Implementations in relation to sustainable development in industry and industrial design profession: a case of Arcelik corporation

Abstract

M.Sc. study deals with implementation of sustainable development in industry and industrial design profession specific to the case of Arçelik Corporation. The study, states the historical background of sustainable development and mentions existing challenges in relation to implementation briefly, in order to set the conceptual frame. After setting the conceptual frame, the study scrutinizes how industry and industrial design profession take action with respect to sustainable development; the drives and methods are investigated. The action taken and attitude adopted by industry in relation to sustainable development is important since, industry constitutes the economical basis of development and since, it is directly related with sustainable use of resources by determining production-consumption cycle. On the other hand, industrial design profession is an important agent not only for the provision of sustainability in industry as contributing in product development process, but also for society by the ability of influencing the cultural transformation necessary for sustainable development. The case study carried out about Arçelik Corporation, revealed that the Corporation does not involve issues related with sustainable development in its vision. In addition, the environmental policy of Arçelik is driven solely by European Union’s legislative requirements as a consequence of Arçelik’s present trade relationships. Therefore Arçelik’s environmental vision is insufficient with regard to sustainable development. Nevertheless, the employees of Arçelik seems as being internalised this existing environmental vision. Yet, the employees taking part in product development and manufacture processes are almost illiterate about sustainable development and design approaches related with sustainability and environmental protection, and their knowledge about environmental effects of products is insufficient.