Victorian company, Elyptol, which produces skin and surface hygiene products, has stepped up production to supply hand sanitiser to healthcare workers during COVID-19.
The company has secured an order to supply Victorian public hospitals with more than five million bottles of hand sanitiser through Health Purchasing Victoria (HPV) as part of a collaborative government effort to source products from local businesses for COVID-19.
HPV is a state purchasing organisation that negotiates and manages contracts on behalf of public health services.
Elyptol uses pure ethanol sourced from grains and sugar cane to produce hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes, combined with eucalyptol, which is a eucalyptus oil.
Health Purchasing Victoria Chief Executive Officer Elaine Ko said she had been impressed by local companies such as Elyptol, which have ramped up production to support health care workers during the pandemic.
‘Its great local businesses are evolving and innovating to support our healthcare workers during this challenging time,’ Ms Ko said.
The product meets the specifications required by the health sector and has Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval in Australia and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in the United States.
Elyptol Chief Executive Officer Tim O’Connor said the product used ingredients which were not only effective in killing germs but were easier on people’s hands – compared to some other alcohol-based hand sanitisers which could contribute to skin irritations if used frequently.
Barwon Health staff who are using the product say they are happy to do so for frequent washing, saying they like its eucalyptus smell and find the product leaves a protective film on their hands.
‘By providing products that contain natural ingredients that people want to use, I hope we can assist in further promoting hand hygiene and contribute to reducing hospital associated infections,’ Mr O’Connor said.
Elyptol sources its ingredients in Australia and contracts two Melbourne-based businesses – Aware Environmental in Dandenong South and Ensign Laboratories in Mulgrave – as its major manufacturers of products.
‘By securing orders to support healthcare workers in Victoria, we’ve also been able to ensure job security for 80 to 100 people in the Elyptol supply chain,’ Mr O’Connor said.