UNDP implements targeted guide to promote single-use plastic alternatives

Georgia: A targeted guide, “A Guide to Sustainable Alternatives to Single-Use Plastics,” has been created to promote the transition to single-use plastic alternatives.

“A Guide to Sustainable Alternatives to Single-Use Plastics” is a framework document that outlines different activities to reduce and eliminate single-use plastics. The guide considers adopting EU directives in this direction, promoting business transitioning to alternatives, implementing broader obligations for manufacturers, and raising public awareness.

Solomon Pavliashvili, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, attended the guide’s presentation.

The guide created within the framework was presented at the meeting, the project results were summarized, and the activities were discussed afterward.

The project “Promoting the transition to financially and environmentally acceptable alternatives to single-use plastics” is being supported by the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia and is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Caucasus Regional Center for Environment (REC Caucasus).

“Reducing and removing single-use plastics is one of the components of the green economy.” Green transformation is a very complex and comprehensive knowledge; it includes using renewable energies, water management, combating deforestation, waste management, energy efficiency, and many other issues. Georgia has improved results in all these aspects; we continue to harmonize our legal base with EU legislation. Of course, there are difficulties in the implementation part; however, the Ministry, as a policy maker, is making great efforts in this direction,” – said Solomon Pavliashvili.

At the meeting, it was noted that the country’s strategic goal is to get closer to EU standards in the direction of a green economy and to complete existing regulations. According to UNDP’s Democratic Governance Head, Gigi Bregadze, implementing the activities mentioned in the guide will be a step forward towards Eurointegration.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Caucasus Regional Center for Environment (REC Caucasus) organized the meeting, supported by the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture and the Norwegian Embassy.