The unprecedented demand for biocidal hand sanitizer products during the COVID-19 pandemic means suppliers are now facing significant challenges. Many companies are producing sanitizer and other essential supplies to fight against COVID-19, including Shell, ExxonMobil, Axalta, BASF, PPG, Johnson Matthey, Lanxess and many more.
Veolia (Paris; www.veolia.com) has responded to this need by using their own specialist laboratory facilities in Ellesmere Port, U.K. the company is now manufacturing its own sanitizer liquid to protect the workforce in the essential waste, energy and water operations.
Manufacturing the product are the Veolia team of qualified chemists normally used to sampling and cataloguing hazardous waste to ensure compliance with waste identification legislation and specifying the right recovery, recycling or treatment routes. The team has made over 500 L so far in two variants — one based on isopropanol, the other on ethanol.
The sanitizer is compliant with the latest the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) short term derogations from the requirements for product authorization, a mandatory requirement to ensure the safety of this type of biocidal product. It also follows recent World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
“As a company with key workers keeping waste, energy and water infrastructure operational we are also focused on keeping our dedicated teams safe. The new sanitizer, produced in our own labs, will mean we can ensure they will have the supplies they need to continue their critical roles supporting hospitals, electricity generation, waste collection, food production and the water industry,” said Richard Kirkman, Chief Technology & Innovation Officer from Veolia UK and Ireland.
The innovative laboratory teams responsible for this product work at Veolia’s High Temperature Incinerator HTI facility, one of the most technically advanced in Europe, and the largest of its type in the UK. The facilities are fully permitted and have gained ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS 18001 accreditation.