Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council, founded in 1972, is the voice of large, medium and small chemical companies across Europe. As an enabler of all other manufacturing sectors, the European chemical industry plays a pivotal role in the overall economic development across the EU.

Understanding their responsibility in this unprecedented crisis, Cefic’s members have been pushing their capacity limits to meet the exponential rise in demand for essential supplies in the countries where they operate. They increased production of critical supplies such as: disinfectants, diagnostic tests, ventilators, protective masks, gloves and gowns, Intensive Care Unit medicines and equipment, and protective clothing.

To shift production processes to adapt to the new needs, some members set up emergency production lines, built new plants, or formed new alliances. For instance, in Ireland biopharma and chemical companies formed a COVID Alliance collaborating with local engineering and construction companies in order to support healthcare facilities. In Spain and Italy, chemical companies supported hospitals ensuring a regular supply of new resources or to set up emergency rooms with medical equipment, devoted to infectious diseases. There were similar initiatives in other EU countries.

In many cases the increased supply of essential products have been donated to authorities, hospitals, pharmacies, humanitarian organisations and others free of charge.

RETROFEED partner and demonstration site, Fertiberia, is a business member of CEFIC.