Sanitize wise: Use these tips to source sanitizer
Pre-COVID, when asked what I did for a living, my “brand standard, product developer and licensor role in hospitality” answer often triggered an enthusiastic response of “How intriguing. Sounds like fun!” Five months into the pandemic, when asked the same question, I have yet to receive a “sounds like a ton of fun” response. Not because my role is no longer deemed fun, it’s just become a bit more complex, chaotic and challenging.
Thankfully, and often so, it’s the “un-fun” stuff that lays the most valuable foundation for future pursuits, so I thought a peek into a few of these newfound lessons, learned while sourcing rapidly needed solutions, would make for an interesting read.
I would expect one of Google’s most searched words in 2020 will be sanitizer, which is the word that led me into what has often felt like a remake of “The Wild Wild West!” Truth be told, what I thought was a simple combination of alcohol, glycerin, sterile water and hydrogen peroxide has required nothing short of think-outside-the-box sourcing, (i.e., endless emails or call after call pitching the praises of producing goods for the hospitality channel), availability verifications (as in “my chain needs your product NOW”), and dare I share, “consistency assurances” relating to packaging and formulas.
Although there are several PPE SKUs (I’m sure your screen has hosted endless emails about masks, shields, gloves, gowns, wipes, protection overlays, touchless devices, disinfectants and creative all-in-one amenity kits we couldn’t have imagined five months ago), the bottom line is sourcing for a new wave of necessities requires an enormous amount of research, patience, testing, trust and validation. Case in point: Several suppliers identified in March and April are no longer “in the PPE/PPP business,” while I’m sure many readers have noticed the abundance of specialized vendors – who used to boast a razor-sharp focus on specific product lines – are now rolling the dice with a menu of polar-opposite protective product solutions.
As it relates to the necessity of sanitizers, a SKU my team and I have become extremely invested in, we believe sanitizers are no longer an upgrade but rather an expected amenity with no sign of slowing down just yet. Here are a few sourcing tips from our own sanitizer journey that I hope you find useful.
Only source from factories that were in the sanitizer business pre-COVID as they offer stable formulas and proven supply chain relationships for sourcing quality bottles and caps.
Conduct your factory research, its principal owners and key customers. Conduct an initial assessment on-site and request a tour during production hours so you can see the plant’s tidiness, staff attentiveness, supply and office organization, condition of equipment and certifications. Also request a walk-through of their staging area to inspect shippers, pallet stacking and overall volume.
Obtain safety data sheets and multiple samples to beta-test on a variety of individuals. Confirm if any ingredients, i.e., fragrances, will cause future discoloration issues of your formula.
The CDC recommends a minimum of 60% alcohol (ethanol or ethyl alcohol), as studies suggest this amount to be more effective at killing germs. Most hospitality customers strive for at least 70%.
Due to the settling of alcohol, it is common to ask your factory to add an additional 5% above your labeled percentage, as alcohol can be volatile and evaporate as it initially cures.
Confirm the factory does not use methanol or wood alcohol, and ask if lavender oil or any moisturizing ingredient is available to include in your formula.
Confirm the storage tolerances of your product, including temperature and lighting variances. Request copies of certifications, such as EPA and FDA in the U.S., and confirm their validity. This includes your own education of understanding the difference between FDA registered and FDA approved.
Conduct shipping tests to various regions to confirm lids were tightly secured in production, as they can loosen in shipping. Also, can your shippers withstand long-distance transportation?
Try to sit out the lead time required for a custom production run and always pad the quoted time period, as most factories are at full capacity, which can cause production delays.
Although in April 2020 the PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) issued a temporary policy for the highway transportation of certain alcohol-based sanitizer products to assist in increasing the availability of hand sanitizers during COVID-19, alcohol is a flammable liquid and is considered hazardous, so it’s recommended to use HazMat labels on your shippers.
The above outline is what my team uses as an initial starting point. However, should you have additional tips or unexpected experiences relating to sanitizers that you would like to share, I, along with the readers, would enjoy hearing from you. #SANITIZEWISE
Sherri Scheck-Merrill, vice president, Amenity Services, Tustin, California
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