The planned ban on single-use plastic items in Georgia could increase delivery service costs by 5–10%, according to Shota Burjanadze, Vice President of the Georgian Restaurateurs’ Association. He noted that while the hospitality sector can adapt relatively easily, environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic are significantly more expensive, and the higher costs will ultimately be passed on to consumers.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture has held another round of consultations with businesses, this time with hypermarket chains and representatives of the hospitality sector. According to the ministry, the restriction on importing and using single-use plastic items, particularly those in contact with food, might take effect from January 2026. However, no agreement has yet been reached with the private sector on specific deadlines or the exact list of products to be banned.
Burjanadze explained that while replacing plastic in restaurants will only slightly increase prices, delivery services will be affected more noticeably. “Plastic is used worldwide because it is cheap, and people pay little attention to health. Replacing it with eco-friendly alternatives will raise costs, which will be reflected in prices. I think delivery services could become 5–10% more expensive for consumers,” he said. He added that manufacturers and exporters will face bigger challenges, as adapting production processes to the new standards will require more restructuring.
According to the ministry, Georgia consumes more than 612 million single-use plastic items annually, including cups, lids, containers, cutlery, plates, and stirrers, amounting to 4,000–6,000 tons of plastic. While the draft law would prohibit placing such items on the domestic market, it would not ban their production or export. Officials say the goal is to adopt enforceable regulations, but details on the scope of the restrictions are still under discussion.
