While consumers around the world try to wait out coronavirus, the global household and personal products industry isn’t waiting. From multibillion-dollar multinationals to local indie brands, companies throughout our industry are converting production lines to produce hand sanitizers, donating to health organizations and, in some cases, even working on a vaccine.

“As an industry dedicated to safety, our industry takes very seriously the health and well-being of our employees, the families who use our products every day, and the communities worldwide where our member companies operate," observed Lezlee Westine, president and CEO, Personal Care Products Council. “Specifically, cosmetics companies are refitting their factories to increase the production and supply of hand sanitizer and other essential products to ease shortages nationwide and help combat COVID-19."

Westine noted that millions of units of essential products are being donated to hospitals, community clinics, medical and emergency professionals, first responders, and industry employees. Products will also be available to retail customers. Those who provide product to beauty industry businesses are relaxing or freezing payments so those businesses can maintain their operations.

“Our industry remains committed to playing our part to help mitigate the progression of COVID-19,” she concluded. 
 
Here’s a look at the latest household and personal products industry efforts to battle this pandemic. For previous stories, visit here.
 
Babor: The company’s Aachen, Germany facility is producing hand sanitizer and distributing it to those most in need, including police officers, nursing homes and medical facilities in the Aachen region. As a professional brand, Babor will also help this community who has been severely affected by COVID-19 through a few initiatives including online webinars and trainings for Babor partners; sending facial vouchers in e-commerce packages that consumers can redeem for a discount at one of our spa partners once they are back on business; and special financial arrangements for spa partners who qualify will be available.
 
Cirem: When the California-based skin care brand learned health care workers didn't have access to hand sanitizer, the company switched gears from producing luxury serums to now solely producing hand sanitizer for hospital staff.  Cirem also regularly donates self-care packages with basic, self-care essentials to domestic violence shelters across the US. 
 
Grande Cosmetics: Founder and CEO Alicia Grande made the commitment to donate 15% of sales to non-profit organization, Feeding America. With an original goal of $20,000, this initiative has been so well-received that the brand has now extended the effort through April with a revised goal to raise a minimum of $50,000. Customers will receive 15% off their order, no coupon necessary, with 15% of sales donated to Feeding America.
 
GSK: GlaxoSmithKline is first and foremost a pharmaceutical company, and its researchers have teamed with Clover Biopharmaceuticals to evaluate Clover’s protein-based coronavirus vaccine candidate, S-Trimer. According to GSK, Clover has one of the largest in-house, commercial-scale cGMP biomanufacturing capabilities in China. 
 
In other pharma news, GSK’s research team has made its vaccine adjuvant technology available to scientists and organizations working on candidate vaccines. An adjuvant is added to some vaccines to enhance the immune response, thereby creating stronger and longer lasting immunity against infections than the vaccine alone. According to GSK, the use of an adjuvant is particularly important during a pandemic situation, as it can reduce the amount of antigen required per dose, leading to more vaccine doses to be produced and made available to more people.
 
In other moves, GSK donated $10 million to The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, created by the UN Foundation and the World Health Organization, to support WHO and partners to prevent, detect and manage the pandemic, particularly where the needs are the greatest. Among the objectives, the fund will enable distribution of essential supplies such as personal protective equipment to frontline health workers.
 
GSK’s consumer healthcare business includes toothpaste and other over-the-counter products GSK is prioritizing actions in its supply chain to deliver more products that are in high demand due to COVID-19. These products include pain relief brands like Panadol, as well as dietary supplements like Emergen-C and Centrum.
 
 
Procter & Gamble: Millions of P&G products are being donated from 30 brands in more than 20 countries, with more on the way, according to the company. P&G is partnering with some of the world’s leading relief organizations, including the International Federation of the Red Cross, Americares and Direct Relief, and key regional organizations such as Feeding America, Matthew 25: Ministries, the China Youth Development Foundation, One Foundation, the Korea Disaster Relief Association and the United Way.
 
The company installed new lines to start production of hand sanitizer in five manufacturing sites around the world, using it to ensure employees can continue operating safely and sharing it with hospitals, health authorities and relief organizations. Manufacturing efforts will be expanded n the coming weeks and will have a capacity of at least 45,000 liters a week when fully operational.
 
Work is under way to produce critically needed face masks at nearly a dozen P&G manufacturing sites around the world. The site in China is up and running, and P&G has teams working to install capacity in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and will quickly begin production in the coming weeks. This is important for several reasons:
• It will increase the supply of masks for hospitals, first responders and other organizations by reducing market demand for production and industrial use;
• It helps create a safe working environment for P&G people; and
• Long term, it enables P&G to directly help many communities across the globe where there is unprecedented need for protective supplies. 

At the same time, around the world, P&G said it is evaluating how it can be of service to the communities who desperately need help. The company is working side-by-side with retail customers, suppliers, agency partners and government officials to do its part. 

“We’re using areas of P&G capability and know-how to develop and deliver solutions to protect those who are most vulnerable,” said P&G President and CEO David Taylor in a statement. “We’re funding startups with innovative ideas and partnering with established companies who have complementary capabilities. We’re also using our marketing and communications expertise to encourage consumers to support public health measures to help flatten the curve and slow the spread of the virus.”

 
RB: The world leader in cleaning products got into the coronavirus recovery early with a $5.5 million donation in cash and antibacterial products to China back in January. 
 
“We immediately mobilized our experts in China and beyond as soon as the outbreak was identified,” explained RB CEO Laxman Narasimhan. “In addition to the moral responsibility we feel, we also have an important functional role to play in enhancing personal disinfection through providing enhanced access to products which can break the chain of infection. Simple steps such as frequent hand washing will aid the many efforts the Chinese government is already putting in place to protect citizens across the region.”
 
 
SC Johnson: The company has committed millions to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. SCJ committed $5 million in products and cash to support urgent public needs and those on the front lines. The announcement builds on the $2 million the company has donated to date, including $1 million to the CDC Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund, and other donations to efforts around the world in China, Italy and the UK. 
 
“I am incredibly proud of all the people of SC Johnson who are committed to providing support to those around the world dealing with this crisis and experiencing its impact firsthand,” said Fisk Johnson, chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. “From medical professionals and first responders to school children, we hope this commitment will help provide some relief.”
 
SC Johnson is teaming with the CDC Foundation to deliver care packages for police, fire and medical personnel. The care packages, which will include cleaning and disinfectant products made by SC Johnson, will be delivered in an initial wave of 20,000 in conjunction with the CDC Foundation in areas across the US.
 
“We thank SC Johnson for this generous donation that will ensure those on the front lines of this health threat receive support,” said Judy Monroe, MD, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation. “It’s critical to have a broad spectrum of resources as this pandemic expands.” 
 
Additionally, SC Johnson is supporting critical health care needs across Europe, Asia and Latin America to help protect families against the spread of COVID-19 through cash and product donations, as well as educational programs. 
 
Locally, SC Johnson is providing resources to help mitigate the demand the outbreak is placing on community services in its hometown of Racine, WI. This donation will help support the local medical response to COVID-19, as well as provide meals, snacks and books to school children throughout the area. To help The Salvation Army Racine Food Pantry, Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization (HALO), Racine County Food Bank and Kingdom Manna Food Pantry, SC Johnson is donating $25,000 to each of these organizations enabling them to serve those in need. SCJ also made an initial donation of $200,000 to help support urgent public needs in the Racine area. 
 
“We have an incredibly committed team of people at SC Johnson who are working hard to help meet the needs of our communities as we navigate through this crisis,” said. “Racine’s first responders, medical personnel, schoolchildren and so many others are at the forefront of our thoughts and we hope this commitment to our home community will help provide some relief.”


Strivectin: The skin care maker is donating 2,000 hand creams to healthcare workers throughout the country. By donating to those on the front lines, Strivectin hopes to provide small comfort to those working around the clock to help stop the spread of COVID-19.