The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia announced that new restrictions on plastic bottles will gradually come into force in Georgia.

According to the ministry, from July 1, 2026, public catering establishments will be prohibited from supplying beverages to consumers in plastic bottles. Later, from February 1, 2027, the production (except for export), import and placing on the market of beverages in plastic bottles will also be banned.

The decision was approved by the government through a resolution titled “On the Prohibition of the Production, Import and Placing on the Market of Certain Products Made of Plastic Intended for Contact with Food.”

The regulation provides several exceptions. The restrictions will not apply to:

• drinking water in containers of 3 liters or more;
• beverages in containers of 20 liters or more (both non-alcoholic and alcoholic, including soft drinks);
• drinking water produced for the needs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the Georgian Defense Forces.

The ministry says the measure aims to reduce plastic pollution. Plastic products, including those used for food and beverages, decompose over hundreds of years and accumulate in soil, rivers and seas, damaging ecosystems, sanitation systems and soil fertility, and ultimately harming biodiversity.

Studies conducted in the country showed that about 88% of waste found in rivers is plastic, and single-use plastic bottles make up about 41% of that pollution.

The government says the new regulation is intended to significantly reduce environmental damage caused by plastic waste.