Unilever Calls For Innovation Support For Its Sustainable Growth Initiative

Unilever's research and development department announced three research projects for which the company is seeking help from the world's R&D and innovation community. Call for help is part of Unilever's Open Innovation online portal project, which encourages innovators to contribute to the fast moving consumer goods giant's sustainability efforts. To date, the portal has received more than 1,000 ideas, including technical solutions and new product ideas. Unilever hopes that its new call for innovation will just be as successful.

"Collaborate to Innovate: Unilever seeks help with new technical challenges to support sustainable growth", Unilever, October 10, 2012

After Reaching Original Sustainability Goals, Reckitt Benckiser Unveils New Initiative

Reckitt Benckiser announced "betterbusiness," its new sustainability initiative, which aims to ensure that a third of the company's net revenue comes from sustainable products. In May 2012, the company announced it had achieved its goal of reducing its carbon footprint per dose by 20 percent, eight years earlier than 2020, its original target year. The company said it aims to achieve its new sustainability goals "through product innovation, sustainable operations, and by enabling consumer action."

"RB sets new sustainability strategy after hitting previous targets", Marketing Magazine, October 01, 2012

Unilever Supports UK Metal Packaging Industry's Recycling Initiative

"Unilever backs MetalMatters", Materials Handling World Magazine, October 08, 2012

Procter & Gamble Seeks To Cut Carbon Dioxide Emissions, Lower Supply Chain Costs

Procter & Gamble Co. announced plans to reduce its global carbon dioxide emissions by about 2.9 million metric tons and cut its supply chain costs by $6 billion by adopting strategies, such as cheaper packaging materials and lower shipping costs. For example, P&G replaced diesel fuel with compressed natural gas for the fleet of trucks and forklifts at the company's factory in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania. Incidentally, the manufacturing plant is located on the banks of the Susquehanna River, an area known for confirmed natural gas deposits. P&G's lease agreement with Citrus Energy Corp. to drill natural gas wells on its property enabled the consumer goods company to replace 10 billion cubic feet of natural gas it used to buy from Gulf Coast refineries with local and cheaper gas.

"With big alternative energy bets, Procter & Gamble experimenting on global scale", Business Courier of Cincinnati, September 28, 2012

EPA Recognizes SC Johnson's Supply Chain Sustainability Efforts

SC Johnson said it received a 2012 SmartWay Excellence Award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, recognizing the company as "a leader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency." Reserved for the top 1 percent of SmartWay partners, the award is EPA's highest recognition for participants in the program established by the agency in 2004 to help reduce transportation-related emissions of greenhouse gases. As part of the SmartWay program SC Johnson converted shipping lanes to intermodal and adopted load-building software to increase utilization rates for its trucks.

"SC Johnson Named Recipient of 2012 SmartWay® Excellence Award by the United States Environmental Protection Agency", SC Johnson, October 10, 2012

Seventh Generation Thanks Its One Million Facebook Fans With Online Video Campaign

Seventh Generation celebrated its 1 millionth "like" on Facebook by posting a video that demonstrates how to recycle the company's packaging into do-it-yourself box monsters. The maker of natural household and personal care products partnered with ScrapKins founder and creative director, Brian Yanish, in creating the video. As part of the campaign, Seventh Generation is calling on its Facebook friends to make videos of their own box monsters and post them on the company's Facebook page.

"Seventh Generation Hits One Million Facebook Fans", Seventh Generation, October 04, 2012

Demand For Natural Hair Driving Down Sales Of Hair Relaxer Products

Growing interest in hair-care products for natural hair for African-Americans caused sales of hair relaxer kits to decline almost 30 percent in 2010–2012, according to Mintel. Also, the market research firm reported that sales of African-American hair care products could nearly double in the next five years from $681 million to more than $1 billion, with styling products accounting for almost 40 percent of all sales. Kalawentz Naturals, manufacturer of Black & Bossie brand of natural hair care products, reported its revenue grew 20 percent each year since 2007.

"Ethnic beauty items fuel booming business", Cincinnati, October 30, 2012

Bar Soap Sales Grow Faster Than Liquid Soap, Report Says

Retail sales of bar soap increased 4.7 percent from $1.1 billion in 2010 to $1.2 billion in 2011, according to market research firm Mintel. In contrast, sales of body-wash products grew 2 percent to $1.9 billion. Also, the increase in sales of bar soap in the luxury and specialty segments means that the market growth is not driven by recession-affected consumers looking for bargain deals. There is a growing interest in handmade soap, according to Cathleen Timberlake, president of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild. Specialty store Space NK launched several soap SKUs in 2011, while French fragrance company Diptyque introduced its first soap, 34 Boulevard Saint Germain. 

"Soap Cleans Up By Raising the Bar", Advertising Age, October 08, 2012