A Return Home That Sparked Greener Choices in Kazakhstan

When Dmitry and Yuliya Volkov left Kazakhstan for seasonal work in the United Kingdom, they saw it mainly as a short-term opportunity to earn additional income. At the time, the couple was running a small flower shop, so the plan was simple: work, save, and return. What they did not expect was that everyday life on UK farms would change what they wanted to build back in Kazakhstan.

“What stood out most while working abroad was how normal these habits were,” Yuliya recounts. “People brought their own cups as a matter of routine, sorted their waste without being asked, and businesses simply followed the same approach.”

While working on farms, the Volkovs saw eco-friendly practices woven into everyday life. Alongside earning an income, they learned to value resources, waste less, follow clear standards, and pay attention to the small details that make quality possible.  

“On the farm, you see how much effort goes into growing every berry and every leaf of lettuce. That teaches you not to waste anything. We apply this same principle in our business now,” Yuliya says. By the time they returned home, the couple knew they did not want to go back to business as usual. 

Upon returning to Kazakhstan, instead of continuing their flower shop business, the couple invested the savings they earned abroad into their new dream. They opened Green Cup, a warm and welcoming eco-friendly café in downtown Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital. For them, it was a chance to turn small, practical habits into something their community could experience every day.

Green Cup offers a warm, welcoming atmosphere where customers can savour the rich aromas of coffee together with a delicious array of pastries. The café’s mission is to inspire a greener, more eco-friendly way of living in Kazakhstan. By creating this space, the family wants to show that small businesses can play a vital role in preserving the environment while serving the community.

Places like Green Cup do exist in Astana, but there still aren’t many. For Dmitry and Yuliya, the café is a practical response to everyday problems they see around them – plastic waste, littered public spaces, limited waste sorting, and the heavy reliance on disposable products. They wanted the space to feel welcoming, not intimidating.  

“We believe in friendly education about eco habits, not moralizing,” the Volkovs say. “We want to show our customers that integrating eco-friendly habits can be easy and fun.” 

So, instead of big statements, they focused on everyday choices that customers could try for themselves. Green Cup sorts waste, uses recycled and biodegradable packaging, offers a 15 per cent discount to anyone who brings a reusable cup, avoids plastic lids, reuses boxes and containers, keeps printing to a minimum, and sources ingredients from local producers. Each step is simple on its own, but together they reduce waste and set a new norm.

“From the very beginning, we committed to using only biodegradable and recycled materials,” Yuliya explains. “We are working towards reaching a level where all waste generated by the café can be maximally recycled and repurposed.”

Green Cup’s mission is tied to social impact, particularly the empowerment of women. The café offers a supportive workplace with flexible schedules, respect for personal circumstances, and stable income opportunities. New staff are trained as baristas from the start and encouraged to build confidence, contribute ideas, and take on more responsibility over time.  

“We created an environment where women can grow without pressure or fear of making mistakes,” Yuliya says. For the Volkovs, sustainability is as much about people as it is about materials. 

To grow their initial investment, the couple took part in the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Green Grants Competition. Their idea was selected for a grant, which helped cover essential equipment for the café. Participants also received support from IOM to develop business plans and budgets, along with social media and marketing training to help them promote their businesses online.

Though still new, Green Cup is already drawing people who care about the choices they make. Dmitry and Yuliya plan to expand waste sorting, build new eco-partnerships, and host simple community events that make greener habits feel doable, proving that what they learned abroad can translate into real change at home.

To expand their initial investment, Dmitry and Yuliya participated in the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Green Grants Competition, launched under the “Safe Migration of Seasonal Workers from Central Asia to the UK” initiative, funded by UK International Development from the UK Government. Since 2024, this programme has supported seven returnees to develop small green businesses in their communities.

This story was written by Aliya Kozhakhmetova, Senior Project Assistant with IOM Kazakhstan.