Schütz participates in the "Helping Hands" initiative by BASF

Special preventive measures during manufacturing – thus, the IBCs meet the latest safety requirements for packaging sensitive hygiene products. (Photo: SCHÜTZ)

The COVID-19 pandemic requires the highest hygiene measures – especially in hospitals, medical practices, and nursing homes. Around the globe, disinfectants have become scarce but are urgently needed. With the initiative "Helping Hands," BASF is quickly bridging supply gaps: the company supplies hospitals in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region free of charge with hand disinfectant. Schütz welcomes and supports this exemplary initiative of its long-standing customer and is now delivering every second IBC for this project free of charge.

For the temporary production at BASF's headquarters in Ludwigshafen, all legal and technical prerequisites had to be established first – after all, hand disinfectant was not previously part of the product range. However, the company has the relevant know-how and some raw materials for production. The latter were quickly reallocated, and additional missing raw materials were purchased externally. The IBCs used for filling the disinfectants are supplied by Schütz. They meet the latest safety requirements for packaging sensitive hygiene products. To support and recognize this project, the company provides BASF with every second container free of charge. To cover these additional capacities and ensure the necessary delivery security, production at the headquarters in Selters is now running at full speed even on weekends. "With 'Helping Hands,' we are implementing another important project in our long-standing partnership with BASF and are pleased to be able to help together," says Veit Enders, Managing Director of Schütz, about the initiative. Eco-friendly bonus: The IBCs are collected free of charge from end users by Schütz Ticket Service and are recycled internally as part of sustainable reconditioning.

BASF is expanding its commitment due to high demand: after initially supplying clinics with intensive care and ventilation capacities, the disinfectants are now also being delivered to medical practices. Depending on current availability, the company plans to gradually include other areas of the healthcare sector in the Rhine-Neckar region.