LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Covestro is strengthening its commitment to containing the global COVID-19 pandemic with in-kind and money donations. The company is providing raw materials for the production of products such as medial devices, safety goggles for medical staff and hospital mattresses. These are supplied to health and care facilities in the vicinity of the plants in numerous countries. For the company, the focus is on providing fast and uncomplicated assistance in partnership-based cooperations.
“The coronavirus crisis affects us all and can only be overcome with solidarity. We are currently experiencing cohesion and commitment in our company to a very special degree,” said Covestro CEO Dr. Markus Steilemann. “We want to convey this attitude to the outside world and contribute our know-how and the energy of our employees worldwide in the fight against the pandemic. At the same time, we will continue to do everything in our power to preserve the safety and health of our workforce”.
Since the beginning of the crisis, Covestro has been continuously monitoring the development of the situation and attaches the highest priority to protecting its employees and their families worldwide. In addition, the company has implemented a number of direct measures in recent weeks to provide local support to health and care facilities. With the outbreak of the coronavirus in China, employees have already supported rush orders of medical equipment manufacturers by supplying raw materials for the production of diagnostic and respiratory equipment, protective devices and test strips for disease control, and other emergency aid. Further measures followed worldwide, including in-kind and money donations as well as strategic partnerships with customers. Below are just a few of the ways that Covestro is helping to fight the pandemic:
- Brazil — donations in cooperation with aid organization to supply people in need;
- Mainland China — donation of protective eyewear, thermometers and pillows to public health facilities in Hubei and other parts of China and Employee donations campaign for frontline medical teams;
- Germany — donations of medical supplies to health care facilities, donation of material for the production of protective eyewear for University Hospital of Erlangen, and donation of face masks to the city of Leverkusen;
- Italy — employee donations campaign and a donation to a hospital in Bergamo;
- Spain — donations to several hospitals to purchase urgently needed equipment, and the donation of material for the production of hospital mattresses;
- Taiwan — donation of protective eyewear to public health facilities; and
- United States — donations of hand sanitizer and face masks to local responders and public service organizations, and employee donations campaign for a national nonprofit and support for employees who want to personally contribute to relief efforts.
In order to continue to relieve the burden on medical facilities and other affected areas and thus support the massive efforts to contain the coronavirus, Covestro is also providing its existing know-how and innovative materials, such as the use of 3D printing technology. This also includes freely accessible software for 3D printing of mask holders, which improves the wearability of medical safety masks. In the United States, there is also an ongoing collaboration with 3D printing companies and a research institute exploring 3D printing of ventilator components, using Covestro materials and technical expertise.
An up-to-date overview of measures and initiatives taken by Covestro for the direct containment of the coronavirus can be found on our website: https://www.covestro.com/en/media/social-media-corona.
The company continues to actively explore opportunities for how it can best contribute to response and recovery efforts around the world and in the markets it serves.
