Pen, Writing, Letter.

The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) is urging government leaders to recognize critical manufacturing, especially the cleaning product supply chain, as “essential infrastructure” during the coronavirus crisis. 

ACI joined a coalition of more than 60 associations in calling on federal, state and local officials to “coordinate a unified, clear and public framework that clearly explains that food (for human and animal consumption), beverage and consumer packaged goods manufacturers are exempted from the gathering and curfew bans that are starting to take effect,” according to the group's letter to President Trump and numerous other leaders.

“ACI has been working with our partner associations on several pathways to ensure that our industry is confirmed as being a part of the critical U.S. infrastructure, that our facilities can continue to operate and that employees can access these facilities,” says Melissa Hockstad, ACI president and CEO.

In its letter, the coalition also asked that “the manufacturing and transportation of ingredients, packaging, warehouses, distribution centers and other indispensable parts of the supply chain be considered equally critical.”

In a separate letter co-written by ACI and Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA), federal and state leaders were urged to “ensure that all aspects of the cleaning product supply chain are able to maintain operations throughout this challenging time to ensure the availability of resources used to maintain sanitary conditions and mitigate the spread of the virus.”