“Tegeta” has joined the greening campaign aimed at restoring the Rustavi riparian forest.

10,000 new saplings for the Rustavi riparian forest - “Tegeta Holding” and “Tegeta Green Planet” are supporting a large-scale greening initiative along both banks of the Mtkvari River in Rustavi. During the latest stage of the project, Tegeta employees also participated in the tree-planting process. In addition, representatives of “Tegeta Green Planet” spoke with volunteers about the importance of the circular economy and environmental awareness.

The project is being implemented through a joint initiative of the Rustavi City Hall and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and aims to restore and develop the Rustavi riparian forests. During the first phase, 10,000 endemic trees and plants will be planted. The project is financed by the Environmental Protection Fund.

The Rustavi riparian forests stretch along both banks of the Mtkvari River, between the old and new bridges, and represent one of the city’s most important ecological resources. In addition to restoring endemic flora, the project also includes the development of picnic and tourist infrastructure. Rustavi youth, athletes, actors, and representatives of various professions are actively involved in the initiative. As part of corporate social responsibility efforts, the private sector is also actively participating in the restoration and development of the forest.

Alongside the greening campaign, “Tegeta Holding” launched a “Green Challenge” for its employees. A “green space” was organized at the company’s headquarters where employees could collect and submit waste paper. Tegeta branches also joined the initiative, resulting in nearly one ton of paper being collected and sent to a partner recycling company, helping save 15 trees from being cut down. Within the framework of the initiative, the holding also identified and rewarded the most eco-friendly branch and department.

Mariam Japaridze, Corporate Social Responsibility Coordinator at “Tegeta Holding”:

“Environmental protection and raising public awareness are among the strategic pillars of Tegeta’s corporate sustainability efforts. We are pleased that tree planting has become part of a project that aims to bring new life to the Rustavi riparian forest. Tegeta has extensive experience supporting similar initiatives. It is especially important for us that Tegeta employees themselves participated in the project. We are proud to contribute both to the greening of Rustavi and the improvement of its ecosystem, as well as to strengthening an internal organizational culture focused on collecting and recycling paper waste.”

The Rustavi riparian area covers approximately 300 hectares along both banks of the Mtkvari River. The city’s development around the riverbanks was originally planned so that this territory would serve as a natural air filtration zone for Rustavi’s industrial area. In addition, around 140 species of birds inhabit the forest. This is why restoring the riparian forest is of particular importance for Rustavi. The project was implemented in partnership with Rustavi City Hall.

Shalva Akhvlediani, Director of “Tegeta Green Planet”:

“The activities of ‘Tegeta Green Planet’ are directly connected to environmental protection. The company’s mission is the management of specific waste streams, including recycling, recovery, and processing. Alongside recycling environmentally harmful waste, we actively support initiatives focused on greening, forest restoration, and ecosystem improvement. The Rustavi riparian forest once played a vital role in the life of the city, but the situation changed in the 1990s: the forest was cut down, biodiversity deteriorated, and the ecosystem was damaged. At ‘Tegeta Green Planet,’ we fully understand our responsibility in helping restore this area to its original condition. We hope that such an important and large-scale project will continue in the future.”

The greening campaign and Green Challenge were dedicated to Earth Day, which has been celebrated worldwide annually since 1970. This year’s slogan was “Our Power, Our Planet,” emphasizing the importance of every individual’s contribution to environmental protection.

“Tegeta Holding” and “Tegeta Green Planet” have been participating in the restoration of the Rustavi riparian forest for the third consecutive year. In previous years, volunteers planted 3,000 saplings, while this year the scale of the initiative expanded significantly.

As for the “Green Challenge,” the project has already become a tradition within Tegeta and has been held for the third year in a row. Every year, hundreds of Tegeta employees participate, and more than 3 tons of waste paper have already been collected in total. In exchange for supplying waste paper to partner recycling organizations, the company receives books, which are then donated to rural libraries for children.

Environmental protection is one of the strategic directions of “Tegeta Holding’s” corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy and is planned in accordance with sustainable development principles.

“Tegeta” actively works on sustainable transport solutions to achieve zero emissions, efficient waste management, and increased environmental awareness. Together with “Tegeta Green Planet,” an Extended Producer Responsibility organization, the company collects thousands of tons of automotive waste every year - including used tires, batteries, and oils - which are recycled in compliance with technical regulations. Tegeta is also expanding its electric vehicle charging network, while part of its fleet consists of fully electric and hybrid vehicles. Internal business processes, including warehouse logistics and transportation, are managed using eco-friendly transport solutions. Infrastructure projects also include the installation of solar panels and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Additionally, Tegeta continuously works to encourage customer and employee involvement in environmental projects. These initiatives include campaigns such as “Don’t Throw It Away - Recycle It,” the collection of hundreds of tons of specific waste from customers, the placement of dozens of green collection boxes for paper and plastic waste at Tegeta service centers and branches, cleaning and greening campaigns, youth education initiatives, and more.