Biodiversity

Being aware of the vital importance of natural ecosystems for all of us, we aim to protect biodiversity through initiatives towards our commitments.

At Arçelik, we recognize biodiversity loss as one of the global issues under pressure. Within this scope, we have assessed our biodiversity risk across our own operations and adjacent areas to address our nature-related impacts and dependencies, drawing on emerging frameworks including the Science Based Targets for Nature (SBTN) and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).

Our assessment covers both industry-based nature-related impacts and dependencies and a location-based approach. As a first step, we mapped the business footprint of our own operations to implement the location-based approach. The geo-mapping of our manufacturing facilities was carried out using the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT). Locations were assessed based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species that potentially occur, Protected Areas, and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) within 50 km of each site.

The material impacts of our industry were de fined through SBTN’s Materiality Screening Tool, which is based on the Exploring Natural Capital Opportunities, Risks and Exposure (ENCORE) database. According to the results, the pressure categories rated as material are greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water use, and water/soil/ solid pollutants — falling under the nature-related issue areas of climate change, resource use, and pollution, respectively. Also, using WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter, we reviewed the industry-level impacts and dependencies relevant to our sector, which confirmed water as a key dependency for our operations. Additionally, we screened our manufacturing sites and their surrounding river basins (scape-level risk) on this tool across physical, regulatory and reputational dimensions. Physical risk emerged as the most significant and most consistent risk type, driven primarily by pollution pressure and water availability. These findings informed the prioritization of our sites and reinforced water as an interrelated factor for both our nature-related impacts and dependencies.

We further assessed our nature-related impacts and prioritized our manufacturing facilities based on climate change and water use, which were found to be the most critical nature-related issues in terms of impact. The nature-related dependency of our manufacturing facilities was assessed as relatively low. However, water use is an interrelated factor for both impact and dependency: water use can create pressure on ecosystem services, while our business depends on water to operate without disruption. As the Company uses groundwater at a limited number of locations, this constitutes a qualitative nature-related impact and dependency. In addition, the proximity of our manufacturing facilities to areas of high biodiversity is another crucial factor we consider from the perspective of both nature-related impacts and dependencies.

We consider biodiversity loss as part of both our double materiality assessment and our enterprise risk assessment. Based on the results of the double materiality assessment for 2025, biodiversity was determined to be non-material. In addition, biodiversity was evaluated within our company-wide enterprise risk management process using a multidisciplinary approach. As a result, no biodiversity-related risks were identified through the enterprise risk assessment carried out during the reporting period.

As part of our proactive strategy, the Company adopts the Mitigation Hierarchy to continuously prevent, minimize, and mitigate threats to biodiversity. We aim to reduce the pressure on biodiversity stemming from climate change and resource use through our long-term sustainability targets, such as reaching net-zero emissions, decreasing water withdrawal, and increasing our water recycling and reuse ratio. Arçelik aims to improve its biodiversity footprint towards No Net Loss by 2050, particularly in selected priority areas such as those in close proximity to Key Biodiversity Areas. These actions will include calculating the biodiversity footprint of the area, designing projects that help increase the biodiversity of endangered or vulnerable species classified by the IUCN Red List or national declarations, and measuring improvements against the initial footprint. With this focus on biodiversity protection, we will cooperate with third parties specialized in biodiversity conservation where necessary.

In 2025, we had two manufacturing facilities adjacent to protected areas in different coun tries. We prioritized our manufacturing facility in Ulmi, Romania, where the Company operates on a 431,369 m² site adjacent to a biodiversity-sensitive area — Natura 2000, designated as a Birds Directive Special Protection Area (SPA). In the region of this facility, we are already required to measure particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) quarterly under National Air Quality Act 104/2011. In 2021, Arçelik committed to going beyond compliance by setting a roadmap with EPC Consultanţă de Mediu, an environmental consultancy specializing in biodiversity conservation. The impact on nature was found to be limited; nevertheless, three objectives and key strategies were defined to improve the habitat conditions of the land under the Company’s responsibility. We aim to improve biodiversity at the Ulmi site by imple menting actions to reduce pressures and support the natural development of habitats by 2027. In 2023, the actions identified through the study were implemented on the factory area owned by the Company.

The priority species identified within the study are plant species; aquatic insects; grassland species; amphibian species; reptile species; aquatic bird species; predatory bird species; small mammals; medium-sized mammals; and bat species.

For further information about a location-based Project in Ulmi, Romania, please refer to below section.

For further information, please refer to Arçelik Sustainability Reports

For further information about our policy, please refer to Arçelik Biodiversity and No Deforestation Policy.

Location-based Project in Ulmi, Romania 

During the stages of the study, the main topics were defining state and benefit indicators in relation to the goals, pressure and response indicators against objectives and strategies, and developing of a biodiversity strategic plan.

The priority species are determined as follows:

• Plant species (Typha minima);

• Aquatic insects (damselflies and dragonflies);

• Grassland species (butterflies, bees, beetles, crickets, grasshoppers);

• Amphibian species (Triturus cristatus, Bombina bombina, Hyla orientalis, Bufotes viridis, Bufo bufo).

• Reptile species (Lacerta agilis, Natrix natrix);

• Aquatic bird species (Charadrius dubius, Egretta garzetta, Anas platyrhynchos, Vanellus vanellus);

• Predatory bird species (Athene noctua, Falco tinnunculus);

• Small mammals (Microtus sp., Erinaceus roumanicus, Nannospalax leucodon, Talpa europaea);

• Medium-sized mammals (Lepus europaeus, Vulpes vulpes);

• Bat species (Pipistrellus nathusii/ kuhlii, Nyctalus noctula, Vespertilio murinus).

Commitment Against Deforestation

Forests offer nature-based solutions to many global challenges — from combating climate change and biodiversity loss to building resilience against future crises. At Arçelik, we are working to eliminate deforestation within our supply chain in line with our Biodiversity and No Deforestation Policy. As a result of our deforestation assessment, we focused on paper and wood-based packaging materials for our products; our assessment therefore covers upstream activities. We are committed to no gross deforestation from our operations’ activities by 2050. We incorporate the following principles to achieve this goal:

• Continue to use paper, cardboard, and wooden packaging from more sustainable sources certified by global third-party certification systems such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or national schemes under the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) for our product packaging.

• Use recycled cardboard outer boxes for our own product boxes.

• Decrease wooden plate consumption for our own product packaging.

• Monitor the supply chain to encourage no deforestation.

• Enable our significant suppliers* to switch to recycled cardboard outer boxes for their products 

*Corresponding to 90% of purchasing volume.

For further information about our policy, please refer to Arçelik Biodiversity and No Deforestation Policy.