Kyrgyzstan’s UpKel Turns Plastic Waste Into Design Objects

In Kyrgyzstan, UpKel is addressing limited recycling infrastructure by transforming plastic waste into accessories and home decor. Founder Chinara Sultanalieva launched the circular design project in 2019, inspired by waste management systems seen during a program in the United States.

The organization focuses on processing plastic bottle caps, accepting only clean, washed, and dried material, into sheets used for a variety of products. UpKel partners with the United Nations World Food Programme and local artisans, creating items both from their own designs and client requests.

Sultanalieva emphasizes the need for systematic waste management policies in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia, and for building a regional market for recycled materials. A key challenge remains material contamination, as a single dirty item can ruin an entire batch of recycled material, increasing costs for waste collectors. UpKel hopes to demonstrate the potential for a creative, sustainable economy built on responsible resource use.