The article discusses the Tbilisi Circular Labs initiative, a program launched by the non-governmental organization CENN (Center for Environmental and Natural Resources Management) in collaboration with GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), to promote sustainable practices among businesses in Georgia.
The project’s main goal is to encourage entrepreneurs to adopt circular economy models that reduce waste and increase resource efficiency. To achieve this, the program provides funding, technical support, and guidance from international experts and entrepreneurs to local businesses.
A rigorous competition process was held to select three pilot projects: Fabrika, Campa, and Ezo Festival. These businesses presented innovative proposals for implementing reusable packaging systems that could significantly reduce waste in their operations.
The winners were chosen based on several criteria, including the sustainability of their proposed projects and their potential for scalability. The selected businesses will receive funding, technical assistance, and guidance from CENN and GIZ to help them implement their reuse systems.
The article highlights the success of these pilot projects and their potential to drive a broader shift toward circular economy practices in Georgia. It also notes that the lessons learned during the pilot phase will be shared with the broader community, creating an ecosystem where circular economy practices are embraced by more businesses.
Overall, the Tbilisi Circular Labs initiative aims to create a culture of sustainability among local businesses and promote the adoption of circular economy models that can reduce waste and increase resource efficiency.