Watch: Ayşegül turning over a sustainable new leaf in Türkiye
Ayşegül Taşkıran is revolutionising biofuels by converting natural waste into pellets
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00:00 When we first set out on this journey, we did not have a guide.
00:04 We started to produce the plates with the information we had.
00:07 We did this by trial and error.
00:10 Because we did not have a factory around us to set an example.
00:14 I was very excited when I first started selling this product.
00:18 At that time, I sent our product to a different province as a whole for the first time.
00:23 But I guess the excitement that moment gave me was that I sent those products without paying.
00:29 I still have not bought a picture of this product.
00:32 But I remember very well that this is something that is learned through experience and mistakes.
00:37 I am Ayşegül Taşkıran. I am a producer.
00:40 We produce many side products related to the bay leaf, the bay branches, the pellet fuel and the bay tree.
00:47 We have produced what this bay tree could be.
00:50 [Music]
00:58 [Music]
01:07 This is the Yayladağ district of Hatay.
01:11 It is a district that is the border of Turkey's most extreme point and Syria.
01:14 We are in a very rich region in terms of bay trees.
01:19 My father bought this area when we were very young.
01:22 My family started to make a living by drying and selling these bay trees at that time.
01:29 Our childhood was always spent in bay trees.
01:32 We have always grown up with bay trees since we were very young.
01:36 [Music]
01:40 Since we were young, the main thing we did was to dry bay leaves.
01:45 Villagers in Yayladağ collect natural bay leaves from the forest and bring them to our factory.
01:52 We pick bay leaves from the branches here.
01:57 As the years passed, our capacity to dry bay leaves increased.
02:02 In fact, we realized that our branch production rate increased a lot.
02:11 We had a lot of bay leaves and we didn't know what to do with them.
02:15 Our factory was very crowded with bay leaves, so we had fires in the factory from time to time.
02:23 We had a fire like this again at that time.
02:26 This fire was a very big fire.
02:29 Unfortunately, it ruined the work that my family had given to us for a period of time.
02:35 The danger of the fire was actually extinguished by the big flames.
02:38 However, the bay leaves remained like this for three days under those fumes.
02:44 We did research on this and learned that such a fuel production was made from waste materials of the bay leaf.
02:52 We thought that we could carry out this project with bay leaves.
02:58 In fact, our search for answers to this question led us to the establishment of Defne Peletin.
03:06 Defne Peletin is a double fuel that is both produced and consumed and benefits the environment.
03:17 Since we collect waste materials while producing, we use materials that are not used in the forest.
03:25 When we produce these products, we do not use any chemical binders.
03:31 We obtain these products by squeezing the branches in a toaster in a completely natural environment at high temperatures and pressures.
03:39 In addition to 99% energy efficiency, the ash ratio is 1%.
03:44 When we compare it with coal, a loss of nearly 40% occurs in coal.
03:49 So, 1% of the ash is removed and the ash is not even harmful.
03:59 The work we have done is more of a male job.
04:04 Because no one cared about my idea at that time.
04:09 We need to work extra as women because we need to give trust.
04:14 Actually, my father was my biggest support at this point.
04:19 Because he always wanted me to deal with trade.
04:24 He wanted me to deal with the production of a factory by myself.
04:28 He wanted me to be brave.
04:31 I am very happy when I see my daughter is so successful.
04:38 I am very happy because she is successful.
04:42 She is a very determined person.
04:45 She showed the world this product.
04:48 She showed the world. She gave a lot of loyalty.
04:53 I think it is sustainable to be successful in a business.
04:59 My goal in Defne Peles is to be sustainable in terms of quality and reputation.
05:13 I plan to increase my capacity.
05:17 I want to reach more people with the products we produce in Turkey.
05:24 I think Defne Peles should not be seen as a commercial factory.
05:31 I always say "Be brave with hope".
05:35 This is my biggest motivation.
05:41 I am very happy when women from different countries reach out to me and say "I want to start a new business after watching your videos".
05:50 I feel like I am doing a useful job.
05:54 I feel that.
05:55 Defne Peles - A new beginning.
05:58 Defne Peles - A new beginning.
06:01 Defne Peles - A new beginning.
06:05 (upbeat music)