A distillery in Dundee, Scotland has switched production from gin to hand sanitiser after local care groups approached them for help amid the national shortage of anti-viral handwash due to coronavirus (Covid-19) panic-buying.
Verdant Spirits was asked by various care partnerships in their local area of Dundee’s west end to help quell the shortage, with owner Andrew Mackenzie hoping to now produce 400 litres of the gel this week.
According to the BBC, two other distilleries in Aberdeenshire and the Highlands were also approached. Mackenzie told the publication that he found a list of necessary ingredients on the World Health Organisation’s website but struggled finding a few – so he took to social media.
‘We put out a Facebook call because we couldn't track down any hydrogen peroxide and that paid off, so we've got that covered,’ he said. ‘We've got 20 litres of glycerine coming which is all we can get, because they're rationing.’
However, he’s come up against issues with the duties he has to pay as his facilities normally operate as spirits producers. According to Mackenzie, he’s still liable to pay duty on alcohol used in the production of hand sanitiser.
‘That's costing £25 per litre we get out the door,’ he said. ‘It looks like various care communities and surgeries are prepared to pay the £28.30 that it's going to cost us to produce it, and on the basis if we do get a rebate of the duty, that will go back to them.
‘We're moving ahead positively, but we need to find a solution to the duty issue,’ he continued.
It comes after Louis Vuitton owner LVMH also offered to start producing hand sanitiserin their perfume factories, offering the products free to health services in France and Italy. Following such stockpiling and panic-buying last week, acts like these from businesses are vital – and definitely good news worth sharing.
In response to an overwhelming news cycle, Grazia will collate good news stories from all corners of the internet to give our readers (and ourselves!) a break from the constant barrage of worrying news.
We can’t hide from what’s happening, in fact we’ll still be covering the news on site and social and staying informed about the latest developments, but our Good News Worth Sharing series will be a safe haven and a place to spread some positivity.
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