The first 10 participants of Smart Plastic Zone received their badges

The first 10 participants of Smart Plastic Zone received their badges

The project’s pilot cities for 2025 are Astana, Almaty and Karaganda.

A new project, Smart Plastic Zone, has been launched in Kazakhstan, aimed at promoting responsible handling of plastic and supporting the principles of sustainable development. The project is being implemented with the support of Coca-Cola and the GreenUrban Association, and its main executor is GPI-Lab LLP.

Project goals and objectives

The project is designed to help businesses and the population of Kazakhstan understand the importance of switching to sustainable methods of handling plastic and adhering to the principles of environmental, social and corporate responsibility (ESG). This means that each participant, whether a company or an individual, contributes to reducing plastic waste and supporting an environmentally friendly future.

Nominations and participation in the project

Entrepreneurs and businesses can apply to participate in the project and qualify for one of two nominations:

• Smart Plastic Zone (Silver) – for those who have already taken steps towards sustainable use of plastic.
• Smart Plastic Zone (Gold) – for leaders in environmental responsibility who actively implement environmental practices in their activities.

The participation process involves submitting an application via the website www.GPI.KZ or www.GreenUrban.kz, attaching supporting documents and on-site verification. Applicants who successfully pass the verification receive the “Smart Plastic Zone” sign, which will become a distinction for the most responsible and environmentally oriented businesses.

As noted by the Chairperson of the GreenUrban Association Council, Yulia Yakupbaeva,

“The project will not only encourage responsible businesses that reduce their plastic footprint, but also collect analytics on the alternative materials and practices used, as well as barriers to plastic recycling in our country. Using our partner network, we are also ready to conduct webinars for businesses on this issue. All for free.”

The pilot cities of the project for 2025 are Astana, Almaty and Karaganda. After the successful completion of the pilot stage, it is possible to scale the project to the whole of Kazakhstan. This will create an ecosystem of businesses focused on reducing the plastic footprint and compliance with environmental standards, which is important for the future of the country.

«We are actively working on a number of initiatives to reduce the impact of plastic on the environment. For example, we reduce the weight and thickness of packaging, finance clean-ups and public education projects, open waste collection points, support collectors and recyclers. Our Smart Plastic Zone project will have additional incentives for companies to make the planet cleaner, in this regard, we welcome all companies that have already joined and want to join this initiative.”-notedAlexandra Akkirman, Director of Government Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, The Coca-Cola Company in the Central Asia and Caucasus region

The Smart Plastic Zone project is a step towards creating a sustainable future for Kazakhstan, and everyone can be a part of it. Join us and make your contribution to preserving the planet!