With non-stop depressing news flooding our feeds, it's hard to feel optimistic about the COVID-19 pandemic. But let's not forget that, behind the scenes, there are people working incredibly hard in the battle against coronavirus.
Alongside our heroic NHS staff, our diligent key workers, and individuals doing their bit for the vulnerable people in their community, some of our well-loved companies are harnessing their resources to do what they can to fight off this awful disease.
We'll be bringing you updates from all your fave brands as and when the good stuff unfolds; expect a collection of good deeds, positive updates and reasons to be cheerful. And if you're out for all the good news you can get, check out Cosmopolitan's Good News, Gathered, a daily series sharing all the uplifting updates you might have missed.
Beauty companies making extra hand sanitiser
Designer parent company LVMH used its Dior, Givenchy, and Guerlain factories to manufacture extra hand sanitiser to meet France’s increased demand. According to the Financial Times, they’re now on track to supply French hospitals with 12 tonnes of the stuff.
In the UK, brands like BeYou, Oskia, Previse, Palmer's, Tan Luxe, Polished London, Clarins and ishga have quickly followed suit, using their own lab facilities to inject the UK with another place to purchase sanitiser.
Pai Skincare has also created a sanitiser called Acton Spirit, which will be given to neighbouring schools, nurseries and charities, before going on sale to UK customers. And, when these go to market, Pai will commit to a ‘buy one, give one’ approach’, continuing donations to the most vulnerable in the community.
Adding further to the line-up, L’Oréal has announced that it will cease production of Garnier’s bestselling Micellar Water temporarily, moving to manufacturing a “brand new hydro-alcoholic hand gel”, 300,00 bottles of which will be distributed to frontline retail staff.
Four million further units will be sent to replenish depleted shelves in shops across the UK. Garnier has also pledged one million Euros to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in a bid to fight the spread of COVID-19.
Compression socks for Scots nurses
Glasgow travel retailer Trtl has donated 5,000 pairs of compression socks to Scots nurses, to help them ease leg fatigue while they fight COVID-19. They then pledged to donate 5,000 more to hospitals in London. The travel retailer had stockpiled them for airline travellers during summer holiday season, but with a decline in sales surrounding the pandemic, Chief Executive Michael Corrigan decided to donate them instead. “I couldn’t just see these socks sitting in a warehouse when they could be helping people saving lives. That’s what’s important, and nurses need all the help they can get just now.”
Mercedes F1 building breathing aids
Formula One racing team Mercedes set its experts to good use recently, working with University College London engineers and UCLH clinicians to build a device that supplies oxygen to the lungs without the requirement of a ventilator (which are in short supply).
The devices, known as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices have been used by China and Italy to help coronavirus patients, but there is a lack of them available to the NHS in the UK. So far, 40 of Mercedes' CPAP devices have been deployed to London hospitals as a trial, and if it's deemed successful, up to 1,000 more machines can be produced every day. No time wasted!
NHS hand cream donations
Caring skincare brand Nursem has pledged to donate an extra 10,000 hand creams to the NHS frontline of healthcare workers braving the virus every day. Oskia, L'Occitane, Faith in Nature, Codex Beauty, Clarins and Molton Brown will also be donating creams to the cause. What's more, Elizabeth Arden will join the fight against cracked hands by donating 4000 Eight Hour Cream products to the NHS.
Surgical masks for Italian hospitals
Manebi, the Milan based espadrille brand, has committed to donating 10,000 surgical masks to both the San Giuseppe Hospital in Milan and the Red Cross. In addition to this, as part of Manebi's #DestinationDreaming initiative, a portion of proceeds from every order on manebi.com will contribute towards the purchase of additional surgical masks, continuing to support Italy's medical workers during this period of crisis. Manebi have committed to carry out the initiative for as long as is required.
Kayla Itsines' app Sweat donates $100,000 to COVID relief
Fitness guru Kayla Itsines is famous for her BBG guide, and thanks to her recent partnership with the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, she's using her platform for good. Kayla's Sweat app today announced a company donation of $100,000 to the relief fund, as well as an offer to encourage its users to donate, too. Sweat is offering free access to the app for one month, and encourages users during the sign-up process to donate $5 (a little over £4) to the fund. And really, this one is a double whammy: helping people to maintain good physical health and a conscience.
£1.6m aid fund donated by Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder has been busily gifting monetary aid to the cause of fighting COVID-19, giving over £1.6 million to Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières, plus a further grant to an NYC-based response fund.
New respirators from Dyson
First, game-changing hair dryers, then incredible hair-saving straighteners, and now? Life-saving ventilators. The brand have answered a call to UK manufacturers with plans to manufacture 15,000 ‘CoVent’ machines in a matter of weeks.
Crocs donates shoes to healthcare workers
Comfy shoe brand Crocs is donating 10,000 pairs a day to healthcare workers while supplies last. The brand's spongy slip-on shoes are popular among medical professionals, because they are comfortable, waterproof, and easy to clean. The soft shoes provide cushioned relief during extended hospital shifts, and the ability to easily sanitise them after a shift matters now more than ever. Some shipments are going directly to hospitals, or individual works can register their name for a free pair.
Mango gives two million masks to Spanish hospitals
The Spanish retail chain with stores worldwide pledged to give back to hospitals with mask shortages. The Barcelona-based company said in a statement, “Mango wants to acknowledge and thank, on behalf of its more than 15,000 employees, the extraordinary effort being made by all the people who are part of the health teams in Spain that are incessantly fighting COVID-19.”
Glove donations and business support from L'Oréal
Along with measures to protect small businesses and salons using L’Oréal products, plus a donation of 100,000 hand sanitisers to support NHS and HSE, L’Oréal will also donate 400,000 hygiene & care products to frontline healthcare workers, including body wash, hand creams, conditioner, shampoo and skincare products from L’Oréal Paris, Garnier, Kiehl’s, Lancôme, La Roche-Posay, CeraVe, Kerastase, Redken and more.
LEON works to #FeedNHS
As one of many businesses that has been affected by the coronavirus lockdown, LEON hasn't been deterred from doing its bit for the crisis. The healthy fast-food chain has established a not-for-profit campaign called #FeedNHS that intends to raise vital funds and provide food to NHS workers on the frontline, as they work tirelessly to help COVID-19 patients.
Initially LEON is working with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to deliver 5,600 hot meals per day to critical care staff, across five of their major hospitals. But it's hoped that this might be the start of the restaurant industry utilising resources to roll it out countrywide.
In addition, LEON is also turning over 100% of profits from its restaurants to the NHS during the crisis, and is encouraging people to donate to the FeedNHS cause by visiting the website. There's no doubt about it: this is one restaurant chain that's determined to do what it can to help.
Beauty donations to the NHS
Soap and Glory will partner with The Hygiene Bank, an initiative which provides hygiene and personal care items to those facing hygiene poverty in the UK. The brand will be donating to the charity with every purchase from Boots until 5th May 2020.
New CBD beauty and wellness brand CBVIT have also generously donated 300 soaps to the Beauty Banks charity, which will go to the NHS and others in need of personal hygiene products.
H&M Group donates to the cause
The H&M Foundation donated $500,000 to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. H&M Group is now quickly arranging for its supply chain to produce personal protective equipment to be provided to hospitals and health care workers. The company will utilise its supply chain capacity, including its widespread purchasing operations and logistics capabilities, in order to start delivering as soon as possible.
Follow Kate on Instagram.
Cat is Cosmopolitan UK's features editor covering women's issues, health and current affairs. news, features and health. The route to her heart is a simple combination of pasta and cheese (somewhat ironic considering the whole health writing thing), and she finds it difficult to commit to TV series so currently has about 14 different ones on the go.
