Blue Breath Project: Total of 200 Tons of Waste Collected in 2 Years

With the collaboration of Garanti BBVA and DenizTemiz Association / TURMEPA, the ‘Blue Breath Project’, initiated by Garanti BBVA to reduce and prevent marine pollution in the Marmara Sea, has collected a total of 200 tons of waste in 2 years.

As part of its sustainability strategy prioritizing the fight against climate crisis, Garanti BBVA, in collaboration with DenizTemiz Association / TURMEPA, continues its ‘Blue Breath Project’ without slowing down to reduce and prevent marine pollution in the Marmara Sea. Within the scope of the project, approximately 200 tons of solid and liquid waste, equivalent to the daily production of about 177,000 people, were collected from September 2021 to December 2023. The collected waste, including 2 solid waste in the Marmara Sea, 1 liquid waste in Adrasan, and 1 solid and liquid waste in Van, was recycled by the marine sweeper.

Additionally, as part of the project, awareness-raising sessions on the importance of seas, conservation of marine ecosystems, and individual responsibilities for sustainable water resources are provided to middle school students and teachers. From September 2021 to December 2023, educational programs reached 3,553 teachers and 63,612 students from 273 schools in Kocaeli, Bursa, Istanbul, Tekirdağ, Balıkesir, Çanakkale, and Tatvan.

Robotics coding and production skills training sessions prepared with the zero waste philosophy are conducted for students with the Blue Breath bus, and workshops are organized. During the same period, the mobile bus provided training to 3,291 students and 248 teachers from 167 schools in Kocaeli, Bursa, Istanbul, Tekirdağ, Çanakkale, Balıkesir, and Yalova. Within the ‘Blue Detectives’ aspect of the project, high school students are encouraged to develop projects related to marine pollution through zero waste training sessions. Blue Detective candidates mentor their peers to raise awareness. Since September 2021, 271 students from 15 schools have participated in the Blue Breath’s Blue Detectives program.

Starting from 2024, Garanti BBVA and TURMEPA will expand the Blue Breath Project beyond cleaning efforts to initiate long-term scientific conservation and monitoring studies for the rehabilitation of marine ecosystems. Various studies will be carried out for the protection of Saros Bay and the preservation and monitoring of sea meadows in the Göcek region within the scope of scientific conservation and monitoring studies.