The expansion of Georgia’s restrictions on single-use plastics is expected to increase operating costs for restaurants and takeaway businesses, as industry professionals state.
Shota Burjanadze, co-founder of the Restaurant Association of Georgia, warned that the new regulations will place additional financial pressure on food service providers, particularly those heavily reliant on takeaway and delivery services.
Georgia has been gradually tightening its plastic-use regulations. Since April 1, the import and sale of several single-use plastic items, including cups, plates, and cutlery, have been banned.
From July 1, the rules will further expand, prohibiting:
- Serving beverages in plastic bottles
- Delivering food in plastic containers
Businesses will be required to switch to alternative materials such as glass or aluminum packaging.
Burjanadze estimates that replacing plastic with more expensive materials will lead to price increases of 5% to 15%, depending on the business model and reliance on takeaway services.
He argues that Georgia should align with international standards rather than introducing stricter laws than those applied in many other countries. He also stated that the additional costs will ultimately be passed on to consumers.
The regulation will be enforced by multiple government bodies, including:
- National Food Agency of Georgia
- Environmental Supervision Department
- Revenue Service of Georgia
Under the enforcement framework, a first violation will result in a fine of 1,000 GEL along with confiscation of the production. Repeat violations will lead to doubled penalties.
