What is ethanol?

Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is a natural and versatile ingredient widely used in consumer products and for professional purposes in many industries such as the healthcare, pharmaceutical and food sectors.

Ethanol is known particularly for its disinfecting properties, and in the cleaning and maintenance products industry it is an essential ingredient in cleaning and disinfection products, such as hand and surface disinfectants. As such, its applications are vital for human health and hygiene.

How is ethanol used in detergents and disinfectants?

Ethanol in disinfectants has long been used as a cornerstone in countless health applications worldwide. From detergents to biocides, it safeguards surfaces and skin with minimal risk, offering unparalleled disinfection.

Ethanol’s ability to defeat bacteria, viruses and fungi made it a vital player in the global battle against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid), when ethanol-based hand sanitisers became essential to control infections across the world.

Ethanol is safe, effective and indispensable

Read our factsheet

Ethanol is versatile, safe and widely used.

Ethanol is the most effective substance to fight a broad spectrum of harmful microorganisms such as bacteria and non-enveloped viruses like polio. During COVID-19, ethanol was the number one ingredient to fight the virus due to its broad availability and efficacy. There are currently no comparable alternative substances.

Ethanol is safe for the environment: it can come from renewable sources, it is fully biodegradable compared to its alternatives, it evaporates quickly, and it is generally more sustainable than other options.

Beyond disinfectants, ethanol is versatile and used as an important carrier, solvent and preservative in consumer products like cosmetics, insecticides, paints and pharmaceuticals.

Ethanol is a vital ingredient in disinfecting products used at home and in hospitals, in the food and pharmaceutical sectors.

Ethanol is the most effective and most available disinfectant against health-acquired infections (HAIs), which cause 90,000 deaths annually in the EU.

Did you know?

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) global guidelines for hand hygiene recommends ethanol-based hand sanitisers as the gold standard for hygiene in healthcare.

Ethanol saves lives. Ethanol is the most effective and most available disinfectant against Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs), which cause 90,000 deaths annually in the EU and cost the region €7 billion per year.

Nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals use ethanol-based hand rubs up to 100 times a day to keep themselves and their patients safe. If they used soap and water instead, they would spend at least 40 minutes of every hour washing their hands.

The skin absorption of ethanol from hand sanitisers is minimal—comparable to consuming apple juice or kefir.

Add your voice – put your #HandsUpForEthanol

It’s essential we act now before it’s too late. Contact your local Member of Parliament or click here to contact your Member of the European Parliament and tell them to stop the de facto ban on ethanol-based biocidal products!