KazNARU awarded with Gold Star of the leader in plastic collection within Smart Plastic Zone
Astana, June 16, 2025.
On the ceremony of Atameken NPP, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNARU) was awarded the GOLD sign from the Smart Plastic Zone project - for its outstanding contribution to reducing plastic footprint and promoting sustainable practices in education. The initiative implemented by Coca-Cola Kazakhstan, GreenUrban and GPI-Lab is becoming a landmark movement uniting companies, universities and communities across the country.
KazNARU became the first agrarian university to receive the SPZ Gold Star, demonstrating a systematic approach to environmental issues: separate waste collection, educational campaigns, and plastic recycling projects within the university space. KazNARU's participation is also accompanied by the launch of new student initiatives, introduction of sustainability courses and popularization of eco-education among regional universities.
Rafis Abazov, Director of the Institute of Green and Sustainable Development at KazNARU, commented on the award as follows:
"For us, sustainable development is not a fashionable trend, but a strategic priority. We are not just reducing the use of plastic - we are creating an ecosystem where every student and faculty member becomes an agent of environmental change. As Nelson Mandela said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world’ - and we are putting it into practice."
The awardees include leading hotel brands, food and beverage companies, educational institutions and commercial facilities. This once again emphasizes the versatility of SPZ's approach and the growing importance of the environmental agenda for various sectors of the economy.
The project does not just award marks of excellence - it stimulates the exchange of best practices and contributes to the formation of new corporate thinking. According to Maiya Suyunchaliyeva:
"Sustainable development is no longer a niche idea - it is a new business philosophy. And KazNARU has proved that even in the academic environment it is possible to implement large-scale environmental solutions".
The Smart Plastic Zone program continues to expand, covering new regions and attracting more and more participants, especially among the university students and teachers, united by the desire for environmentally responsible transformation of the country.
