Businesses share practices for reducing water and plastic footprints

The exchange of practical experience was at the heart of an event held on August 20 in Astana, where participants of the Smart Water Zone and Smart Plastic Zone projects came together for the second time this year to present practices already implemented across their industries.

“The combined reach of these two environmental initiatives has now exceeded 90 companies across Kazakhstan. What is particularly important is that, for responsible businesses, the size of an organization does not matter. What matters is overcoming skepticism, embracing change, and putting solutions into practice,” said Yuliya Yakupbayeva, Chair of the Green Urban Association.

Today, Smart Water Zone brings together 16 participants from eight regions, covering facilities with a total area of 85.8 million m². Over the course of the year, their combined water consumption decreased by 18.8 million m³.

Smart Plastic Zone, meanwhile, has grown to include more than 80 organizations across 14 regions, with participating facilities covering a total of 5.5 million m². Participation in both projects remains free of charge: organizations can present practices they have already implemented, undergo verification, and receive recommendations for further improvement.

“The value of projects like these lies in their ability to bring together very different organizations around practical solutions and provide a platform for exchanging experience. When companies share their approaches and results, successful practices have the opportunity to spread much more widely,” said Alexandra Akkirman, Senior Director of Government Relations, Communications and Sustainability at Coca-Cola for Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Yerbol Salikhbayev, Director of the Department for the Development of Water-Saving Technologies at the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, emphasized the importance of setting KPIs for reducing water consumption and developing corresponding action plans in line with the requirements of the Water Code.

Aliya Murzagaliyeva, Managing Director of Baiterek National Managing Holding JSC, highlighted the importance of sustainability considerations in the financing provided by the Holding to organizations. Baiterek has also participated in the Smart Zone projects and expressed its readiness to provide informational support.

The practical session featured representatives from a range of sectors. Chingiz Khodzhalakov, environmental specialist at GALANZ Bottlers JSC, spoke about water conservation in food production. Ekaterina Shilova, Manager at Rixos Borovoe, presented the experience of the hospitality sector. Vice Rectors of KazNAIU and KBTU, Rafis Abazov and Saule Tlevlessova, shared their universities’ strategies for reducing their water footprints. Dinara Shadrina, an environmental activist from Kostanay representing the Rukh Center for Social Development Public Foundation, presented practices for engaging local communities in reducing their plastic footprint.

The Ritz-Carlton, Astana and RES Network presented their practices in a creative format through video stories. The Astana hotel’s experience with rainwater harvesting attracted particular interest from participants.

During the awards ceremony, Smart Water Zone recognition badges were presented to Rixos Borovoe, Embamunaigas JSC, Qarmet JSC, KBTU, KazNAIU, Water Resources–Marketing LLP, Spaces Business Center, KTZ-Passenger Locomotives LLP, Individual Entrepreneur Galadiy R.S., and Zaman School. Under Smart Plastic Zone, awards were presented to Narxoz University, the Rukh Center for Social Development Public Foundation, and the Astana office of Qarmet JSC.

Practices implemented by Smart Water Zone participants will be included in the project’s final annual sector review, together with analysis and recommendations, so that the accumulated experience can be applied by other companies and industries across Kazakhstan.

Learn more about the projects and participation opportunities: Smart Water Zone and Smart Plastic Zone.

For reference:

The Smart Water Zone and Smart Plastic Zone projects are implemented by the Green Urban Association and Coca-Cola Kazakhstan, with GPI-Lab LLP serving as the main implementing organization. Smart Water Zone receives informational support from the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and Baiterek National Managing Holding.