LVMH Will Use its Perfume Factories to Produce Hand Sanitizer

A researcher works inside one of LVMH’s cosmetics laboratoriesPhoto: Getty Images

LVMH—the luxury conglomerate that owns brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Givenchy, and many more—announced today that it will begin using some of its facilities to produce its own hand sanitizer in response to a shortage caused by the coronavirus epidemic. “LVMH will use the production lines of its perfume and cosmetic brands … to produce large quantities of hydroalcoholic gels from Monday,” LVMH said in a statement. “These gels will be delivered free of charge to the health authorities.”

Specifically, the company announced it will begin converting three of its perfume manufacturing facilities to make the hand sanitizer; these facilities are where LVMH produces many of its fragrances, including the ones for brands such as Guerlain, Dior, and Givenchy. As reported by Forbes, the first deliveries of the sanitizer are expected to be made by tomorrow and will continue rolling out by the end of the week. LVMH expects to initially produce 12 tons of the hydroalcoholic gel.

There has been a global shortage of alcohol-based sanitizers in response to COVID-19. Recommended by the CDC as an effective tool to avoid the spreading of the virus, LVMH is doing its party in combatting this shortage. The FDA has also encouraged licensed pharmacists and physicians to begin creating their own hand sanitizers.