CENN has been at the forefront of Georgia’s push toward sustainability, focusing on educating and equipping businesses with the tools necessary for a circular economy transition. In a series of comprehensive training sessions in partnership with waste management and green economy experts, businesses operating in specifc sectors were provided with critical knowledge about circular economy and waste management including EPR principles. These sessions represent a significant move towards reducing plastic waste, fostering resource efficiency, and aligning Georgia with global sustainability standards.
The training series was part of a broader initiative supported by the UNDP and Norway to facilitate Georgia’s transition to a more sustainable economy through circularity and resource efficiency. By bringing together stakeholders from various sectors, including hospitality, retail, packaging and production, CENN sought to help businesses understand the key concepts of circularity, EPR, and sustainable production methods, empowering them to take actionable steps toward reducing their environmental impact.
Strengthening Knowledge on Waste Management Policy
The training centered on the intricate details of waste management policies and practices, with a focus on the growing issue of plastic waste in Georgia. National and international experts led sessions, providing a comprehensive overview of Georgia’s and Europe’s waste regulation landscape, circular business models and specific tools to help businesses transition to circularity.
A key takeaway was how businesses in Georgia must not only comply with existing legislation but actively participate in reducing waste. This shift toward circular economy models can help businesses manage waste more effectively and profitably while reducing their environmental impact.
Nikora Holding’s Quality Manager, Nino Lepsaia, shared her perspective on the program’s importance, especially in light of Georgia’s challenges with waste management. She noted that their company has been focused on finding ways to reduce and recycle waste for some time but faced difficulties due to the lack of clear legislative guidance. „CENN has helped us optimize these processes through the training,“ Lepsaia said. „While there is demand for sustainable solutions, there have been few clear approaches proposed by the state. CENN’s guidance is precisely what businesses need to navigate these challenges.“
Introducing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Participants, particularly producers, also gained an in-depth understanding of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)—a principle that places the onus of product waste management on the producers themselves. The concept of EPR is becoming a key part of waste management frameworks globally and is now being explored in Georgia as a solution to the growing plastic pollution crisis.
Anano Rukhadze, from the Packaging Materials Association, highlighted the role of the packaging sector in the transition, noting that the association unites companies in Georgia that manufacture packaging and recycle it. She emphasized the importance of these trainings in raising awareness among businesses and helping them consider waste recycling more seriously, especially in packaging, where many companies are still grappling with waste management challenges.
The training included a session on the operational aspects of EPR systems, from monitoring and reporting requirements to the establishment of EPR organizations. By adopting EPR, businesses will be responsible for ensuring that the products they introduce to the market are recycled or properly disposed of at the end of their life cycle. This approach is particularly relevant as Georgia’s government moves toward creating a more structured framework for managing packaging waste.
Circular Economy Models
All trainings expanded the conversation by introducing circular economy principles in specific sectors, for example, demonstrating opportunities for retail businesses to deplastify and demonstrating for packaging users and producers how to introduce “take back” models. Circularity is grounded in the idea of minimizing waste and maximizing resource-efficiency through, among others, reuse, remanufacture, recycle processes. Circular business models offer substantial economic benefits, such as cost savings and new revenue streams from recovering materials, all while contributing to environmental sustainability.
The Economic Case for Sustainable Business Practices
A key part of the trainings was dedicated to discussing the economic advantages of transitioning to circular economy models. Businesses adopting circular principles not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also secure long-term economic growth. There is a growing global demand for sustainable products and the emerging risks climate change poses to traditional business models.
Businesses in Georgia are now in a unique position to reduce costs, mitigate risks, and meet evolving market demands for sustainability through circular economy practices.
Concluding with Practical Strategies for Circular Transformation
Sessions also equipped participants with practical tools to implement circular economy principles within their operations. Business leaders worked on developing action plans to reduce plastic waste and integrate resource-efficient production methods. The goal was to translate theoretical knowledge into practical steps that could lead to measurable changes in operations.
As the trainings concluded, participants were encouraged to reflect on how they could apply the concepts of EPR, circularity, and sustainable development to their business models. Discussions highlighted the steps needed to create a more sustainable future, motivating businesses to continue refining their strategies as they embark on their journey toward circularity.
Shaping Georgia’s Circular Future
CENN’s training sessions have played a pivotal role in preparing Georgian businesses for the transition to a circular economy. As Georgia continues to grapple with plastic waste and other environmental challenges, these efforts are setting the foundation for long-term sustainable business practices. The lessons imparted through these sessions are expected to have a lasting impact on Georgia’s waste management systems and business landscape.
With the backing of international organizations like the UNDP and Norway, CENN’s initiatives are helping Georgian businesses understand the economic, regulatory, and environmental advantages of circular economy models. As Georgia moves toward aligning with European sustainability standards, businesses are better equipped to meet local regulatory requirements and become leaders in the global marketplace, which increasingly prioritizes sustainability.
