Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) has rewarded the best performances in 2024 in line with its sustainable environment policy and zero waste goal. Within the scope of the Zero Waste policy, units that demonstrated the highest performance among academic and administrative units, as well as canteens and cafeterias, were awarded the Zero Waste Flag and BEUN Zero Waste Certificates.

In the context of long-standing efforts toward environmental sustainability, performance was evaluated in five categories: batteries, paper, plastic, glass, and metal —and top-performing units were awarded.

Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, the Rector of BEUN, attended the ceremony in the Rectorate Senate Room along with Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Şenol Hakan Kutoğlu, General Secretary Prof. Dr. Zehra Safi Öz, and academic and administrative unit managers.

The units were awarded in accordance with their success ranking. The Faculty of Fine Arts achieved first place and was awarded the Zero-waste Flag and a Certificate of Appreciation. School of Applied Sciences and Devrek Vocational school shared the second place while the State Conservatory ranked third, all receiving the BEUN Zero Waste Certificate.

Among the administrative units, the Department of Administrative and Financial Affairs took first place and was awarded the Zero-waste Flag and a Certificate of Appreciation. The Guest House and Revolving Fund Management Directorate ranked second and third, respectively, and received the BEUN Zero Waste Certificate.

In the Canteens and Cafeteria category, Canteens in the Farabi Campus achieved first place and were awarded the Zero-waste Flag and a Certificate of Appreciation. BEUN Hospital Cafeteria became second, and BEUN Hospital Canteen took the third place, and both were awarded BEUN Zero Waste Certificate.

Rector Özölçer: “We continue our work with determination within the scope of Sustainability and Zero Waste Policy.”

In his speech at the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Özölçer stated that the University’s zero waste policy, carried out as a reflection of environmental awareness and sustainability, is not just an environmental project but an institutional culture, and added:

"As BEUN, we place great importance on the zero-waste and sustainable environment policy. We implement environmentally conscious projects with our management team.  As the Greenmetric National Coordinator of Türkiye, I would like to highlight that these steps we take in order to raise environmental awareness and increase the use of recyclable products are a significant part of our responsibility to leave a livable world for future generations.”

Mentioning the goals of the university, Rector Özölçer emphasized that environmentally conscious academic and administrative staff have a crucial role in the fact that BEUN is among the academically high-ranking universities." He also added:

“BEUN vision, which includes significant efforts in sustainability, is to be the most environmentally friendly and greenest sustainable university campus in its path to becoming a research university. I sincerely thank all the academic and administrative personnel and wish them success in their work."

BEUN contributes to Building a Sustainable Future

The ceremony ended with a commemorative photo after the presentation of the certificates. BEUN continues to set an example not only in the academic field but also in terms of environmental responsibility with its sustainability projects and environmentally aware vision.