Unilever has launched an entrepreneurial challenge focussed on sustainable beauty solutions, through its Positive Beauty Growth Platform. The FMCG giant is searching for the very best startups, scaleups and academic spinouts to partner with its teams to bring brilliant functional ingredients that work with nature to its Beauty & Personal Care products and packaging. 

The Positive Beauty Growth Platform was launched last year to support Unilever’s Positive Beauty vision – a series of progressive commitments and actions for its Beauty & Personal Care brands, championing a new era of beauty which is equitable and inclusive, as well as sustainable for the planet. The Positive Beauty Growth Platform sets out to accelerate Unilever’s science and technology programmes and innovation partnerships.

Launching today, the Growth Platform’s second challenge aims to find the next generation of biodegradable and sustainable ingredients and packaging, looking for materials that deliver real benefits to consumers, while also doing good for the planet. 

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 leading ideas will be given the chance to explore partnership opportunities within Unilever’s Beauty & Personal Care business, worth over €20bn, and home to brands including Dove, Axe, Rexona, TRESemmé, Vaseline and Love Beauty & Planet.

Submissions Open at 12 noon today, and close at 23.59 BST on 11 April 2022. Virtual Live Challenge Presentations will take places between 23 and 27 May. 

Last year almost 300 startups and scaleups from the world of social commerce applied to get involved in the Platform’s first challenge. A panel of Unilever’s leaders and experts shortlisted 33 candidates: seed-stage to billion-dollar businesses from Silicon Valley to Singapore. Many are now kicking off pilot projects with Unilever’s leading Beauty & Personal Care brands, helping to deliver business solutions and pioneer consumer experiences in new spaces.

“We’re creating the next generation of technologies and ingredients for our beauty and personal care products that are not only highly effective, but also natural and sustainable,” said Unilever’s Chief Research and Development Officer, Richard Slater. “Collaborating with disruptive new players in this space is going to lead to even more breakthroughs as we grow our business and portfolio for a future where people and planet can thrive together.”