Unilever has issued a call to startups, scaleups and academic spinouts to partner with its teams on the development of more sustainable beauty and personal care products and packaging.
As part of its Positive Beauty Growth Platform, which was launched last year, Unilever is seeking to find the 'next generation of biodegradable and sustainable ingredients and packaging', as it continues to make its portfolio more environmentally friendly.
'Innovative scaleups, startups and spinout companies will have the opportunity to present their unique biodegradable and sustainable cosmetic ingredients or packaging solutions to the Unilever Beauty & Personal Care leadership and expert practitioners,' the company said in a statement.
The leading concepts will be given the chance to explore partnership opportunities within Unilever's beauty and personal care business.
The callout follows a similar challenge issued by the Positive Beauty Growth Platform last year, in which some 300 startups and scaleups applied, and 33 candidates made it through to the final round. Several of these are now kicking off pilot projects with Unilever, the company said.
'Important Pillar' For Growth
“Startup-led partnerships are an important pillar to drive growth and innovation," commented Baz Saidieh, global head of the Unilever Foundry. "The Positive Beauty Growth Platform is proving a catalyst of finding the greatest startup innovations and powering experimentation at scale.
“For our latest challenge, we’re keen to engage and explore partnerships with innovators developing biodegradable and sustainable ingredients and packaging for the future – something we know is increasingly important to people around the world."
Submissions commenced on 9 March and run until 11 April.
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