It will produce 5,000 liters of this solution per week as a first step
Roquette which is the supplier of plant-based ingredients will now manufacture a hydro-alcoholic disinfectant solution at its site in Lestrem, France. The manufacturing strategy comes as many countries are facing a shortage of hydro-alcoholic disinfectant during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
At a time when the shortage of hydro-alcoholic disinfectant gel is hitting many countries around the world, Roquette, a global leader in plant-based ingredients and a pioneer of plant proteins, has adapted one of its pilot lines at its site in Lestrem, France, to manufacture an hydro-alcoholic disinfectant solution.
While this type of solution is not usually produced by Roquette, the company adjusted one of its R&D pilot units in Lestrem and obtained the required regulatory approvals to produce the hydro-alcoholic solution.
Roquette will produce 5,000 liters of this solution per week as a first step. 500 liters will be used internally to strengthen the existing measures put in place to protect employees and contractors working at company’s sites. This will allow the continuity of their operations, critical to ensure the supply of plant-based ingredients to Food and Pharmaceutical markets.
Jean-Marc Gilson, CEO of Roquette said, “At Roquette we think that, more than ever, we all have to join forces and help each other to address this global crisis. With this initiative, we wish to take part in the collective effort to support those who are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic every day.”
Jean-Marc Corpart, the Head of this project from the Roquette R&D team said, “We are proud and pleased to contribute, at our scale, to the support of healthcare workers. All our employees are committed to this mission and thanks to their efforts we have been able to launch this initiative and are already thinking about the possibility of increasing the production.”
4,000 liters will be distributed every week, free of charge, to the Lille University Hospital Center and 500 liters will address the needs of the French Blood Donors Organization and the healthcare workers of other local health facilities.
This engagement will be maintained for as long as necessary in alignment with the instructions of health authorities.