Here is our interview and advertising images published in the 7th issue of Tatlı Dünyası Magazine.
Netpak is a company, working in connection with many brands from different sectors in Turkey and around the world, and creating a merely transformation with its eco-friendly bags. It is clear that they have almost completely internalized recycling and efficiency in not only their patented and environmentally friendly products, but also the techniques they use in their offices and production processes. While the law, which is expected to be released at the beginning of 2019, making the use of plastic bags costly, is still on the agenda, we wanted to talk on this subject with Ali Avci, Chairman of Netpak, and learn more about Netpak's story. First of all, can you please tell us more on, how did you get on this path, what does Netpak do and how much your production volume is?
Our company, after 40 years of expertise in the packaging industry, following the current trends in the world, has started to look for an alternative product to plastic bags by 2000s. In 2005, it started to produce ultrasonic welded, nonwoven bags together with an automation system. As a result of many R & D studies, it was entitled to own its first patent in 2008 and now owns more than 30 patents and avantegous models. We serve as the exclusive supplier of many major national food retailer chains with our laminated nonwoven, nonwoven and laminated woven bags. We are also serving hundreds of cosmetic and textile retailer brands. In terms of export activities that we started in 2014, we are now exporting to more than 30 countries and have gained a 25 percent share with respect to total turnover. Our production volume is 200 million units per year. Owing to the new machinery projects of our affiliated company, Ultrapak Makine, our capacity is increasing everyday.
Which sectors and brands do you serve in the Turkish market?
In Turkey, we have been serving to more than 3 thousand companies; food, textile and cosmetics retail sectors being in the first place. BİM, CarrefourSA, Migros, Gratis, Decathlon, English Home are some of the hundreds of our business partners. Companies allocate huge budgets for plastic bags, Kraft and/or carton bags. However, the customer uses this product once, after purchasing the product in the store and then it becomes a waste. Companies cannot make any profit from the capital allocated to these products. However, our nonwoven bags allow companies to recover the capital they allocate for transport packaging. We achieve this in the following ways: 1- A customer, who gets one of these nonwoven bags at the store checkout, becomes happier than he/she would be carrying the alternative products, since he/she is aware of the ability of the product to be re-used repeatedly in his daily life. 2- Many companies sell cloth bags in their stores and contribute seriously to their turnover. 3- Due to the fact that nonwoven bags are gifted or sold to customers, the consumption of plastic bags has significantly been reduced. This also contributes to the protection of the environment. In this way, many people carry nonwoven bags of various brands in their daily lives and make the brand on the bags visible to others. Thus, our product becomes an excellent guerilla marketing instrument.
In which ways, shall the law, which will come into force at the beginning of 2019, benefit you and the environment?
As Netpak Ambalaj, we have played an active role in this transformation process, which had been taking place in many countries for many years. At the beginning of 2019, we are planning to successfully carry out this transformation process which will take place in our country, with the experience we have gained in the international market over the years and our high organizational capability. We believe that there will be many more companies in time producing environmentally friendly bags similar to our company, and many other companies, priorly producing plastic bags shall contribute to the wildlife protection by setting out to produce non wowen bags. If we take into consideration that a single grocery store uses 10 tons of plastic bags per month, it can easily be figured out that in 25 thousand grocery stores in our country, 250 thousand tons of plastic bags are used in only 1 month and only a small portion of them can be recycled. Since Turkey is an oil importer country, this law will make a positive impact on our current account deficit. Thanks to this transformation, the capital of our valuable retail companies will not be in the dumps, we shall both regain a healthier environment and ensure to strengthen the country's economy.
23.05.2018