Smart Plastic Zone Leaders Shared Their Experience.

Online (Zoom), Almaty — August 25, 2025

The Green Urban Association and Coca-Cola Kazakhstan, with the support of the Sustainable Development Council of NCE “Atameken,” held an educational webinar “The Path to Sustainability: from Plastic Waste Management to a Green Office/Campus.”

The webinar brought together participants from across Kazakhstan, from East Kazakhstan Region to Atyrau Region. Among them were representatives of industries such as higher education institutions, state-owned companies and major operators, manufacturing and logistics enterprises, representatives of the hospitality sector and shopping centers, as well as NGOs and individuals.

Invited experts shared their experience in implementing Green Campus and Green Office practices, emphasizing that working with plastic is only part of the journey.

Rasima Salimbayeva, Associate Professor at Narxoz University, presented the experience of Narxoz University, which became the first higher education institution in Kazakhstan to launch a bachelor’s program “Environment and Sustainable Development”, developed in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Rasima Amenovna noted that such initiatives are especially important for students, as they spark genuine interest in ecology not only from a practical but also a scientific perspective. Youth are engaged in eco-laboratories, through off-site lectures and field research, and then present their results at scientific and international platforms. This allows students to develop professional competencies and contribute to the global sustainable development agenda.

Rafis Abazov, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation at KazNAIU, presented the case of KazNAIU on integrating “Green Campus,” “Taza Kazakhstan” and eco-education programs into the university environment. He emphasized that in the context of global challenges — climate change, environmental pollution, and resource depletion — the role of universities as knowledge centers is significantly increasing. That is why eco-education becomes one of the key areas, and working with students helps shape environmental awareness that extends beyond the university and supports resilience at the global level.

Aiman Seksenova, eco-consultant and Director of Eco Madeniet, spoke about Green Office standards and practical steps for their implementation. Aiman emphasized such elements as building energy efficiency, optimization of lighting and heating systems, reduction of single-use plastic, separate waste collection, and the development of a corporate sustainability culture. She highlighted that applying these standards allows companies to reduce their environmental footprint, create more comfortable working conditions for employees, and increase their level of social responsibility.

Afterwards, a Q&A session was held where participants received answers to their questions and practical advice on launching and developing a Green Office in their organizations.

GreenUrban experts Dalila Elzhanova and Abilai Utepbergenov shared analytics from the Smart Plastic Zone project and announced the opening of applications for the Green Office Award, of which the community has been a partner for the 3rd year. These initiatives provide companies with an opportunity to make themselves known at national and international levels, confirm their environmental responsibility, and gain recognition for implemented practices. Detailed information about applications and participation conditions can be obtained from the project manager.

Taking into account the strong interest in the speeches of industry experts, the Green Urban Association together with Coca-Cola Kazakhstan plans to hold a series of additional webinars dedicated to introducing sustainability practices in hotels and food service organizations, as well as transitioning to a circular economy.

For reference:

Smart Plastic Zone is an environmental project created to support organizations striving to reduce their plastic footprint, implement sustainable practices, and build a culture of environmental responsibility. In the face of global challenges — climate change, environmental pollution, and resource depletion — such initiatives help companies not only reduce their impact on nature but also strengthen their image as modern and responsible businesses.

We invite all organizations in Kazakhstan to join the project. Participation is free and open to organizations from any sector and region of Kazakhstan. More details — at www.smartplasticzone.kz and www.greenurban.kz.