CIRCULAR ECONOMY: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

The ideas of the circular economy began to occupy the minds of the scientific, state and business spheres of Kazakhstan quite actively. Today one can observe both an increase in the number of scientific publications and ongoing projects, as well as the first measures to integrate the ideas of the circular economy into the plans of local government bodies. The most advanced in this respect is expected to be the city of Almaty, first of all, because in the largest metropolis of the country, where the intellectual potential is concentrated in the form of numerous universities and research institutes. Now we witness an increase in environmental problems, such as municipal waste recycling and polluted air.

It is noteworthy that the Akimat of Almaty has started the transition to the principles of circularity in cooperation with an international consortium, including such companies and organizations as "Circle Economy", the Center for Sustainable Production and Consumption (MCC), "FABRICations" and others. The result of this approach was a set of proposals for circular economy strategies that cover not only individual industries, such as construction, agriculture, reuse of metal, mineral resources, but also allow you to go beyond individual sectors and see a holistic picture of the flows of all the resources of the city.

Thus, with the activity observed in Kazakhstan of both state and public institutions and associations, whose mission is aimed at implementing the principles of circularity, there is a lack of its support business and citizens. This conclusion was confirmed by a survey conducted among representatives of industry, science and education, non-governmental and international organizations. The academic environment i.e scientists of universities and research institutes demonstrated relatively greater willingness to switch to the principles of circularity.

In conclusion, there is a high need for a further comprehensive approach to the development of the circular economy in our country. On the one hand, it is the improvement of such institutional factors as the development of the law "On the support of the circular economy", which provides stimulation of circular business, a radical restructuring of the state management of the economy and the development of appropriate infrastructure. On the other hand, it is necessary to develop the "circular behavior" of the population through the formation of values, promotion of the principles of the circular economy, raising awareness and environmental education. In this regard, it is obvious that research institutes, universities and secondary educational institutions can become a point of growth in this direction.

Press Service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University