MALMÖ, Sweden – Specialty chemicals provider Perstorp has started the large-scale production of hand sanitizer and surface disinfectant for the Swedish healthcare sector. With a capacity of over two million liters a month, the aim is to solve the current lack of disinfectants at a national level. The products are being offered at cost.

Jan Secher, CEO of Perstorp Group, said, “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary care. Our large-scale production capacity can make a real difference at this time and help to solve the disinfectant shortage in the healthcare sector. This is our contribution to the important work that healthcare professionals are doing every day. I am proud that our innovative staff saw this opportunity to help. They have driven this initiative forward together with valuable help from authorities and partners.”

Production has started this week, and the aim is to continue for as long there is an acute shortage of disinfection products within the Swedish healthcare sector that regular suppliers cannot fulfill. Permits and agreements for production have been finalized in record time. In order to produce the disinfectant, Absolut Co. delivers ethanol, which is mixed together with other ingredients. This is delivered to the Perstorp industrial plant with help of Univar Solutions and ExxonMobil. The disinfectant is bottled by Lefab Production and transported by Bertschi, Scandibulk och Eurolink to Socialstyrelsen, which distributes the products to healthcare services in regions across Sweden. The first delivery is expected to reach Socialstyrelsen after the Easter weekend.

Ingrid Bergman, Head of Purchasing at Swedish Region Skåne, said, “Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the shortage of disposables such as sanitizers is a major challenge and an issue of great priority. Perstorp has shown tremendous responsibility and initiative in securing the production chain. They have made production possible by arranging all permits from the healthcare sector in cooperation with us, as well as several authorities and other companies.”

Region Skåne is responsible for health care and public transport, business development, culture, infrastructure, social planning and environmental and climate-related issues in Skåne County, Sweden.