Specialty chemicals and plastics firm Lubrizol Corp. has donated $2 million support global COVID-19 needs.
In an April 2 news release, officials with Lubrizol in Wickliffe, Ohio, said that the $2 million pledge extends the work the company is already doing as companies across the globe use Lubrizol's science for hand sanitizers, medical gowns, face masks and other applications.
"In addition to the work that ends up in critical end-use products, we have been and will continue to support communities in need throughout this pandemic," President and CEO Eric Schnur said in the release.
As part of its $2 million donation pledge, Lubrizol has already contributed $325,000 in critical supplies to hospitals and charitable organizations in China. The firm also is supporting hospitals and medical staff in the U.S. and Europe and has established a U.S. matching gift program with the American Red Cross.
Lubrizol also is taking action beyond its donation. Lubrizol's Estane-brand thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials are being used in many applications to help protect responders to COVID-19. Officials said that the versatility, durability and barrier properties of Estane TPUs are bringing value in protective garments, face shields, barrier curtains and devices produced via 3D printing.
Lubrizol also is increasing production of Carbopol-brand polymers that are used in hand sanitizer. Officials said that increase will enable an additional one billion bottles of hand sanitizer to be made every month. Carbopol materials, which can be based on polyethylene glycol or acrylic acid, are used to thicken hand sanitizer formulations and to allow it to form a gel.
Officials added that Lubrizol is working to keep its global work force of 8,800 employees safe. The firm had pandemic plans and teams in place well before COVID-19, they said. These teams were activated early and regularly assess and follow global health recommendations, as well as local guidance in all areas where the company operates.
All Lubrizol employees who can are working from home. In other locations, the company minimized the number of employees on site by initiating rotations where feasible. Lubrizol also is practicing social distancing and instituting additional cleaning procedures.
Lubrizol posted sales of $6.8 billion in 2018. The firm's Advanced Materials unit is a leading global supplier of TPU and other specialty materials.