QBL PET Line 3: New investment drives cleaner production

Speaking at the official launch of Quality Beverages Limited’s (QBL) new PET 3 Production Line today in Belle-Rose, the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mr Rajesh Anand Bhagwan, stressed the need to align industrial growth with environmental responsibility.

The Minister of Industry, SME and Cooperatives, Mr Sayed Muhammad Aadil Ameer Meea; and QBL’s Managing Director, Mr Inigo de Prado, also addressed the event.

Representing an investment of more than Rs 330 million, the new PET 3 Production Line will triple QBL’s PET production capacity while introducing more efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes.

Minister Bhagwan spoke of the environmental benefits of the investment, noting that the new line is expected to reduce electricity consumption per bottle by 56 per cent and save approximately 80,000 litres of water annually. The facility will also reduce chemical use through an advanced Clean-In-Place system, while laser coding will eliminate the need for ink.

The Minister also outlined Government initiatives to strengthen PET collection and recycling, including the development of an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework and a Deposit Refund System. He referred to the Rs 2 excise duty on packaging for non-essential products, intended to encourage more environmentally friendly alternatives and generate funds to support collection and recycling programmes.

Approximately 168 million PET beverage bottles were placed on the Mauritian market in 2025, while the national collection rate stood at around 25 per cent, he noted. Government is targeting a collection rate of at least 80 per cent by 2035, and the Minister called on QBL to contribute to this objective, given its extensive distribution network and operational expertise.

For his part, Minister Ameer Meea spoke of QBL’s growth since its establishment in 1955, with the company now comprising more than 40 brands and employing over 800 people. According to him, the investment is in line with Government’s Industry Reset, which focuses on technological modernisation, productivity, skills development, innovation and improved access to regional and international markets.

QBL’s Managing Director indicated that the automated line will improve production efficiency, with robotics reducing repetitive manual handling. The company, he pointed out, is also increasing its use of recycled plastic, with flexible packaging currently containing 37 per cent recycled plastic. He further referred to the company’s partnership with Eco Moris Sustainable Solutions for the collection and recycling of plastic waste, with recycled PET subsequently reintroduced into production.

28 September 2026

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Topics: Environment, Industry