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The Istanbul Medeniyet University Sustainability Office and Sustainability Club continued to bring their efforts toward sustainable development goals to various segments of society through events they organized and supported as part of “World Environment Day.” Led by its sustainability team, our university contributed to extending the culture of sustainability beyond campus boundaries through social responsibility projects, partnerships developed with local governments, and representation on international platforms.

The activities organized this year as part of World Environment Day aimed to integrate the circular economy approach into daily life practices, while also encouraging participants not only to gain knowledge about waste management but to become active participants in the solution. In events catering to all age groups, from children to adults, concepts such as recycling, upcycling, reuse, zero waste, and the protection of biodiversity were conveyed through hands-on experiences.

A Story Blooming from Waste in Maltepe: The “Make Your Own Calendar” Workshop

As part of the “Transformation Workshops” Social Responsibility Project, carried out under the sustainability cooperation protocol signed between Maltepe Municipality and our university, the “Make Your Own Calendar” workshop was held on Friday, June 5, 2026, at the Maltepe Children’s Agricultural Park as part of World Environment Day activities.

In the workshop led by students from the IMU Sustainability Club, seed calendars were created using seed-embedded paper—handmade from waste paper using traditional methods in previous workshops of the project—and calendar bases produced via 3D printing technology using filaments made from recycled PET bottles collected on our campuses. Participants, who experienced the different stages of the circular economy in a single event, gained hands-on experience with both upcycling and recycling processes and personalized their calendars using dried flowers. One of the most meaningful aspects of these calendars—which are designed to be buried in the ground and composted after use—is that the seed-embedded paper allows various flower seeds to sprout when buried. In this way, while extending the life cycle of waste, the initiative also contributes to supporting the urban ecosystem and biodiversity.

Throughout the event, participants had the opportunity to learn about the waste hierarchy, the differences between recycling and upcycling, resource efficiency, and the principles of sustainable design.

Circular Economy and Zero-Waste Awareness at the Kadıköy Environment Festival

On June 6–7, 2026, our sustainability teams contributed to the Kadıköy Environment Festival, organized by the Kadıköy Municipality at Freedom Park, by setting up a booth and hosting workshops. At the festival, which was held under the theme of “circular economy,” the waste management and circular economy initiatives carried out by our Sustainability Office were showcased to visitors. Throughout the festival, which featured our Sustainability Club students, alumni, and research assistants from the Sustainability Office, it was emphasized that the initiatives developed at our university not only generate environmental benefits but also create value through education, civic engagement, and social responsibility.

One of the projects showcased at the festival, “RePlay: From Waste to Toy Social Responsibility Project,” led by Sustainability Office research assistant Ayça Çelikbilek and Sustainability Club president Livanur İnan, served as an example of how waste can be repurposed in creative ways that provide social benefits. The project—which involved using filaments produced from recycled PET bottles collected in our campus areas in 3D printing technologies, and designing educational toys through the upcycling of bottle caps collected from hospitals—drew significant interest from both children and adults.

Over the course of two days at the festival, the toys produced as part of the project were showcased, and children were given the opportunity to try them out. While the children played with the toys, they were taught—using age-appropriate methods—about the processes the materials had undergone and why they needed to be repurposed. In this way, the children not only had the opportunity to learn about sustainability through play but also experienced firsthand how the materials they typically throw away in trash bins are transformed.

Throughout the festival, environmental education was also provided through the “Waste Sorting Game,” designed and produced by our Sustainability Office to raise children’s awareness of zero waste and waste sorting. In the game, which drew great interest from the children, participants learned hands-on which bins to use for glass, plastic, metal, paper, and organic waste, while discovering the differences between recyclable and non-recyclable waste. The importance of proper waste separation—which forms the foundation of the zero-waste approach—for the effectiveness of recycling systems was emphasized.

The event highlighted that environmentally friendly behaviors instilled in children at an early age play a critical role in long-term social transformation, and aimed to support the learning process with fun experiences.

A Collaborative Artwork Made from Plastic Caps

Another project carried out throughout the festival was a pixel art painting created through the collective effort of participants—one of the Sustainability Office’s now-traditional upcycling initiatives. Prepared using plastic bottle caps and waste cardboard collected from grocery stores, the project served as a striking example of how waste can be reimagined through creative methods. Visitors of all ages contributed to the artwork, participating in a collective art-making process centered on the theme of sustainability.

Through this activity, participants were informed about the 3R approach (Reduce–Reuse–Recycle), which emphasizes that the primary focus in waste management should not be recycling alone, but rather reducing consumption, reusing products, and addressing recycling as part of a holistic approach.

We Represented Our University at the Zero Waste Forum

Research Assistants Ayça Çelikbilek and Furkan Eruçar from our Sustainability Office represented our university at the Zero Waste Forum, held at Atatürk Airport from June 5–7, 2026, under the patronage of Mrs. Emine Erdoğan and coordinated by the Zero Waste Foundation.

The forum, which brought together national and international stakeholders, addressed the role of zero-waste practices in combating climate change, circular economy policies, resource efficiency, sustainable production and consumption models, and innovative waste management approaches. Throughout the three-day program, experts, academics, government representatives, and civil society organizations from various countries around the world shared examples of successful practices, while participants had the opportunity to exchange experiences and knowledge.

Our team, which participated in the forum on behalf of our university, not only closely followed international initiatives in the field of sustainability but also established important contacts for potential future joint projects and academic collaborations. The goal is for the knowledge and experience gained from the forum to bring new perspectives to the sustainability initiatives being carried out at our university.

Working Together for a Sustainable Future

Istanbul Medeniyet University approaches sustainability not merely as an environmental responsibility but as an integral part of its education, research, social contribution, and institutional management processes.

All these initiatives, carried out as part of World Environment Day, have contributed to raising individuals’ environmental awareness, reusing waste as a resource, and promoting sustainable lifestyle habits across all segments of society.

Thanks to our students’ sense of responsibility, the support of our academic and administrative staff, and the contributions of our stakeholders, we believe that a sustainable future can only be built by working together; we continue our efforts to spread the transformation that begins on our campuses to society at large.