Mineral water, fresh water, and juice producer Healthy Water has warned that the planned ban on selling beverages in plastic bottles could pose significant risks to local production. The company told BM.GE that it is conducting intensive internal consultations and is ready to engage in constructive discussions with authorities regarding the new regulation.
According to the company, a unified plastic management policy is important, but the proposed ban is problematic because no other country has implemented a similar measure. Long-term, multi-million-dollar investments have already been made in PET packaging, and enforcing a ban could cause substantial financial losses, potentially forcing companies to reduce production or even cease operations.
Healthy Water also highlighted that PET bottles account for less than 10% of the total waste stream, meaning the restriction would have limited environmental impact if applied only to the beverage sector. The company stressed that alternatives such as Tetra Pak or large-format bottles are not technologically feasible for certain products like carbonated drinks, making the ban unrealistic for both producers and consumers.
The regulation, set to take effect on February 1, 2027, would prohibit the sale of carbonated drinks, soft drinks, alcohol, and fresh water in plastic bottles smaller than 3 liters for water and 20 liters for soft drinks. If enacted, nearly all locally produced and imported beverages currently sold in plastic bottles would disappear from the Georgian market.
