Organized by Üsküdar University, the “2nd Savings and Waste Symposium” discussed the prevention of waste and increasing savings awareness in all their aspects.
Emphasizing that meaning and purpose lie at the core of efficiency, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “The fuel of efficiency is meaning. A human resource without meaning cannot be used efficiently. A person who cannot distinguish between desire and need wastes.”
Rector of İskenderun Technical University, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Duruel, said, “Today, waste is the unfair, unconscious, and unsustainable use of resources. This situation directly affects not only economic structures but also humanity’s relationship with nature, society, and themselves.”
Rector's Advisor Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka stated, “Globally, approximately 1.5 billion tons of food are wasted every year. In Turkey, this figure exceeds 8.7 million tons.”
Organized by Üsküdar University in memory of the late Prof. Dr. Ersin Nazif Gürdoğan, the “2nd Savings and Waste Symposium,” with the theme "From Waste to Efficiency," was held at the Ibn Sina Auditorium of NP Health Campus (Ümraniye).
The symposium, supported by important stakeholders such as Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences, Turkey Waste Prevention Foundation (TISVA), Istanbul University Faculty of Economics, and İskenderun Technical University, began with the opening speeches of Rector's Advisor Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka, Rector of İskenderun Technical University Prof. Dr. Mehmet Duruel, and Üsküdar University Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan: “The Biggest Determinant in Resource Management is Not Reason, But Emotions”
Symposium Honorary President, Üsküdar University Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that the issue of waste and efficiency should be addressed not only economically, but also through its psychological, sociological, and cultural dimensions. Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated, “Humans are not Homo Economicus, but Homo Psychologicus. The biggest determinant in resource management is not reason, but emotions.”
Stating that setting efficiency as this year’s main theme for the symposium was a conscious choice, Prof. Dr. Tarhan drew attention to intergenerational differences, saying, “Past generations matured in scarcity. Today’s generations, however, must mature in abundance. This is much more difficult because abundance creates perception blindness in people. The feeling that everything is easily obtained, that everything is guaranteed, weakens resource management. This situation poses a serious danger, especially for future generations.”
There is a Relationship Between Economics and Psychology
Reminding that the relationship between economics and psychology was clearly established scientifically in the 2000s, Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that a psychologist receiving the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was a symbol of this transformation, saying, “Behavioral Economics was born this way. Humans are not merely rational beings. When making decisions, people are driven by their desire for appreciation, need for approval, and emotional voids.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that there are many examples of human behaviors leading to waste, saying, “A person might invest not out of need, but to gain applause. One hundred thousand dollars are spent on an empty frame. Watches and bags worth tens of thousands of dollars are displayed on social media. Moreover, doing this does not create a feeling of discomfort towards poverty. The sense of shame has disappeared. All of these are psychological factors.”
Meaning and Purpose Lie at the Core of Efficiency
Stating that societies are divided into “high-trust” and “low-trust” categories, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “In high-trust societies, power resides in rules, not in individuals. There is consultation, there is predictability. In such societies, medium and long-term resource management can be done healthily.”
Emphasizing that meaning and purpose lie at the core of efficiency, Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated, “The fuel of efficiency is meaning. A human resource without meaning cannot be used efficiently. A person who cannot distinguish between desire and need wastes.”
Pleasure Happiness Can Be Bought, But It's Temporary…
Explaining the concepts of pleasure and meaning through neuroscience, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “Dopamine is the pleasure hormone, while serotonin is the meaning hormone. Pleasure happiness can be bought, but it is temporary. Meaningful happiness, however, requires effort and investment and is permanent. Aristotle said this 2500 years ago; today neuroscience confirms it.”
Stating that a pleasure-oriented life leads to an inability to regulate emotions, Prof. Dr. Tarhan used the expressions, “A person who shops because they feel like it, compensates their anger with consumption, and spends thinking only of today cannot manage resources. However, the decision-making mechanism in the frontal lobe of the brain asks the question, ‘Is this a need?’ A person capable of doing this seeks meaning.”
“If a Child Learns Budget Management by the Age of 10, They Will Also Manage Their Time and Relationships Better”
Stating that resource management is not limited to the financial domain, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “Life itself is a form of resource management. Psychological capital, social capital, time, and relationships are also resources.”
In this context, Prof. Dr. Tarhan emphasized the importance of teaching budget management to children at an early age, stating, “If a child learns budget management by the age of 10, they will also manage their time and relationships better.”
“We Are in an Era Where Visibility is Sanctified”
Emphasizing that digitalization and social media encourage consumption on a global scale, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “We are in an era where visibility is sanctified. The culture of 'likes' has excessively grown the cosmetic and aesthetic sectors. Expenditures are increasing even when there is no need. This system eventually produces lazy societies. The fall of Rome happened this way, too.”
At the end of his speech, Prof. Dr. Tarhan thanked those who contributed to the organization of the symposium, concluding his words with the expressions, “I thank Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka for taking ownership of this topic, and all academics who contributed. Hopefully, we will continue this symposium with the same determination in the coming years.”
Prof. Dr. Duruel: “Today, Waste is the Unfair, Unconscious, and Unsustainable Use of Resources”
In his opening speech, Rector of İskenderun Technical University Prof. Dr. Mehmet Duruel used the expressions, “I feel greatly honored to be at this symposium, which creates such a meaningful, multi-layered, and strong awareness ground for the future.”
Pointing out that waste in the modern world does not merely mean overspending, Prof. Dr. Duruel said, “Today, waste is the unfair, unconscious, and unsustainable use of resources. This situation directly affects not only economic structures but also humanity’s relationship with nature, society, and themselves.”
Increased Consumption Does Not Produce Happiness
Prof. Dr. Duruel emphasized that the consumer economy depletes not only material resources but also human relationships and spiritual balance, stating, “Research at the intersection of psychology, sociology, and economics clearly shows that increased consumption does not produce happiness; on the contrary, it deepens problems such as dissatisfaction, loneliness, and stress. This picture demonstrates that waste is also a human issue.”
Pointing out that waste has a strong ideological background, Prof. Dr. Duruel stated that in the current global system, consumption has transformed from a need into a lifestyle and a measure of value. Prof. Dr. Duruel stated, “The individual's existence has begun to be defined by what they possess. This understanding deepens economic inequalities while also leading to moral and cultural erosion.”
Stating that the capitalist system mandates consumption for its continuity, Prof. Dr. Duruel said, “Reports from the United Nations, the World Bank, and the OECD reveal that approximately one-third of the food produced globally each year is wasted. In contrast, hundreds of millions of people face serious problems accessing basic food and clean water. Per capita consumption in high-income countries has reached a point that strains the planet's ecological limits. This situation clearly shows us that the problem is not a lack of resources, but injustice in the management and sharing of resources.”
This Year's Symposium Shifted Its Focus to the Question of “Building Efficiency”
Stating that last year’s first symposium created a strong intellectual infrastructure, Prof. Dr. Duruel expressed that this year’s symposium shifted its focus from “defining waste” to the question of “building efficiency,” saying, “This approach brings not only a technical transformation but also a fundamental change in mindset, values, and management understanding.”
Referring to the importance of the topics discussed within the program, such as waste in production, lean manufacturing systems, efficiency in public economy, and simplification in marketing, Prof. Dr. Duruel cited the practices of Japan, Germany, and Scandinavian countries as examples, stating, “Efficiency can only be achieved with a scientific approach, ethical values, and a long-term perspective.”
Emphasizing that the symposium being dedicated to the memory of the late Prof. Dr. Nazif Gürdoğan was also significant, Prof. Dr. Duruel said, “Our esteemed professor reminded us throughout his academic life that knowledge is not merely something produced, but a value that must be combined with wisdom.”
Stating that as İskenderun Technical University, they believe that universities are not only institutions that produce knowledge but also undertake social responsibility, Prof. Dr. Duruel used the expressions, “Protecting resources means safeguarding the future. It means considering tomorrow while managing today. This understanding is compatible with both universal ethical principles and our ancient world of values.”
Prof. Dr. Zelka: “Approximately 1.5 Billion Tons of Food Are Wasted Globally Every Year”
Rector's Advisor Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka reminded that the symposium was first held last year with the ideas and support of the university’s Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan. Stating that waste is not limited to material resources, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Zelka said, “Waste has a dimension that encompasses the heart, mind, lifespan, and even breath. Therefore, merely looking at the issue from an economic perspective is insufficient.”
Prof. Dr. Zelka, stating, “Globally, approximately 1.5 billion tons of food are wasted every year. In Turkey, this figure exceeds 8.7 million tons,” noted that waste occurs at similar rates in developed and less developed countries, with a waste rate of 56 percent in developed countries and 44 percent in developing countries.
Also referring to the rapid depletion of natural resources, Prof. Dr. Zelka used the expressions, “Humanity has consumed the natural resources allocated for 2025 in the first seven months of the year. For the remaining period, we are borrowing from future generations.” Prof. Dr. Zelka stated that this situation disrupts economic balances and brings with it problems such as inflation, social injustice, and moral erosion.
The Fight Against Waste Should Not Be Limited to Government Policies Alone
Emphasizing that the fight against waste cannot be limited to government policies alone, Prof. Dr. Zelka stated that individual responsibility is also of great importance.
Referring to a study conducted by Leeds University in the UK, Prof. Dr. Zelka said, “In the UK, a program called the Waste and Resources Action Programme has also been prepared. Why? There are nearly 30 million people suffering from hunger in the UK. There are 9.5 million tons of food waste. If only 8.5 million tons of this 9.5 million tons were utilized positively, if saved from waste, there would be no such thing as hunger.”
Prof. Dr. Zelka stated that if only 25 percent of the resources wasted globally were used efficiently, the problem of hunger could largely disappear, drawing attention to the fact that thousands of people die of hunger every day.
Reconciliation (Helalleşme) Index Proposal
At the event, which brought together experts from many different disciplines such as economics, environmental sciences, sociology, public administration, and engineering, the individual, institutional, and societal dimensions of waste were comprehensively addressed. The program presented solution-oriented approaches to popularize a culture of savings, and many competent academics in their fields gave presentations.
At the symposium, a study prepared by Lecturer Durmuş Baysal from the İskenderun Technical University Department of Economics and Finance, also delivered a presentation on the Reconciliation (Helalleşme) Index, which proposes to resolve the crisis of trust between debtor and creditor through the "helalleşme culture" rooted in society.
Two separate sessions were held within the scope of the symposium, which was broadcast live on ÜÜ TV. In the first session, chaired by Prof. Dr. Sırrı Akbaba from Üsküdar University Department of Psychology;
Founder of Turkey Waste Prevention Foundation (TISVA) “Prof. Dr. Aziz Akgül presented “Waste is a Crime Against Humanity”;
Bartın University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Said Ceyhan presented “Bartın University Sustainable Energy Efficiency Project Implementation and Effects”;
Istanbul University Faculty of Economics Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgun Burak Kaymakçı presented “The Contradiction Between the Complexity of Production and the Directness of Consumption: Why Do We Consume?”
Lecturer Durmuş Baysal from İskenderun Technical University, Department of Economics and Finance, Prof. Dr. Nazif Çalış, and Prof. Dr. Mehmet Duruel presented their study titled “Reconciliation Index in Resolving Financial Disputes.”
The afternoon session was chaired by Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış from Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Social Work.
Düzce University-Faculty of Business Prof. Dr. Abdulvahap Baydaş presented “A New Approach in Marketing: Voluntary Simple Life”;
Istanbul University-Faculty of Economics Prof. Dr. Mehmet Saraç presented “Savings Tendency from the Perspective of Islamic Economics: Basic Principles and Economic Consequences”;
Istanbul University-Faculty of Economics Prof. Dr. Naci Tolga Saruç presented “Behavioral Finance and Savings Trends”;
Kocaeli University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Lecturer Dr. Mehmet Emin Yardımcı and Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış presented “The Role of Ottoman Artisan Guilds in Preventing Waste”;
Yalova University-Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Prof. Dr. Hacı Yunus Taş, Istanbul Medeniyet University-Master's Student Nurefşan Taş presented “Savings Awareness in the Modern Consumption Trap: A Study on a University Example”;
Yalova University-Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Prof. Dr. Selami Özcan presented a paper titled “Sources of Waste in Production and Just-in-Time (JIT) Production.”