| Sustainability for a Better Life 2024 Report
#R&D
#Agile
#Climate
#Digital
#Digitalization
#Emissions
#Energy
#Global
#Innovation
#Investment
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#Strategy
#Technologies
#Transformation
Driving Impact
at Light Speed
Just as light moves with unparalleled speed, Sabancı Holding embraces
agility and precision in transforming core business areas. The rapid evolution
of technology, digitalization, and sustainability demands an approach that
moves swiftly and seamlessly toward impact. By leveraging continuous
investment, R&D, and a consistent execution strategy, we ensure that our
businesses adapt, innovate, and lead in a rapidly changing world.
We are transforming our core businesses by accelerating scalable growth through innovation, ecosystem synergy, and sustainability.
We believe that the long-term competitiveness of our core businesses depends on our ability to build interconnected ecosystems that continuously evolve.
R&D and Innovation
Scaling Sustainable Impact Through Research, Innovation, and Collaborative Platforms
At Sabancı Holding, R&D and innovation are core to how we preserve and grow value in our businesses. In 2024, we continued to strengthen this commitment by advancing our investments in technology, sustainability-linked innovation, and nature-based collaboration. We aim to ensure that our businesses are resilient to future trends, while also contributing to transformative impact on a scale.
Our transformation is driven by a clear ambition to grow the share of R&D and innovation investments aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
We aim for 70% of our total R&D and innovation investments to serve the UN SDGs by 2025. As of December 31, 2024, we have already surpassed this target.
30 Includes Aksigorta, Agesa, Akçansa, Brisa, Carrefoursa, Çimsa,
Kordsa, Teknosa, Temsa, Enerjisa Enerji, Enerjisa Üretim, SabancıDx
In 2024, we advanced this transformation through three interconnected platforms:
We foster early-stage innovation across the Group through structured ideation platforms that help identify opportunities aligned with our strategic vision. These include:
Group Company Innovation Programs such as Enerjisa NAR, Brisa Roket, Akbank+, Akbank LAB, Aksigorta PURA, and Teknosa360, which enable company-level experimentation and entrepreneurial thinking.International initiatives such as the EIT ClimAccelerator, which supports climate-focused start-ups aligned with ,global decarbonization goals.
To bring innovation to life, we leverage robust execution mechanisms that convert ideas into scalable solutions and business models. These include:
Sabancı ARF, our early-stage acceleration platform, which supports internal and external start-ups with seed funding, mentoring, and collaboration opportunities with Group companies.Sabancı Ventures, our corporate venture capital arm, which invests in post-revenue technology ventures that align with the Group’s growth themes and sustainability priorities.
R&D and Innovation Centers across Türkiye, Europe, Asia, and the United States, which serve as critical enablers of product development, market expansion, and deep tech collaboration.
Strategic Initiatives and M&A, where innovation is integrated into investment decisions using our capital allocation framework, ensuring long-term value creation through responsible investment.
To accelerate ideation and execution, we cultivate collaboration through dedicated knowledge and capability-sharing platforms across the Group:
Sabancı Minds, Digital Minds, and HR Minds bring together employees from different sectors and functions to co-develop innovation roadmaps, explore emerging technologies such as generative AI, and align business transformation with sustainability and leadership goals.These platforms foster an innovation cultur that is adaptive, participatory, and purpose-driven, enabling the Group to move faster in a complex global environment.
For groundbreaking applications and detailed information on R&D and Innovation Hightlights From Sabancı Group Companies, please download Transforming Our Core Business Areas Section.
Digitalization for Sustainable Business Models
Leveraging Digital Capabilities to Drive Sustainability, Efficiency, and Innovation.
At Sabancı Group, digitalization is a strategic enabler of our sustainability transformation. In 2024, we continued to expand our digital capabilities to create more connected, intelligent, and inclusive business models. These models are designed not only to increase efficiency but also to contribute directly to sustainability impact on a scale.
From energy optimization to circular business processes, digitalization is embedded into the way we decarbonize, streamline, and future-proof our operations.
Our Group-wide digital strategy focuses on building and scaling infrastructure for the connected enterprise of tomorrow.1 It includes potential global investments in hyperscale data centers, multi-hybrid cloud services, and AI-powered platforms, alongside digital retail, ESG data tools, and cybersecurity solutions. By combining cloud-native innovation with enterprise-grade resilience, we are enabling not just transformation but long-term value creation through sustainability-driven digital infrastructure.
In 2024, we reinforced this strategy by increasing our stake in Bulutistan to 75.5%. These investments strengthen our ability to deliver scalable and low emission digital services while meeting data sovereignty and regulatory expectations.
In parallel, we supported the digitization of procurement, HR, and performance management systems across Group companies. These efforts resulted in measurable reductions in paper use, improved data traceability, and stronger ESG performance management.
Our commitment goes beyond internal transformation. We are building a full-stack ecosystem that links data generation, distribution, and intelligent processing. This ecosystem supports the transition toward a low carbon, digitally enabled economy.
As we move forward, we will continue to deepen strategic partnerships, invest in sustainable digital innovation, and scale technology solutions across sectors and regions. Our goal is to turn electrons into data, and data into insight. This is how we are shaping a connected future that is smart, secure, and sustainable by design.
For exemplary applications and solutions of Sabancı Group Companies on Digitalization for Sustainable Business Models, please download Transforming Our Core Business Areas Section.
Environmental Investments and Expenditures
At Sabancı Group, we categorize our environmental expenditures in two distinct groups: those mandated by regulatory requirements, and those that go beyond compliance, reflecting our proactive environmental stewardship. In 2024, total environmental expenditures by Group companies exceeded TL 595 billion, with 67% allocated to voluntary efforts that go beyond regulatory compliance.
We also continued to advance environmental investments in our strategic growth areas, which approached TL 4.2 billion in 2024. These investments are monitored under three core categories, each reflecting a different dimension of our contribution to sustainable development.
In 2024, the largest share of our environmental investment portfolio fell under the enabler category, accounting for 65% of the total. This reflects our continued emphasis on long-term value creation, resilience, and alignment with our Nature Agenda.
32 Usually refers to operational expenses (OpEx) or capital expenditures (CapEx), such as the purchase of energy efficiency equipment or modernization. It is aimed at making existing activities more sustainable. Routine maintenance-repair, environmental measurement, etc. expenses are not included. It expresses expenditures that results reduction in raw materials, waste or GHG emissions.
33 Usually refers to capital expenditures (CapEx). Growth investments in the company’s core business areas are included in this category. This includes the relevant M&A activities.
SDG-Linked Products and Services
At Sabancı Holding, our commitment to transforming our portfolio towards sustainable business models is embedded in our strategic approach, with a strong emphasis on decarbonization across diverse industries, strengthen positive impact, and invest in the industries of the future.
As part of this transformation, we invest in SDG-linked products and services that help accelerate the shift towards low-carbon operations within a diversified portfolio. These efforts are aligned with our principles of responsible business and sustainability.
We track and evaluate products and services that contribute to reducing resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, enable the transition to cleaner technologies, support their implementation, and generate positive social outcomes.
To guide investment decisions in SDG-linked economic activities, we promote a shift in mindset across all Sabancı Group companies. At the same time, we regulate and monitor SDG-linked products and services through an internal classification system grounded in global standards and best practices.
This approach supports our ongoing transformation into a more sustainable portfolio and strengthens our role as a catalyst for positive change.
We are embedding a Group-wide mindset and monitoring SDG-linked products and services across four key categories:Includes products and services that directly reduce environmental resource use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Examples:Energy: Green tariffs, renewable energy generation and sales
Financial services: Green loans and/or sustainability-linked funds directed toward low-carbon economy and climate-positive investments
Mobility: Electric vehicles and low-emission transport
Covers resource- and/or carbon-intensive products and services that are aligned with a shift toward more sustainable technologies.
Examples:Materials: Cement products with lower clinker ratios and extended lifecycle performance
Refers to solutions that support customers’ environmental goals or act as inputs for sustainable industries.
Examples:Energy: E-mobility charging infrastructure
Retail and technology: In-store electronics repair services to extend product life
Mobility & materials: Lightweight components and battery solutions that lower end-user emissions
Includes products and services that improve access, safety, and well-being in underserved communities.
Examples:Energy: Distributed energy solutions for critical facilities and regions with limited grid access
34 Akbank is not included. Akbank’s performance regarding its sustainable business model is monitored under the Sustainable Finance heading.
For world’s leading innovative SDG-Linked Products and Services of Sabancı Group Companies, please download Transforming Our Core Business Areas Section.
Sustainable Finance
Mobilizing Sustainable Finance to Accelerate Climate and Impact-Driven Growth
At Sabancı Holding, we recognize sustainable finance as a strategic enabler that mobilizes capital toward climate action, nature preservation, and social impact.
In 2024, our Group companies in the financial services and banking sector continued to expand their sustainable finance product and services, advancing solutions aligned with responsible banking and insurance principles. At the same time, other Group companies across industries accessed green and sustainability-linked financing instruments to support low-carbon investments, improve financing terms, and enhance their resilience to emerging environmental and social risks.
We also leveraged international mechanisms to accelerate our global sustainability investments. Sabancı Climate Ventures secured USD 184 million in tax equity financing for the Cutlass Solar II Project, a 272 MW solar energy investment in the United States. This milestone marked a significant step in scaling our renewable energy portfolio and demonstrated our ability to mobilize financial capital for impactful, future-shaping projects.
Sabancı Group companies are integrating sustainable finance into their operations, investments, and long-term strategies, reinforcing our collective transition toward a just, low-carbon economy.
For detailed information on Sustainable Finance initiatives of Sabancı Group Companies, please download Transforming Our Core Business Areas Section.
Download Transforming Our Core Business Areas Section