Presentations, interactive workshops, games, team competitions, and debates on environmental issues – the winter camp of the Academy of Words, organized with the support of Tegeta Green Planet, welcomed young participants in Kakheti. For one week, teenagers aged 9 to 17 completely disconnected from social media and came together to develop healthy human relationships, creative thinking, and build a responsible, sustainable future.

Shalva Akhvlediani, director of Tegeta Green Planet: "The main goal of our involvement was to raise environmental awareness among young people – the generation that is creating the future. In the long term, this is a necessary segment for business: we live in this environment with our children, families, and friends. If young people do not know how to handle waste properly from an early age, they may unintentionally harm themselves, the environment, and other people. But when they understand from the very beginning that waste can be turned into business opportunities, it shapes a new, responsible mindset. And this, in turn, is an important prerequisite for real change." 

The camp program covered a variety of topics, including literature, philosophy, music, history, cinema, art, and environment. Every day, camp participants were visited by representatives from the relevant areas.Speakers included Alexander Lortkipanidze, Gia Murgulia, Giorgi Kekelidze, Maia Baratashvili, Gigi Dedalamazishvili, and Tamar Dolidze, Head of Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Protection at Tegeta Holding. 

Tamar Dolidze, Head of the Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection Department at Tegeta Holding: "The children's level of knowledge turned out to be quite high – they answered questions about environmental protection logically, including vehicle emissions, waste oil spills, and waste separation. I believe that representatives of the private sector should actively participate in such awareness-raising events to help foster a kind of environmental culture and ensure that future generations understand from an early age that environmental protection and economic development are not mutually exclusive." 

With the support of Tegeta Green Planet, camp participants discussed important issues such as the essence of extended producer responsibility, the principles of the circular economy, and technologies for the proper management of automotive waste, including tires, batteries, and oils. As a result of debates and discussions, the young people came to the conclusion that caring for the environment and social responsibility do not preclude economic benefits; on the contrary, they complement each other and together create sustainable, long-term success. After lively discussions, the camp participants concluded that the circular economy model not only reduces the burden on the environment, but also creates new sources of income, reduces the cost of purchasing raw materials, and enhances the company's reputation in the market.

Andria Kikonishvili, Director of the Academy of Word: "This involvement of companies in educational initiatives allows us to make the period of personal growth of the next generation more diverse, qualitative, and productive. The support of Tegata Green Planet and active participation in the process made the camp more meaningful and interesting. We were very pleased to hear that several young people expressed a desire to hold similar presentations in their schools. This desire clearly demonstrates that business participation and similar dialogues awaken a desire for change and contribute to young people's interest in becoming participants in environmental protection activities themselves."

As an authorized extended producer responsibility organization, Tegeta Green Planet has been working for many years on the sustainable management of automotive waste, the introduction of modern recycling technologies, and the development of a circular economy in Georgia. By supporting the winter camp and communicating directly with young people, the company once again confirms that active participation of business in environmental issues is not only a social responsibility, but also a strategic investment in a cleaner and more sustainable future.

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Tegeta Green Planet is an organization that is part of Tegeta Holding. The company has been operating since 2022. It was one of the first in Georgia to receive authorization from the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture to recycle used tires, oils, and batteries under extended producer responsibility. In the first stage, the organization collects, transports, and recycles these types of specific waste in accordance with rules and regulations, and then manages them in accordance with the principles of the circular economy.