Hand sanitizers are everywhere today. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were among the first products to go missing from market shelves as many people hoarded them and governments scrambled to shore up production to meet the soaring demand.A bar sign in Hong Kong probably captured the sentiment perfectly: “Never in my whole life would I imagine my hand would consume more alcohol than my mouth!” But sanitizers weren’t always the must-have safety product they are today. In fact, not only are they a relatively recent invention but the company that perfected them as a mass-market consumer good in the first place (Purell) lost money on the product for a decade before they became profitable.Here's a deep-dive into the hand sanitizer economy - the product's history, importance, and the global market mechanics that ensure its supply and distribution amidst the ongoing pandemic.
