Description

As an EIC-funded (European Innovation Council) SME, you probably already had the chance to pitch your solution in multiple matchmaking initiatives to attract the attention of investors or potential customers. But did you ever try to build win-win synergies and co-create solutions with Business Partners? The EIC Greenhouse Gas Programme aims to leverage unique collaborative experiences between EIC companies and large European organisations and offer EIC companies the chance to co-create products and services. In this light, the European Innovation Council and Unilever invite you to apply to our joint EIC GHG Co-creation initiative. 

Unilever’s purpose is to make sustainable living commonplace. Established over 100 years ago, Unilever is one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies. Unilever is known for its great brands, a global footprint and its belief in doing business the right way. The co-creation journey with Unilever kicks off with an event on 10 November 2021. 

The challenges

The Unilever’s challenges: are mainly focused on less energy-intensive ice-creams, new carbon-neutral packing and low carbon food. 

Challenge: New packaging solutions which can reduce the carbon footprint of Unilever portfolio, with an ambition for the packaging solution to be carbon neutral or regenerative by design  

Packaging protects Unilever products across the categories of Foods and Refreshment, Home Care, and Personal Care, and ensures their quality and longevity. However, the packaging material, in particular plastics used in many of the bottles, can have a significant GHG footprint.    

Unilever is seeking new materials and technologies that can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of their current packaging portfolio, whilst still providing the key properties required to meet consumer needs. The proposal should also ensure they have the ability to be fully circular by design, either as part of a recyclable/recycled material loop, or through a biological loop using composting. Examples of the types of technology areas to be considered are:  

  • Sub-challenge 2.1: Carbon capture technologies  
  • Sub-challenge 2.2: Bioplastic from agricultural waste / regenerative agriculture  
  • Sub-challenge 2.3: Alternative materials from land/water-efficient carbon sinks (seaweed etc)  
  • Sub-challenge 2.4: Materials with significantly lower GHG requirements for manufacture or conversion  
  • Sub-challenge 2.5: any other technically feasible and sustainable new materials and technologies that can significantly reduce packaging carbon footprint  

Your co-creation journey 

The EIC GHG Co-creation with Unilever will be an entirely virtual service for six months, following the co-creation journey below: 

eic-ghg-timeline-unilever

Step 1: Applications and Info webinar 

To apply to the EIC GHG Co-creation with Unilever, you will have to fill the application form available here by 1st of October 2021. 

During the application process, an Info webinar (15 September 2021, 15:00 CET) will be organised to provide more information about the co-creation initiative, the application requirements, and the challenges. If you would like to attend this info-webinar, register here. 

*Please note that your registration to the info webinar does not imply that you will be selected for the co-creation initiative with Unilever. 

Step 2: Selection process 

As soon as we close the submission process, your application will be shared with Unilever, and they will proceed with the evaluation and selection of the final list of participants. You will be contacted once the selection process is concluded. However, any feedback or recommendation to the companies that were not selected is not foreseen.

 Step 3: Co-creation kick-off event – 10 November | Save the date! 

After the selection process, a two-day ideation event with Unilever will take place on 10 November 2021. This will help you better understand the challenges and start co-developing your solutions with the business partners. During this meeting, you will also have the chance to define a clear roadmap for your next steps. 

Step 4: Iteration & Development 

A period of one month to implement the roadmap that you define with Unilever and validate it with the company regularly ensuring you are steering in the right direction. 

Demo Day 

The Demo Day will showcase the final solutions and promote them to a bigger audience. Date TBD. 

Need help?   

For additional information, please check the Open Call available in the EIC Community here or refer to  our helpdesk (please choose 'EIC GHG: Co-creation with Unilever’ as the subject).    

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