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Concentrated, dilutable bleaching additive for laundry
Background

Reckitt is a global consumer products company that operates a portfolio of leading household brands in nutrition, health, and hygiene, including laundry detergents such as Woolite. Laundry detergents have historically been sold in large plastic containers, ranging from 25 to 210 fluid ounces in size.  

 

To reduce waste, a variety of household products are now being sold in concentrated versions for consumers to use as-is or by diluting the formula at home. Laundry pods are one example, but they have inherent limitations. In addition to a high cost per wash, laundry pods do not allow consumers to pretreat fabric or adjust the concentration. An alternative may be to use a liquid or gel concentrated booster that can double as a pre-treatment for spot stains and is adaptable to load volume and soil level.

What we're looking for

We are seeking to develop a highly-concentrated and compact fabric treatment that can be safely diluted with water at home by the consumer.

Our must-have requirements are:
  • Final formula diluted in a range from 1:3 to 1:10 must be stable for use in the short term (approximately 2 weeks)
  • Capable of being produced at high commercial volumes (1-15 million units at 50-100ml/unit) at a reasonable cost (< $1.80/Kg of finished formula)
  • Effective on oxidizable stains
  • Safe for consumer use under European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) guidelines
  • Decreases packaging, weight, transport costs, and related environmental impacts compared to traditional gel detergents in 750ml bottles
Our nice-to-have's are:
  • Format should not exceed 100 ml and deliver a minimum of 5 laundry loads
  • Final diluted formula volume should be approximately 30-60ml for consumer convenience of pouring into the washing machine
  • Final diluted formula should be consistent with active ingredients generally found in laundry additives (5-11% oxygen bleach, 10-15% surfactants by weight)
  • Contains a source of oxygen or a safe bleach alternative; Oxygen sources should maintain stability in the diluted form
What's out of scope:
  • Banned chemicals like Triclosan
  • Products and prototypes with no scientific data to support product claims
  • Products and prototypes with no evidence of safety data
  • Unregistered products without a clear regulatory pathway to regulatory approval
  • Chemicals that are considered toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, corrosive, harmful or dangerous for the environment
What we can offer you
Benefits:
Sponsored Research
Funding up to $150,000 for a 6-month proof-of-concept project with the potential for substantial follow-on investment.
Expertise
Receive hands-on coaching and support from packaging, design, supply change, regulatory and manufacturing experts, and access a global distribution network spanning 6 continents.
Who we are

At Reckitt, we turn scientific breakthroughs into everyday consumer hygiene solutions for today, tomorrow and the future. As one of the world’s largest consumer product companies, we have the breadth of experience to unlock and develop the value of potential innovations. Our product portfolio across health, hygiene and nutrition include trusted brands like Lysol, Dettol, Finish, Vanish, Harpic, Mortein, and Air Wick.

Partner with us and bring your ideas to life!

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