Project Description:
The story of the dried-up Aral Sea spans decades of efforts to restore nature in what is now the Aralkum Desert. Each year, over 100 million tons of sand and salt are carried by dust storms across the region, degrading air quality in cities, increasing respiratory illnesses, damaging soil, and reducing agricultural productivity. 

Nestlé launched the project “Preserve the Nature of the Aral for Future Generations” to support reforestation efforts on the former seabed. By planting trees, the company helped stabilise the soil, prevent dune formation, and reduce the frequency of dust storms.

As part of a joint campaign with the supermarket chain Korzinka, a portion of proceeds from Nestlé product sales funded the planting of 10,000 trees in the Aralkum Desert. This initiative gave everyday shoppers a simple yet meaningful opportunity to contribute to a healthier planet and a more sustainable future.

At the close of the campaign, Nestlé employees, #AralForest project volunteers, and representatives from the International Innovation Center for the Aral Sea Region planted saxaul seedlings — a native, drought-resistant species. Six months later, 97% of the seedlings had successfully taken root. Nestlé became the second-largest contributor to the project, following the European Union, and received numerous letters of gratitude for its environmental leadership.

The company continues to care for the planted trees and is already planning to repeat the initiative — reaffirming its long-term commitment to ecological restoration and climate resilience.