ANALYSIS 17


Re-building in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic


n Richard Scott Editor, Personal Care


The COVID-19 pandemic has completely dominated all aspects of global economies throughout 2020 and forced the cancellation or postponement of the majority of exhibitions and conferences. At the time of writing, some European countries are starting to emerge from lockdown but still far from a state of normality, so it remains to be seen how our industry begins to recover, but what is clear is that we have seen some incredible examples of ingenuity and selflessness from many personal care companies. From the onset of the pandemic, people


realised hand hygiene was key to limiting the spread of the virus. Quickly, many companies transformed their laboratories into hand sanitiser factories to maintain supply of this critical product to key workers.


How has the ingredient sector responded? We have heard from Dani Loughran of Aston Chemicals in the UK: “We have given all of our N-95 face masks from lab/warehouse to our local GP surgery and community midwives, and rung around other local businesses who have also donated disposable goggles. We’ve also asked all of our Chinese suppliers if they can source any more face masks which we can ship to the UK for our local NHS services. We are also making as much hand sanitiser gel as we can for friends in the NHS.” Basildon Chemicals, also based in the


UK, have been assisting their local community with access to sanitiser: “Our fantastic chemists have developed a hand sanitiser that we can manufacture here in Abingdon. We’re very hopeful that we will soon be able to give this to our staff, their families and key workers and vulnerable people in our local community.” Gelest has announced that it is ramping


up the production of its Biosafe Antimicrobials to meet surging demand. Biosafe Antimicrobials are found in a wide range of EPA-approved applications, among them: Certainty SmartBoost


June 2020


Laundry Additive for healthcare uniforms, NWA Quat Keeper Foodservice Towels for restaurants and cafeterias, and King Microshield for medical equipment and facilities. Jeen International developed a hand


sanitiser based on BP-BotaniDew NMF from BotanicalsPlus, as well as Jeen’s Jeethix T (INCI: Sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer) and Jeechem GL-26 (INCI: Glycereth-26). With high levels of alcohol in hand sanitisers (60% or 70% for reliable efficacy) this presents a formulation challenge, and few thickeners will work in these conditions. Jeethix T is particularly effective in thickening these types of formulations; thickening while retaining a good skin-feel and low stickiness. Jeethix T is a unique sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer which requires no neutralisation and swells quickly in water to provide outstanding thickening across a wide pH range. Repeated hand-washing strips the skin


of important components such as the Natural Moisturising Factor (NMF). Inclusion of BP-BotaniDew NMF, which contains Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon) Fruit Extract and Chenopodium quinoa Extract, ensures the skin is protected and retains moisture. We have also heard from Elijah Stone,


business development at Kumar Organic Products in New Jersey, who informed us: “As a manufacturer and supplier of raw ingredients that can go into a wide range of personal care products , we are working to ensure that companies can continue producing such products. We realise the importance of personal care products, especially the ones that help keep people clean! In particular, our anti-bacterial ingredients have been in high demand recently due to the Coronavirus. “We are doing our best to shell out


massive amounts of our antibacterial ingredients that go into soaps and hand sanitisers. Our customers are eager to produce in this difficult time and we are eager to provide. We hope that our efforts


PERSONAL CARE EUROPE


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