Luxury products group LVMH, which owns high-end luxury labels such as Louis Vuitton and Fendi, will repurpose its perfume production lines as a reaction to the global pandemic and start producing hand sanitizer.
Based on records, this is in response to a shortage of hand sanitizers in France. LVMH reports that the company will use its perfume manufacturing lines and cosmetic labels to manufacture vast amounts of hydroalcoholic gels, which will be distributed to the French health authorities free of charge.
France has ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses and French President Emmanuel Macron told his constituents on Monday not to leave their residences for up to 15 days or face punishment.
In other parts of the globe, companies are stepping up efforts to support, in some cases by designing their own free sanitizing gels for those in need, despite panic buying and shortages of hand sanitizer over coronavirus fears.
Several U.S. distilleries and even perfume factories in France have confirmed that they are using their expertise and services as free tools to make batches of alcohol-based gels for those in their area.
According to BBC News, factories that usually manufacture makeup and perfume for brands like Christian Dior and Givenchy will begin producing hand sanitizers on Tuesday, and will do so for as long as possible.
According to Clayton, Georgia-based Moonrise Distillery, in a social media post announcing its recent shift to hand sanitizer, we are all "a group of huggers and hand- shakers and we want to do our part to maintain the warmth but in as safe a way as possible."
Moonrise Distillery, which usually makes vodka, brandy and bourbon, said it has developed a gin and aloe vera concoction for those in their group who are unable to avail of the sanitizer.
In nearby Atlanta, Old Fourth Distillery announced it turned out to be aloe vera gel bottles and 95 percent ethanol for local communities and healthcare professions, after initially offering free samples to the city, which was quickly drying up.
The first batch of LVMH sanitizers is already in production since Monday, as reported by Forbes, with the goal of producing 12 tons of hand sanitizers for this week.
LVMH will distribute the free hand sanitizers to French health authorities, particularly 39 public hospitals in Paris, and to the Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris Assistance, the largest hospital network in Europe.
Paris hospital chief Martine Hirsch told AFP he wanted to thank LVMH for "moving so fast," later adding that the bid was made at 9 p.m. on Saturday night and was later confirmed on Sunday.
Although Paris hospitals have not yet run out of gel, a spokeswoman for the Paris hospital system said stocks are "strained," adding that other businesses have also said they are ready to donate stocks.
