and respectfully, only on legal and ethical grounds, and avoiding any breach of competition law.
• Never entering into agreements or concerted practices with competitors or other companies that aim to, or could, prevent, distort or restrict competition in any market.
• Never abusing a dominant position in any market, alone or together with others.
• Strictly prohibiting employees from sharing the company’s competitively sensitive information with competitors’ employees, or obtaining such information from them. This includes non-public information such as prices and pricing strategy, discounts, profits, bids, production volumes, capacity use, stock, sales, orders, exports, imports, sales targets, costs and investment plans.
• Treating our business partners fairly.
• Selecting suppliers on objective criteria and assessed performance, in writing and with ethical criteria in mind.
• Fulfilling our legal requirements and compliance obligations.

Approved by top management as part of our integrated management system.

Çığır Kimya, which works globally in shoe, leather and car care products and aims to add value to the lives of society and its stakeholders, regards information as one of its most valuable assets and takes all necessary measures to keep it secure.

To continually improve our information security management system, we commit to:

• Identifying our information assets and assessing their business impact, including replacement cost, confidentiality, effect on our reputation and legal obligations.
• Assessing the likelihood of threats, including vulnerabilities and how well existing controls address them, attacker motivation, the attractiveness of the information to competitors, gaps in access control and risks to integrity.
• Identifying and assessing risks to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information.
• Applying the necessary controls to all assets whose risk is above an acceptable level.
• Reducing the likelihood of information security incidents and responding to them in a coordinated way when they occur.
• Preventing any interruption to business continuity and, where this is not possible, recovering within the target recovery time.
• Measuring the performance of our information security processes and setting objectives from this data.
• Minimising weaknesses and threats through investment in infrastructure, working environment, hardware, software and training.
• Meeting the security requirements of our business, our customers and the law.

Approved by top management as part of our integrated management system.

Clean desk

• Every employee is responsible for keeping their own desk clean and tidy.
• Confidential and higher-classified assets are never left unattended in work areas.
• Contracts, customer and personnel information and accounting documents are not left on desks.
• Used notes, copies and personnel documents are not reused as scrap paper.
• Printed documents that are no longer needed are destroyed with a shredder before disposal.
• Employees check their desk before leaving it.
• All confidential information assets are kept in locked cabinets.
• Notes, personal diaries and work documents are not left on unattended desks.
• USB drives, CDs, DVDs, mobile phones and other storage devices are not left unattended and are kept in locked cabinets.
• Confidential documents are not left on printers.

Clear screen

• Screens can only be unlocked with a valid username and password.
• Sharing or using another employee’s user credentials is forbidden.
• Desktop backgrounds and settings on all computers are managed by the IT team.
• Computers are never left unattended with the screen unlocked.
• Screen savers start automatically after 5 minutes and can only be closed with a username and password.
• Administrative staff are responsible for the proper use and security of the desktop or laptop computers assigned to them.
• Work files, folders or shortcuts are not kept on the desktop; work is saved to the shared network or the designated location.
• Shortcuts to malicious software or to inappropriate political, racist or explicit content are not allowed on screens.
• Every employee locks their screen when leaving their computer.

The provisions of the Disciplinary Procedure apply to any employee who does not comply with this policy.

Approved by top management as part of our integrated management system.

Protecting personal data is one of the values our company holds most important. This policy explains how we process and protect the personal data of our customers and prospective customers, interns, shareholders, officers, visitors, the employees and officers of our business partners, our suppliers, third parties and our employees, under Turkish Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698 (KVKK).

We process personal data according to these principles:

• Lawfully and fairly.
• Accurately and, where necessary, kept up to date.
• For specified, explicit and legitimate purposes.
• In a way that is relevant, limited and proportionate to those purposes.
• Retained only for as long as required by law or by the purpose of processing.
• Informing data subjects, and providing the means for them to exercise their rights.
• Taking the necessary measures to keep personal data secure.
• Complying with the law and the decisions of the Personal Data Protection Board when transferring data to third parties, in Türkiye or abroad.
• Showing particular care when processing special categories of personal data.

Your rights

• To learn whether your personal data is processed, and to request information about it.
• To learn the purpose of processing and whether it is used for that purpose.
• To know the third parties, in Türkiye or abroad, to whom your data is transferred.
• To ask for incomplete or incorrect data to be corrected.
• To ask for your data to be deleted or destroyed when the reasons for processing no longer exist.
• To ask that third parties to whom your data was transferred are notified of these corrections or deletions.
• To object to a result against you that arises solely from automated analysis of your data.
• To claim compensation for damage caused by unlawful processing.

Security of personal data

• We take the technical and administrative measures needed to prevent unlawful processing of and access to personal data and to keep it safe.
• Employees are bound not to disclose personal data they learn, a duty that continues after they leave.
• We require our business partners and suppliers who process data on our behalf to take the same care.
• If personal data is obtained by others unlawfully, we notify the data subject and the Personal Data Protection Board as soon as possible.

You can send requests about your personal data to Çığır Kimya in writing, in person, by registered electronic mail (KEP), secure electronic signature or mobile signature. We answer requests free of charge within 30 days at the latest.

Approved by top management as part of our integrated management system.