Source : Orhan Orhun Ünal  04:00  25/09/2025, Perşembe , Yeni Şafak

HAMBURGER BUNS TURN INTO TRAYS

Thanks to a project it has developed, SEM Plastik transforms waste hamburger buns into bio-based plastic. These are then used to produce durable, washable, and reusable trays. The company’s Chairman of the Board, Yavuz Eroğlu, stated that in the first phase, they plan to recycle 2 tons of waste bread per month to produce 15,000 bio-based trays. The company’s ultimate goal is to manufacture 100,000 trays annually using the same method.

According to the Turkish Bakers Federation, 4.9 million loaves of bread are wasted daily in Turkey. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry reports that this loss results in an annual economic cost of approximately 10 billion TL and places a significant burden on the environment. At this point, innovative projects developed by the private sector have the potential to tackle waste at its source. SEM Plastik’s project, “Hamburgers Turning into Trays / McTray,” transforms waste hamburger buns into bio-based plastic, which is then used to produce long-lasting, washable, and reusable trays.

2 TONS OF BREAD PER MONTH IN THE FIRST PHASE

Highlighting that the project is an inspiring step not only for the industry but for society as a whole, SEM Plastik Chairman Yavuz Eroğlu said that under the 2025 pilot implementation, they aim to recycle an average of 2 tons of waste bread per month to produce 15,000 bio-based trays. By the end of the first year, they plan to produce a total of 30,000 trays, thereby preventing the use of approximately 1 ton of fossil-based plastic.

TARGET: 100,000 TRAYS ANNUALLY

“Our goal is to produce 100,000 bio-based trays annually, increase the bio-based content to 30%, and further reduce carbon emissions,” Eroğlu said. “With the scalable structure of our project, we believe it will serve as a model both in Turkey and in international markets.” The project was developed during its R&D phase with contributions from young entrepreneur Büşra Köksal, founder of Plasticmove. This initiative, which has also attracted the attention of a global fast-food brand, aims to reduce both plastic waste and food waste through a circular economy approach.

NOMINATED FOR THE 'SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS AWARD'

SEM Plastik’s “Hamburgers Turning into Trays” project has been named a finalist in the “Sustainability and Environmental Impact” category at the Sustainable Business Awards. With the advantage of local production, it is expected to create both economic and environmental value. In Turkey, annual food waste is estimated between 18 and 23 million tons, with bread accounting for one of the largest portions of that waste. SEM Plastik has previously made it to the finals of the Sustainable Business Awards three times for its sustainability innovations and has won the top award twice.

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