Temur Chkonia, founder of Coca-Cola Bottlers Georgia, says that recycling waste is far more profitable than banning plastic bottles. Speaking to BM.GE, Chkonia explained that the company began working on a waste recycling project immediately after the government announced the planned ban on the sale of beverages in plastic bottles.
He said the approach aligns with the global Coca-Cola vision of environmental protection while also offering an opportunity to develop a new, profitable industry in Georgia. “We are preparing for waste collection and recycling, which will create new income, new jobs, and new technologies. This is an incredibly profitable business worldwide,” Chkonia said.
Chknonia stressed that a plastic ban alone would not generate comparable economic or environmental benefits. In contrast, investing in waste processing and recycling can boost employment, increase state revenues, and support exports, while simultaneously protecting the environment.
“The announcement of the regulations prompted us to think more actively about this issue,” he added. “We realized that recycling is much more profitable than banning plastic - financially, environmentally, and socially. It allows us to create products, jobs, and technologies while cleaning nature, which is a win for everyone.”
