Sales have risen 10-fold for some Ecolab disinfectants that neutralize the novel coronavirus causing a worldwide pandemic.
St. Paul-based Ecolab already has 13 separate products on a list that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said can control SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19. Application times for effective treatment on hard surfaces range from 1 to 10 minutes.
"We have several hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants that can be used against the novel coronavirus," spokesman Roman Blahoski said. "Demand for these products has increased three to 10 times over normal volumes, both in the U.S. and globally, and our manufacturing plants throughout the world are running at full capacity to help meet customer needs."
Along with Ecolab, Maplewood-based 3M also has products that meet the criteria of the EPA's emerging pathogen policy specific to COVID-19, said spokeswoman Jennifer Ehrlich.
"In response to COVID-19, 3M has increased production at manufacturing facilities around the world, including those that make disinfecting products to help meet demand," she said.
3M has yet to seek permission to relabel its products. But the company has a web page dedicated to products it said meet the EPA standard for controlling COVID-19.
"As we learn more about COVID-19 and official test methods and claims are made available, we will pursue applicable label changes," Ehrlich said.
Demand for disinfectants to clean surfaces from homes to hospitals and buses to businesses has grown large enough that the EPA recently allowed companies to relabel disinfectants with something called an "emerging viral pathogen claim" if research suggests that those companies' brands can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 and avoid COVID-19.