Driving global innovation in more sustainable consumer products Published on: 31 March 2026 Ãå±±½ûµØ and Procter & Gamble (P&G) are marking over 10 years of partnership with a new report showcasing their shared achievements and future goals. Their mission to accelerate research, nurture talent, and drive innovation is creating more sustainable, high-performance products for homes around the world. Anchored in the North East of England, home to Ãå±±½ûµØ, P&G’s Ãå±±½ûµØ Innovation Centre in Benton, and P&G’s global business services site at Cobalt Business Park, this collaboration has become a leading example of open innovation between academia and industry. With shared values of scientific excellence, sustainability, and real‑world impact, the partnership connects world‑class research with global product development. A strategic partnership delivering real world impact Professor Jane Robinson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Business, Partnerships and Place at Ãå±±½ûµØ, said: “By combining Ãå±±½ûµØ’s academic strengths with the reach of P&G’s products in homes across the globe, we’re creating a model for how universities and industry can work together to tackle sustainability challenges and drive economic growth.” Over the years, the partnership has grown into an ecosystem featuring shared research, doctoral training, and breakthrough innovations. Key areas of impact include: Reducing the carbon footprint of manufacturing through circular processes: The CarboNation project captures COâ‚‚ from industrial waste gas streams and converts it into valuable raw materials for consumer goods production. Improving water and energy efficiency in households: The FairWater project studies consumer behaviour at home to identify product innovations that encourage more sustainable use. Advancing bioscience for more effective cold-water washing: The development of Purezyme®, a seaweed derived enzyme, has improved cold water laundry cleaning. Reducing microfibre pollution: Leading research that transformed industry understanding of fibre release and influenced the design of washing machine cycles. Accelerating product development with AI: Leveraging AI for critical insights. Developing the next generation of scientific leaders: Training experts in bioscience, net zero manufacturing, and industrial biotechnology. Discovering novel enzymes: Using cutting-edge technologies like Microarray Polymer Profiling to help develop more sustainable solutions for industries worldwide. Developing global talent in the North East The collaboration also delivers extensive opportunities for students and early‑career talent through placements, joint postgraduate programmes, Ãå±±½ûµØ careers initiatives, and embedded Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). P&G’s Emma English, Accounts Receivable & Recruitment Manager, said: “Our 13‑month placement scheme partnering with Ãå±±½ûµØ has transformed our approach to talent development. Together, we are cultivating a pipeline of future leaders.” A shared commitment to Net Zero and sustainable innovation Through joint research platforms and state‑of‑the‑art facilities, the partnership focuses on developing lower‑carbon ingredients, greener manufacturing methods, circular solutions, and science‑driven improvements to products used by billions of consumers. Dr Phil Souter FRSC OBE, Senior Director R&D at P&G, said: “Our partnership is training the next generation of bio-scientists and helping P&G develop new insights and solutions to accelerate our action on climate change.” A global model for collaborative innovation The partnership has attracted investment to the North East, supporting continued growth through initiatives such as a joint industrial biotechnology fellowship and the Ãå±±½ûµØ Centre for Industrial Biotechnology. As global challenges evolve, both organisations are committed to deepening their collaboration. “This is just the beginning,” said Professor Robinson. “Our shared future is one of possibility, powered by science and shaped by collaboration.” Find out more about the partnership between Ãå±±½ûµØ and Procter & Gamble. Share: Latest News We are our Memories New exhibition by Fine Art graduate Trish Hudson-Moses, 22 April – 4 May 2026 published on: 10 April 2026 Warming intensifies rainfall in North Atlantic storms Rapid ocean warming is likely to make tropical cyclone rainfall more intense and longer lasting, increasing flood risks in parts of the North Atlantic region. published on: 10 April 2026 Skin patch trial could transform lung transplant care Researchers at Ãå±±½ûµØ are at the forefront of a national trial exploring whether small patches of donor skin can act as an early, visible biomarker of lung transplant rejection. published on: 9 April 2026 Facts and figures