The 2nd Symposium on Saving and Waste, organized by Üsküdar University, comprehensively addressed the prevention of waste and the promotion of a culture of saving.
Emphasizing that meaning and purpose lie at the core of productivity, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated, “The fuel of productivity is meaning. A human resource without meaning cannot be used efficiently. Anyone who cannot distinguish between desire and need ends up wasting.” Prof. Mehmet Duruel, Rector of İskenderun Technical University, said, “Today, waste means the unfair, unconscious, and unsustainable use of resources. This affects not only economic structures but also humanity’s relationship with nature, society, and the self.”
Prof. Mehmet Zelka, Rector Advisor, noted that “Approximately 1.5 billion tons of food are wasted globally every year. In Türkiye, this figure exceeds 8.7 million tons.”
The symposium, held in memory of the late Prof. Ersin Nazif Gürdoğan under the theme ‘From Waste to Productivity,’ took place at the İbni Sina Auditorium of the NP Health Campus (Ümraniye).
Supported by major stakeholders including the Faculty of Health Sciences of Üsküdar University, the Turkish Foundation for Waste Prevention (TİSVA), Istanbul University Faculty of Economics, and İskenderun Technical University, the symposium opened with keynote speeches by Prof. Mehmet Zelka, Prof. Mehmet Duruel, and Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, President of Üsküdar University.
Prof. Tarhan: “The main determinant of resource management is not reason, but emotions”
As Honorary Chair of the symposium, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that waste and productivity should not be viewed solely through an economic lens but also through psychological, sociological, and cultural perspectives.
“Human beings are not Homo Economicus, but Homo Psychologicus. The main determinant of resource management is not reason, but emotions,” he said.
Explaining that the focus on productivity as this year’s main theme was a deliberate choice, Prof. Tarhan drew attention to generational differences. “Previous generations matured under conditions of scarcity. Today’s generations must mature in abundance. This is far more difficult because abundance creates perceptual blindness. The feeling that everything is easily accessible and guaranteed weakens resource management. This poses a serious threat, especially for future generations.”
There is a strong link between economics and psychology
Recalling that the relationship between economics and psychology became scientifically evident in the early 2000s, Prof. Tarhan pointed out that a psychologist receiving the Nobel Prize in Economics symbolized this shift.
“This is how behavioral economics was born. Humans are not purely rational beings. When making decisions, people act based on their desire for appreciation, need for recognition, and emotional voids,” he said.
He provided striking examples of psychologically driven wasteful behavior. “People sometimes invest not out of need but to receive applause. An empty frame can be sold for one hundred thousand dollars. Watches and bags worth tens of thousands are displayed on social media, without any sense of discomfort toward poverty. Shame has disappeared. These are all psychological factors,” he added.
Meaning and purpose are the foundations of productivity
Prof. Tarhan explained that societies can be categorized as high-trust and low-trust societies. “In high-trust societies, power lies not in individuals but in rules. There is consultation and predictability. In such societies, medium- and long-term resource management can be carried out in a healthy way,” he said.
Reiterating the importance of meaning, he stated, “The fuel of productivity is meaning. A human resource without meaning cannot be used efficiently. Anyone who fails to distinguish between desire and need engages in waste.”
Pleasure can be bought, but it is temporary
Explaining the concepts of pleasure and meaning through neuroscience, Prof. Tarhan said, “Dopamine is the hormone of pleasure, while serotonin is the hormone of meaning. Pleasure-based happiness can be bought, but it is temporary. Meaning-based happiness requires effort and investment and is lasting. Aristotle said this 2,500 years ago, and neuroscience confirms it today.”
He noted that a pleasure-oriented lifestyle impairs emotional regulation. “People who shop impulsively, compensate for anger through consumption, or spend with only today in mind cannot manage resources. The decision-making mechanism in the frontal lobe of the brain asks the question, ‘Is this a need?’ Those who can ask this question are pursuing meaning,” he said.
“A child who learns budget management by age 10 manages time and relationships better”
Highlighting that resource management extends beyond finances, Prof. Tarhan said, “Life itself is a form of resource management. Psychological capital, social capital, time, and relationships are also resources.”
He emphasized the importance of teaching children budgeting skills at an early age. “If a child learns budget management by the age of 10, they will manage their time and relationships more effectively as well,” he stated.
“We live in an era where visibility is sacred”
Addressing the impact of digitalization and social media on consumption, Prof. Tarhan warned, “We live in an era where being visible is sacred. The culture of likes has excessively expanded the cosmetic and aesthetic industries. Spending increases even when there is no real need. Over time, this system creates lazy societies. The fall of Rome followed a similar pattern.”
Concluding his remarks, Prof. Tarhan thanked those who contributed to the symposium. “I would like to thank Prof. Mehmet Zelka for taking ownership of this issue and all academics who contributed. I hope we continue this symposium in the coming years with the same determination,” he said.
Prof. Duruel: “Today, waste means the unfair, unconscious, and unsustainable use of resources”
Prof. Mehmet Duruel, Rector of İskenderun Technical University, stated in his opening remarks, “It is a great honor for me to be part of this symposium, which creates such a meaningful, multi-layered, and future-oriented platform for awareness.”
Drawing attention to the fact that waste in the modern world goes far beyond excessive spending, Prof. Duruel said, “Today, waste means 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 the self.”
Increasing consumption does not produce happiness
Emphasizing that the consumption economy exhausts not only material resources but also human relationships and psychological balance, Prof. Duruel stated, “Research at the intersection of psychology, sociology, and economics clearly shows that increasing consumption does not generate happiness. On the contrary, it deepens problems such as dissatisfaction, loneliness, and stress. This picture reveals that waste is also a deeply human issue.”
Pointing out that waste has a strong ideological background, Prof. Duruel noted that in the current global system, consumption has transformed from a necessity into a lifestyle and a measure of value. “An individual’s existence is now defined through what they own. This mindset deepens economic inequalities while simultaneously leading to moral and cultural erosion,” he said.
Underlining that the continuity of the capitalist system depends on constant consumption, Prof. Duruel added, “Reports by the United Nations, the World Bank, and the OECD reveal that nearly one-third of all food produced globally is wasted every year. Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of people struggle to access basic food and clean water. In high-income countries, per capita consumption has reached a level that pushes the planet’s ecological limits. This clearly shows that the problem is not resource scarcity, but injustice in resource management and distribution.”
This year’s symposium focuses on building productivity
Recalling that last year’s first symposium laid a strong intellectual foundation, Prof. Duruel stated that this year’s event shifted its focus from defining waste to answering the question of how to build productivity. “This approach brings not only a technical transformation but also a profound change in mindset, values, and governance,” he said.
Highlighting key topics addressed during the program, including waste in production, lean manufacturing systems, efficiency in public economics, and simplification in marketing, Prof. Duruel referred to practices in Japan, Germany, and Scandinavian countries as examples. “Productivity is only possible through a scientific approach, ethical values, and a long-term perspective,” he noted.
Emphasizing the significance of dedicating the symposium to the memory of the late Prof. Nazif Gürdoğan, Prof. Duruel said, “Our esteemed professor reminded us throughout his academic life that knowledge is not merely something to be produced, but something that must be united with wisdom.”
Stating that İskenderun Technical University believes universities should not only produce knowledge but also assume social responsibility, Prof. Duruel concluded, “Protecting resources means safeguarding the future. It means managing today while taking tomorrow into account. This understanding aligns with both universal ethical principles and our ancient value system.”
Prof. Zelka: “Approximately 1.5 billion tons of food are wasted globally every year”
Prof. Mehmet Zelka, Rector Advisor, recalled that the symposium was first launched last year with the vision and support of Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, President of Üsküdar University. Emphasizing that waste is not limited to material resources, Prof. Zelka said, “Waste has dimensions that include the heart, the mind, time, and even breath. Therefore, approaching the issue solely from an economic perspective is insufficient.”
Stating that “approximately 1.5 billion tons of food are wasted globally every year, while in Türkiye this figure exceeds 8.7 million tons,” Prof. Zelka noted that waste occurs at similar rates in both developed and developing countries. He explained that the waste rate is around 56 percent in developed countries and 44 percent in developing ones.
Addressing the rapid depletion of natural resources, Prof. Zelka said, “Humanity has already consumed the natural resources allocated for the year 2025 within the first seven months of the year. For the remaining period, we are borrowing from future generations.” He warned that this situation disrupts economic balances and brings about problems such as inflation, social injustice, and moral erosion.
The fight against waste must go beyond government policies
Emphasizing that combating waste cannot be limited to government policies alone, Prof. Zelka stressed the importance of individual responsibility.
Referring to research conducted by the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, Prof. Zelka stated, “In the UK, a program called the Waste and Resources Action Programme was developed because nearly 30 million people face food insecurity while 9.5 million tons of food are wasted. If just 8.5 million tons of this wasted food were recovered and used efficiently, hunger would no longer be an issue.”
Concluding his remarks, Prof. Zelka pointed out that if only 25 percent of wasted resources worldwide were used efficiently, the problem of hunger could be largely eliminated. He emphasized that thousands of people lose their lives to hunger every day, underscoring the urgency of the issue.
Proposal for a Reconciliation Index
The symposium brought together experts from multiple disciplines, including economics, environmental sciences, sociology, public administration, and engineering, to comprehensively address waste from individual, institutional, and societal perspectives. The program presented solution-oriented approaches aimed at promoting a culture of saving, with numerous distinguished academics delivering expert presentations.
Within the scope of the symposium, a study prepared by Instructor Durmuş Baysal from the Department of Economics and Finance at İskenderun Technical University was presented. The study proposed resolving the crisis of trust between debtors and creditors through a Reconciliation (Helalleşme) Index, drawing on the deeply rooted cultural concept of “helalleşme,” which emphasizes moral accountability, mutual consent, and social reconciliation in society.
The symposium, broadcast live on ÜÜ TV, was conducted in two separate sessions.
The first session was chaired by Prof. Sırrı Akbaba from the Department of Psychology at Üsküdar University. Presentations included:
Prof. Aziz Akgül, Founder of the Turkish Foundation for Waste Prevention (TİSVA)
“Waste Is a Crime Against Humanity”
Prof. Said Ceyhan, Vice Rector of Bartın University
“Implementation and Impacts of the Bartın University Sustainable Energy Efficiency Project”
Assoc. Prof. Özgun Burak Kaymakçı, Faculty of Economics, Istanbul University
“The Contradiction Between the Complexity of Production and the Immediacy of Consumption: Why Do We Consume?”
Instructor Durmuş Baysal, Prof. Nazif Çalış, and Prof. Mehmet Duruel from İskenderun Technical University
“The Reconciliation Index for the Resolution of Financial Disputes”
The afternoon session was chaired by Prof. İsmail Barış from the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Health Sciences at Üsküdar University. Presentations included:
Prof. Abdulvahap Baydaş, Faculty of Business Administration, Düzce University
“A New Approach in Marketing: Voluntary Simple Living”
Prof. Mehmet Saraç, Faculty of Economics, Istanbul University
“Saving Behavior from the Perspective of Islamic Economics: Fundamental Principles and Economic Outcomes”
Prof. Naci Tolga Saruç, Faculty of Economics, Istanbul University
“Behavioral Finance and Saving Tendencies”
Asst. Prof. Mehmet Emin Yardımcı from Kocaeli University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, and Prof. İsmail Barış
“The Role of Ottoman Artisan Guilds in Preventing Waste”
Prof. Hacı Yunus Taş, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Yalova University, and Nurefşan Taş, Master’s Student at Istanbul Medeniyet University
“Saving Awareness in the Trap of Modern Consumption: A University-Based Study”
Prof. Selami Özcan, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Yalova University
“Sources of Waste in Production and Just-In-Time (JIT) Manufacturing”