COVID-19 Impact on Biobased Polyols in Chemicals and Materials Industry
INTRODUCTION
In the polyols market, every producer has faced the crises due to the pandemic situations which is occurred by the COVID-19 but these pandemic situations have mixed circumstances of patterns for the polyurethane producer in each developing country. These COVID-19 problems can be analyzed as we can see that demand for polyurethane for groceries, healthcare products, and e-commerce transportation will rise sharply. At this present time, demand for luxury, industrial, packaging goods, B2B-transport has reduced due to the lockdown in many countries due to which manufacturing sector has been badly affected to a larger extent. The result of COVID-19 on the polyurethane producer can be seen with the portfolios of product which are sold by manufacture in the polyols market.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON POLYURETHANE
Polyurethane is a type of material which are mostly used in everyday household products and machinery. Polyurethane has a versatile property which helps to design the products according to human comfort and relaxation. Mostly polyurethane use in furniture, bedding, and seating, thermal insulation, elastomers, footwear, straps, coatings industry. Due to the COVID-19 disruptions in the supply chain can be seen which decreases the demand for the polyurethane which impact the different industry.

TEXTILE INDUSTRY
The pandemic COVID-19 threatens the world fashion sector when policymakers close down manufacturing facilities and delay the propagation of the infection through shop-closures and event cancellations. The pandemic coronavirus influenced worldwide apparel companies. The retail company encounters changes of market growth concurrently. Potential markets often emerge as luxury products are turned into stylish coronavirus face masks.
First, the spread of COVID-19 contributed to a halt of development in China, accompanied by the closing of shops across the globe. At present, the two main markets for this sector are already being skipped by European and American retailers. In many countries of origin, cancelled orders are a cause for concern. As shippers gradually invoke 'force majeure' provisions in their contracts to avoid their payments, the Sustainable Textile of the Asian Area (STAR) Network, that takes along members of manufacturing organizations from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Pakistan and Vietnam, issued a joint statement on this topic on 8 April.

FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY
In December 2019, the arrival of Coronavirus in China and a gradual expansion of the catching drastically decreased demand for the polyols globally. The prices of polyurethane goods fallen due to less demand in the global market and shorter availability of storage of the polyurethane goods.
Pandemic has hampered the growth of polyurethane in the footwear industry. Footwear is widely used in the day to day life. These COVID situations had an bad impact on the logistics system of the company and due to government rule and regulation most of the companies shut down their production department which shows a negative impact on the production of polyols. During the lockdown in various regions/country transportation of the polyurethane was also restricted from one industry to another industry which has also impacted the growth.

PACKAGING INDUSTRY
Due to the COVID-19 people are not buying the product which are unpacked or product which are in the unhygienic conditions due to which film packaging on the vegetable and fruits in the retail store have increase which help to lower the transmission of the dangerous virus from one person to another
The most packaging type of packaging which is used in the pandemic situation of the COVID-19 are shrink and stretch films which help to increase the life span of food and beverage product, food and beverage industry, automotive industry, pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, electrical and electronics industry and others. Films packaging are used to produce carrier bags, pouches, and packaging materials and cover films for agriculture applications. As due to the COVID-19 disruptions in the supply chain can be seen which increases the demand for the film packaging as film packaging provide the protection from the bacteria and increase the life span of product in storage.

COMPANIES STRATEGIC INITIATIVES DURING COVID-19
• In July 2020, BASF SE manufactured and also donated 4 metric tons of Ultramid B24 N-polymers to Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association (ATIRA) which helps to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Indian medical fraternity. These steps helped to Indian Govt to fight against the COVID-19 situation.
• In June 2020, Corning Incorporated supported the Indian government in the COVID situation. The company donated Pulse Oximeters, Infrared Thermometers, and PPE kits for public health and also 1 lakh unit’s co Vitamin C tablets for 5,000 policemen in Chakan, Pune.
Another aspect of the producer has realized that there is over-dependency on one supplier, and it's time for the firms to start looking for alternative suppliers, mostly local suppliers to avoid any further risk and to be prepared for any such crises in the future.

CONCLUSION
The spread of the novel coronavirus has triggered significant market damage across the globe. Most producers, manufacturers, and businesses have stopped immediately and the effect on polyols or polyols products manufacturing is not yet clear. The towns are closed down, and social distancing has become a modern norm.
Several manufactures or producers have shut down their factories due to heavy losses. Companies are making the strategic action to increase the demand of the polyols in the market and to raise the price so to earn more revenue and government also helping the manufactures by making policies which help the producer to maintain stability.
The raw materials are required to produce biobased polyols which are used in the flexible polyurethane foams, furniture, and bedding. Due to the short consumption of the biobased polyols in the various country, have lower the price due to which production and manufacturing cost of the raw material for the manufacturing of films have fallen.
Companies who have not yet prioritized sustainability will utilize this period of change as a way of achieving sustainability Establish a strategic edge in a growth market with fresh customer preferences. To all of you Along the road, now is the time to safeguard growth, sustain critical procedures, and Recommit to the central objectives. And for trailblazers who promote cooperation and industry-wide leadership Sustainability initiatives, their vision and actions will accelerate transformation across the entire sector.