Morshynska
10/2026: For more than two decades, Vetropack and Morshynska, the leading brand of Ukraine’s largest mineral water and soft drink manufacturer, IDS Ukraine, have been united by a common goal: to safeguard the natural properties of mineral water on its way to the consumer. During this time, the glass bottle has seen a development from classic green glass to a contemporary transparent design. The cooperation between the two companies goes far beyond packaging, uniting design and precision with reliability, flexibility and continuity of supply.
In Western Ukraine, nestled in woodland and gentle hills at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, lies the town of Morshyn, known for its natural springs. Seeping through various layers of rock, the water is naturally cleaned and obtains its characteristic mineral content. And so a unique mineral water is born, ideal for daily consumption due to its low level of mineralisation and mild flavour. Since 2017, Morshynska has been on the European ‘List of Natural Mineral Waters’ is and allowed to be sold as ‘Natural Mineral Water’ in the European Union.
The water’s natural origin determines the central production principle: preserving what nature has created. Morshynska is obtained from the catchments of 27 springs. These specially constructed facilities protect the water as soon as it reaches the surface. Nothing is pumped from the depths; only the amount of water that the springs deliver naturally is taken. In addition, the area around the springs is under rigorous protection to keep the water pure.
From there, the water flows through a system of pipes to the ‘Oscar’ mineral water plant. The whole journey from spring to bottle takes only seven minutes. During this time, the water is simply mechanically filtered to remove fine natural impurities. Its mineral composition and pH value remain unchanged; there is no chemical treatment.
‘Nature itself has given Morshynska mineral water its outstanding flavour and valuable properties. Our task is to preserve this quality unchanged for consumers. This is why every step matters to us – from protecting the springs to our filling technology and choice of packaging,’ explains Volodymyr Lukyanov, Director of Water Resources and Production Development at IDS Ukraine. This principle also applies to the production technologies we use. The dry aseptic process allows sterile filling with no need for heating or preservatives. At the same time, automated processes and the use of HEPA filters minimise the need for human influence. Every month, the in-house production and analysis laboratory performs around 7,500 physicochemical and more than 18,000 microbiological tests on water and beverages.
But the protection of a natural product does not end with collecting, checking and filling. Just as important is choosing the packaging in which the product will continue its journey to the consumer. Glass was the obvious choice for Morshynska’s premium line, because only glass fulfils the strict requirements for product protection, purity and premium quality.
A transparent shape for natural water
Morshynska’s and Vetropack’s approaches converge especially when it comes to how they regard the product. The companies began working together more than 20 years ago. In the beginning, Vetropack supplied green glass bottles whose colour underlined the natural character of the water. But in 2017, the Vetropack team faced a new challenge: to create a contemporary, visually light bottle that does not distract from the contents, but rather allows the water itself to be the central design element.
And that is how the development of the new 0.5-litre bottle began. Early prototypes already aimed to bring together two worlds: the naturalness of the product and the precision of industrial glass production. The design idea had to be translated into a shape that would impress on the dining table while also meeting the requirements of industrial series production. Transparency was at the core of the concept. The raindrop-shaped silhouette is a nod to the water itself. The bottle’s elongated neck flows harmoniously into the body; clean lines provide lightness, while the clear glass and understated label ensure that the focus remains firmly on the content.
But behind this apparent simplicity lies a challenging technical task. The Vetropack specialists had to implement the design idea in glass form, maintaining both the proportions and the character of the shape. At the same time, it was important to ensure geometric precision, stability and consistent quality, as is essential for industrial production. And that is how we got from a drawing to a production-ready packaging solution.
«The glass bottle for Morshynska is much more than functional packaging. In particular for consumers in the HoReCa segment, who appreciate both the quality of the water and the aesthetic of its presentation, the glass bottle is a fundamental part of product perception. It was important to us to create a contemporary shape that underlines the brand’s naturalness and premium positioning.»
Today, Vetropack produces glass bottles for Morshynska in three sizes: 0.33 l, 0.5 l and 0.75 l. Glass remains the premium packaging for the brand and is used above all in the HoReCa segment (HOtels, REstaurants and CAfés). At the same time, overall consumer interest is growing. In 2025, sales of Morshynska in glass bottles increased by 10 percent compared to the previous year. 67 percent of glass sales were of still water; the other 33 percent sparkling.
But glass wasn’t simply chosen for aesthetic reasons. It is an inert material that does not react with its contents. In a glass bottle, water can be stored for up to two years with no loss of quality or flavour. Therefore, the chemical neutrality of the material aligns completely with the central principle of Morshynska: to protect the flavour and composition of the water unchanged, from natural spring to consumer. Therefore, the story of this bottle does not end with its design. It continues in the meticulous daily work of specialists at both companies.
A partnership over decades
For IDS Ukraine, which holds over 40 percent of the Ukrainian bottled water market – with Morshynska accounting for nearly 30 percent of that – production capacity is a critical metric. The packaging must not only satisfy market requirements, but also function reliably on the filling lines and be available in the correct quantity at the right time.
Here, quality begins with precision. Vetropack checks the basic parameters of the glass packaging, including geometry, wall thickness, stability and absence of defects. In the ‘Oscar’ plant, the bottles undergo an additional incoming goods inspection. Even minor deviations can be critical for automated production lines. The consistent quality of each delivery therefore has a direct influence on continuity of production.
The second decisive factor is time. The demand for water is subject to seasonal fluctuation, and therefore the need for glass packaging changes, too. Vetropack is able to reliably provide the necessary quantities, adjusting delivery plans at short notice. This allows IDS Ukraine to be flexible in their production planning and react quickly to market requirements.
Since February 2022, quality and flexibility have been joined by a further consideration: logistical resilience. In spite of disrupted supply chains, Vetropack’s local glass production allowed IDS to ensure continued production of its premium products.
‘During more than 20 years, Vetropack has become a partner we can always rely on. For a company of our size, it’s not just quality that counts, but also respecting deadlines, remaining flexible and being able to react quickly to changes. Especially in recent years, it’s become clear how important a stable supply is for a company’s resilience,’ says Volodymyr Lukyanov.
But the most important thing is shared values. Both companies work with materials whose unique properties were created by nature itself. In both cases, technological excellence does not mean adding as much as possible, but preserving what is already there, making it visible and developing it further.
This approach forms the basis for responsible handling of products, careful use of natural resources, modern and transparent production processes, commitment to sustainable development, mutual support and unlimited trust.
The cooperation between Morshynska and Vetropack began with a green glass bottle. Much has happened since then. Packaging design, formats, production volume and requirements have been transformed. But what remains unchanged is premium quality, reliability of supply and above all a unique natural flavour in a flawless transparent form.
