SMEs at COP31SMEs at COP31
Blog
Industry24 September 2026· 5 min read· 6 sources

From Antalya to the supply chain: green industrialisation and Turkish SMEs

COP31's green industry goals, the EU carbon border mechanism and Türkiye's climate law all point the same way. SMEs that own their data will win.

Turkish industry relies heavily on SMEs, many of them embedded in export supply chains. COP31's green industrialisation agenda therefore matters to them in two ways: customer demands and market opportunities.

What COP31 means by green industrialisation

The theme aims to accelerate the shift of industrial systems toward near-zero emissions while supporting competitiveness, focusing on hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement, chemicals, aluminium and fertilisers.1 It rests on international cooperation platforms, country-led decarbonisation hubs, market development for low-carbon products through procurement and green standards, and sustainable value chains.1 The 2035 target: at least 15% circular material use in manufacturing.2

Three pressures, one direction

  1. EU CBAM, definitive since 1 January 2026, requires certificates for embedded emissions in six product groups; EU buyers ask Turkish suppliers for product-level data.3
  2. Türkiye's Climate Law and ETS (Law No. 7552, in force since 9 July 2025) — covered installations will ask their supply chains for more data.4
  3. Procurement and standards — COP31 plans to grow demand for low-carbon products.1

Where the opportunity lies

  • Circular materials — recycled inputs, remanufacturing, industrial symbiosis.2
  • MRV services — carbon footprinting, energy audits, digital monitoring.
  • Efficiency equipment — electrification (35%) and building energy-intensity (−25%) targets drive demand for heat pumps, drives, automation and insulation.2
  • Support — KOSGEB's World Bank-backed Green Industry Support Programme.5

Mark 16 November: Science, Industry and Technology day brings together green industrialisation, low-carbon manufacturing and SMEs.6

References

  1. Green Industrialization — COP31 Türkiye
  2. Presidency Priorities — COP31 Türkiye
  3. CBAM definitive regime — European Commission
  4. Climate Law published in the Official Gazette — Erdem & Erdem Law (Turkish)
  5. Green Industry Support Programme — KOSGEB (Turkish)
  6. Thematic Days — COP31 Türkiye

This content is for information only and is not legal or financial advice. Rely on the official texts listed in the references for binding, up-to-date information.