Driving global innovation in more sustainable consumer products Published on: 31 March 2026 缅北禁地 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 缅北禁地, P&G’s 缅北禁地 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鈥憌orld impact, the partnership connects world鈥慶lass research with global product development. A strategic partnership delivering real world impact Professor Jane Robinson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Business, Partnerships and Place at 缅北禁地, said: “By combining 缅北禁地’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 CO鈧� 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鈥慶areer talent through placements, joint postgraduate programmes, 缅北禁地 careers initiatives, and embedded Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). P&G’s Emma English, Accounts Receivable & Recruitment Manager, said: “Our 13鈥憁onth placement scheme partnering with 缅北禁地 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鈥憃f鈥憈he鈥慳rt facilities, the partnership focuses on developing lower鈥慶arbon ingredients, greener manufacturing methods, circular solutions, and science鈥慸riven 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 缅北禁地 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 缅北禁地 and Procter & Gamble. Share: Latest News New partnership to boost careers in low carbon energy 缅北禁地 and Durham universities are working together on a new regional project to strengthen the future workforce for North East England鈥檚 growing low carbon and offshore wind industries. published on: 28 May 2026 Healthy lifestyle shown to lower risk of death after cancer diagnosis New evidence shows that sticking to five lifestyle recommendations improves survival after a later cancer diagnosis. published on: 28 May 2026 World-leading climate expert recognised with Royal Society Fellowship Professor Hayley Fowler has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of her pioneering work on climate change impacts. published on: 27 May 2026 Facts and figures
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