Meeting Held with Plastic Bag Manufacturers to Discuss Regulation Measures

A working meeting at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture brought together plastic bag manufacturers to discuss reducing plastic bag use, adopting environmentally friendly alternatives, supporting the business sector, and the implementation timelines for regulations.
 

"The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture actively works to implement a systemic reform in waste management. Our top priority is to minimize environmental pollution caused by plastic. Unfortunately, at this stage, our citizens still use a large number of plastic bags, which remain one of the significant sources of pollution.

During the meeting, we agreed to continue structured collaboration with manufacturers to minimize the environmental impact of plastic bags and advance sustainable alternatives,’’ stated Mrs. Tandilashvili.


Manufacturers emphasized the importance of implementing regulations gradually and in close coordination with the government.



"It is crucial to maintain cooperation with the Ministry so that we can form a mutually agreed position—ensuring that neither companies are harmed, nor state interests are compromised,” said Mr. Elguja Gonashvili, Director of the company "Georgian Polymer."


It is worth mentioning that, in 2018, the state adopted a technical regulation aimed at reducing the use of plastic bags. This regulation banned the production, import, and sale of plastic bags with a thickness of less than 50 microns and dimensions of 45 x 100 cm. Only biodegradable or compostable bags are permitted. Laboratory and regulatory agency capacities have been enhanced, and manufacturing facilities have undergone technical modernization.

 

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture holds regular meetings with representatives from various sectors to discuss ways to reduce plastic consumption.