GSD Malta
The General Soft Drinks Co. Ltd (GSD) is Malta’s sole bottling partner for The Coca-Cola Company and a leading beverage producer and distributor across the Maltese Islands. Operating from its production and logistics hub in Marsa, GSD oversees the manufacturing, bottling, warehousing, and national distribution of a diverse beverage portfolio, supplying the retail, HoReCa, and vending sectors with soft drinks, water, juices, energy drinks, and ready-to-drink beverages.
In addition to Coca-Cola brands, GSD distributes beverages from international partners including Monster Energy, Royal Swinkels, AB-InBev, Carlsberg, Heineken, Caffè Mauro, and Llanllyr Source. With this extensive reach, GSD recognises its responsibility to manage environmental and social impacts not only within its own operations, but across the wider beverage value chain.
Sustainability is embedded within GSD’s long-term corporate strategy and governance. In 2024, the company refreshed its Mission, Vision, and Values to reflect its ambition to create meaningful experiences for employees, partners, shareholders, and communities, while actively contributing to a healthier planet for future generations.
That same year, GSD voluntarily published its first Sustainability Report in line with GRI standards, with selected key performance indicators independently assured by PwC. Senior management oversight ensures that environmental stewardship, responsible resource use, and community wellbeing remain integrated across decision-making and operational processes.
GSD’s sustainability priorities focus on:
GSD’s upstream sustainability efforts focus on reducing the environmental footprint of inputs, packaging materials, and supplier-related impacts.
The LED project was partly supported by an E-Energy grant and required careful coordination within an active production environment. Based on Malta’s 2024 grid emission factor of 389 g CO₂e per kWh, the project delivers an indicative reduction of approximately 21–25 tonnes of CO₂e per year. Also, regarding the solar pv installation, and based on Malta’s 2024 grid emission factor of approximately 389 g CO₂e per kWh, this corresponds to an estimated reduction of around 1,130 tonnes of CO₂e per year.
The company actively supports Malta’s circular packaging system through its role as a founding member of the Malta Beverage Producers Association and participation in the Beverage Container Refund Scheme (BCRS). The scheme has exceeded national collection and recycling targets for PET, cans, and glass, strengthening circular input markets and reducing demand for virgin materials.
Packaging optimisation initiatives, combined with increased recycling rates, reduce upstream material intensity and associated emissions. GSD also works closely with international brand partners to align packaging standards, sustainability criteria, and responsible sourcing expectations across the supply chain.
GSD’s sustainability initiatives extend beyond its own operations to influence customers, consumers, and communities.
Between 2024 and 2026, GSD is replacing 752 market coolers with energy-efficient models that:
These investments improve sustainability performance throughout the distribution and consumption stages of the value chain.
GSD also supports water resilience at community level through long-standing initiatives such as the Alter Aqua programme, funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation, which promotes rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse across Malta and Gozo.
GSD Malta demonstrates how targeted sustainability investments can generate measurable environmental benefits while strengthening operational resilience and value-chain performance. By addressing upstream packaging impacts, internal energy and water efficiency, and downstream customer and community outcomes, GSD is embedding sustainability across the full beverage lifecycle.
Through continued investment, transparent reporting, and collaboration with partners and stakeholders, GSD aims to reinforce its position as a national leader in sustainable beverage production and as a proactive contributor to a more circular and climate-resilient value chain.
