Seas as Glass Project Marks Its Fourth Year as a Symbol of Yorglass's Environmental Commitment
Yorglass Continues to Protect Marine Ecosystems with TURMEPA Collaboration, Helping Keep 6 Million Liters of Seawater Clean in 3 Years
‘Seas as Glass’ Project Marks Its Fourth Year as a Symbol of Yorglass’s Environmental Commitment
Protecting marine ecosystems is recognized as one of the essential steps toward building a sustainable future. Safeguarding the seas means protecting not only water, but also oxygen, climate balance, food security, and life itself. Ocean conservation, which directly impacts all vital activities, is enshrined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals under Goal 14: Life Below Water. As one of the first signatories of the UN Global Compact in its sector, Yorglass continues to honor its pledge to leave a cleaner legacy for future generations. With its “Seas as Glass” project launched in partnership with TURMEPA (Turkish Marine Environment Protection Association) in 2022, Yorglass is now entering the project’s fourth year.
A Collective Effort to Safeguard the Seas
Placing sustainability at the heart of its operations, Yorglass launched the Seas as Glass project in 2022 together with TURMEPA, and is continuing its efforts with determination throughout the 2025 summer season. In its fourth year, the initiative is powered by the DenizTemiz 4 liquid waste collection vessel, stationed in Selimiye Bay, Marmaris. Over the past three years, the project successfully removed 767,000 liters of liquid waste, helping preserve the purity of 6 million liters of seawater.
“We are committed to protecting every liter for a glass-clear future”
Highlighting the tangible impact of the project against invisible threats to the seas, Yorglass Chairman of the Board Semavi Yorgancılar said:
“This year, our DenizTemiz 4 vessel began operations in Selimiye at the end of May and will continue collecting liquid waste until the end of October. We specifically focus on bays with heavy marine traffic, where the environmental impact is most pronounced. Preventing even a single liter of waste from contaminating the ecosystem is our priority. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, just one liter of wastewater can pollute eight liters of clean water – and in industrial cases, this figure can rise to hundreds of liters. With 12,000 cubic kilometers of polluted water already existing worldwide, the risk of losing 18,000 cubic kilometers of clean water by 2050 underscores the urgency of waste collection efforts. Seas are not just a view; they are living ecosystems. That is why the Seas as Glass project is more than an environmental initiative for us – it is a long-term responsibility.”
“We work not only for the seas, but for life as a whole”
Emphasizing the company’s half-century legacy built around sustainable practices, Yorgancılar added:
“We are acutely aware that seas are indispensable not only for marine life but also for life on land. Scientific research shows that 50 to 70 percent of the oxygen we breathe comes from the oceans. Protecting the seas means safeguarding biodiversity, human health, and climate stability. With our collaboration with TURMEPA, we are fulfilling our responsibility to protect both the present and the future. Furthermore, the project directly supports several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Clean Water and Sanitation, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life on Land, and Partnerships for the Goals. At Yorglass, together with our employees and business partners, we aim to spread this awareness and foster sustainability as a collective culture across all stakeholders.”
“We are joining forces with Yorglass for the future of our seas”
Sharing her views on the ongoing collaboration, TURMEPA Chairwoman Şadan Kaptanoğlu said:
“Our partnership with Yorglass plays a vital role in protecting the ecological balance of our seas and ensuring biodiversity. As we always say, every second breath we take comes from the seas – if there is a sea, there is life. By providing waste collection services in Selimiye, where marine tourism is intense, we not only safeguard natural habitats but also raise public awareness about the critical importance of our seas. Yorglass’s sensitivity and support in this cause is highly valuable, and we hope our cooperation will continue with the same determination and success for many years to come.”