Unilever to produce and donate new hand sanitiser

Unilever Australia & New Zealand has announced it will be producing hand sanitiser to help meet national demand and assist in the fight against COVID-19.

The new 150 mL aerosol hand sanitiser will be produced in NSW by redirecting existing deodorant production facilities, marking the return of Lifebuoy’s local production to Australia.

In addition, to ensure Australians and New Zealanders in need have access to sanitsier, Unilever will donate 150,000 cans — valued at over $1 million — to Foodbank to manage distribution across Australia and New Zealand. The sanitiser will also be made available to the wider public and will hit shelves by the end of May in leading supermarkets.

“Unilever has a long history of contributing to personal hygiene in Australia and New Zealand and across the world — beginning with the creation of Sunlight soap by Lord Lever in the late 1880s,” said Nicky Sparshott, CEO. “We believe we have a social, medical and moral obligation to make hand hygiene readily available. That’s why we’re responding to government calls to action to increase supply of essential products by rapidly innovating and redirecting some of our Australian manufacturing.”

In addition to the $1 million donation of hand sanitiser, Unilever will also donate $1 million worth of essential homecare, personal care and food products to Foodbank to distribute across Australia, including its brands Comfort, Sunsilk, Love Beauty and Planet, Simple and Continental.

Unilever has also contributed funds to help Foodbank NSW & ACT with contingency staff costs, following volunteer number reductions as a result of social distancing measures.

“We are so grateful for this incredibly generous donation of much-sought-after sanitiser and other essential household items from Unilever,” said Brianna Casey, CEO of Foodbank Australia. “Foodbank has seen a 50% increase in demand for food and grocery relief due to job loss and small business closures across the country, and donations such as food, personal care and cleaning products are critical.”

Sparshott continued, “We know our brands can play a big role in bringing both hygiene and comfort to everyday life, particularly while we all spend more time than ever at home. Whether it be providing a nourishing meal for the family or keeping the home clean, Unilever is proud to play its part in helping Australian and New Zealand families stay safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Image: Unilever Australia & New Zealand