Carlton & United Breweries will donate at least 20,000 litres of hand sanitiser to frontline medical staff as they fight COVID-19 in emergency wards around the country.

The project has been launched to help doctors and nurses while hand sanitiser is in short supply. At least 40,000 500ml bottles are being produced for healthcare workers in partnership with leading hygiene company Ecolab.

CUB CEO Peter Filipovic said: “CUB always supports the community. And as the nation’s biggest brewer, we have a part to play in battling this unprecedented crisis. Helping the people who are directly fighting the effects of this virus is a good start.

“We have the relationships and the know-how to get a project like this up and running quickly.

“For more than 150 years we’ve helped Australians come together over a beer. Now it’s time to lend a helping hand as they stay apart to fight the virus. We’ll have more announcements soon about how we’re helping pubs and other customers get through this.”

All CUB’s hand sanitiser will be donated.

It will also be offered to vulnerable people in the community via support agencies, bottle shops, pubs, clubs and our suppliers. And all CUB employees will get some to help keep them and their families safe. This will account for another 10,000 litres, bringing total production to 30,000 litres.

Ecolab will make the sanitiser using additional ethanol secured with support from CUB, ensuring thousands of litres of sanitiser gets to where it’s needed most.

Jan Pacas, Managing Director, Ecolab AU, NZ, Pacific said: “We are very happy to be partnering with CUB and ensuring hand sanitiser gets to those who need it most.

“This partnership has provided a big boost to our hand sanitiser production in a time when it’s been crucially needed – especially for our healthcare providers who are on the frontline.”

The first bottles are expected to start leaving Ecolab’s facilities next week.

For more information, journalists should contact: reid.sexton@cub.com.au