Background
Our client, a major conglomerate of chemical industries is a market leader in providing innovative solutions to the consumer packaged goods industries.
In consumer packaged goods industry, the use of optical brighteners in laundry detergents is very common. Optical brighteners are used in laundry detergents to mask the yellowing of consumers white clothing over time due to build up contaminants from wear and the environment and make clothing appear whiter and brighter. Optical brightener technology increases the longevity of the clothes as it keeps them looking new for longer. As consumers move toward most sustainable laundry practices (ie quicker wash, less water, colder wash), the ability to clean clothes in lessened, thus optical brightener technology is very important to aide in the appearance of consumer clothing. The technologies most used in laundry applications have been around for 70+ years they provide good whitening benefits and have good regulatory profiles. However, there exists a need for new technology in the market.
Challenge
In the past decade consumers are getting more and more concerned about environmentally sustainable options and their decisions are more influenced by products that are sustainable. Due to this, optical brighteners are also ubiquitous in the environment because none of the available optical brightener technologies currently on the market are biodegradable and will thus they will build up in water supplies over time as residual OB from laundry gets flushed down the drain with waste water.
We are seeking to collaborate on new to the world optical brightener technology that are completely and rapidly biodegradable, to address the sustainable future while delivering the performance of current options. As a benchmark we would expect these materials to successfully pass an OECD 301 or enhanced (60 day) 301 test.
What's in it for you?
A successful collaboration could mean forming a partnership/joint venture to co-develop the idea and its path to commercialization.
These are global challenges and we are willing to collaborate with both individuals/freelancers and other industry participants/universities, etc.
If you are up for the challenge and would like to help shape the future of our company, please click “Apply” to submit your ideas/expertise to the Network.