DUBLIN (News release) - Smurfit Kappa has launched a portfolio of products designed to help businesses, schools and offices resume operations in accordance with safety guidelines as Covid-19 lockdown restrictions start to be reduced.

The Safe Portfolio comprises wall dividers, desk and work station separators, point-of-sale screens and safety signage made from corrugated.

The SafeShield desk protector was first produced in France where schools are re-opening this week after two months. This simple and lightweight product protects the area around each child, ensuring physical and psychological safety, and has a varnish coating so it can be repeatedly cleaned with alcohol-based cleaners.

Speaking about the product, Jean-Christophe Bugeon, CEO of Smurfit Kappa France, said: "It's great that children can get back to school and businesses are starting to re-open in France. However, it is imperative that we all work together to ensure that we handle the easing of restrictions in a responsible way.

"We worked with professors from several schools to create exactly the right product that will protect children and young people in an unobtrusive manner."

Many companies are also currently using Smurfit Kappa's work place dividers on their production lines. Speaking about the product, Charles-Armand de Belenet, Managing Director at leading champagne producer Bollinger, said: "A big thank you to Smurfit Kappa for these separators which are a simple and ingenious idea to protect our teams."

There has been similar high demand for the SafeSpace product which is a 2.2m-high screen being used to help workers maintain safe distances in many sectors in Ireland and the UK. Quickly assembled, it can also be branded and is 100% recyclable.

Speaking about the Safe Portfolio, Eddie Fellows, CEO of Smurfit Kappa UK & Ireland, said: "With plans being unveiled for resuming operations over the next while, we are working with many companies to help them make the necessary social distancing changes. The SafeBarrier in particular, which is used at retail purchase points, is an attractive option for shops that may not want to invest in perspex screens at tills.

"I'm proud of our Design Team which has been very quick to turn around these products just in time for when businesses are making the changes they need to open their doors again."