Schwalbach am Taunus, 28.09.2023 - Procter & Gamble (P&G) is intensifying its cross-thematic research projects in the German innovation ecosystem around the Product Supply Innovation Center (PSIC) in Kronberg. The PSIC forms the basis for collaboration with a network of regional suppliers, technology companies, research institutes and top universities. The aim is to develop global, scalable and modular solutions for the further development and decarbonization of the supply chain.
Specifically, P&G and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are expanding their existing collaboration and launching a new joint innovation platform that brings together various Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft departments from over 50 locations. This will intensify and accelerate the transfer of knowledge between Fraunhofer and P&G. Specifically, the Fraunhofer departments are working together with P&G on the new "Joint Innovation Platform" to develop sustainable project ideas in the supply chain. These will help P&G to achieve the Net-Zero 2040 target.
P&G and Fraunhofer have been working together successfully for many years. In view of the increasingly complex and interdisciplinary technological challenges associated with industrial change, P&G sees the breadth and depth of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's scientific excellence as a particular lever for scaling sustainable solutions. Fraunhofer offers knowledge and science, whereas P&G presents the applications and industrial challenges. As the problems are becoming broader and more long-term, both partners have created an integrated approach via the new joint innovation platform that raises the quality of collaboration to a new level. The platform was launched in July 2023.
"The innovation platform takes our partnership with Fraunhofer to a whole new level. We will gain new insights in strategic areas that will help us achieve our ambitious goals worldwide through modular and scalable solutions that can also be used outside P&G in industry. P&G wants to be a force for growth and a force for good. The PSIC is a place to experience innovation and openness to new climate protection technology," emphasized Angelique Terrien, Vice President Product Supply at P&G.
"With the Joint Innovation Platform, we have found an agile format with P&G in which Fraunhofer researchers can contribute their expertise on the four thematic pillars of sustainable production and logistics across institutes and in a targeted manner. I am delighted that we are further intensifying the good cooperation between P&G and Fraunhofer," says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Clausen, Chairman of the Fraunhofer Transport Alliance and Director of the IML Institute.
Ambitious targets for more climate and environmental protection
The long-term strategic partnership with Fraunhofer is based on clearly defined goals within P&G's sustainability agenda. Specifically, P&G has committed to making its more than 200 production sites, distribution centers and technical centers as well as its more than 100,000 inbound and outbound transport routes "net zero" by 2040. In addition, P&G has undertaken to protect the affected water catchment areas of all production sites as part of the internal "Water Positive Future" program and to reduce fresh water withdrawal by more than 11 billion liters per year.
P&G is also working to build outstanding supply chain sustainability data systems and provide auditable, granular and accessible data for internal and external reporting.
Collaboration via the "Joint Innovation Platform" ensures greater efficiency and
dynamism in the innovation process
The collaboration via the "Joint Innovation Platform" will ensure efficient and significantly accelerated access to Fraunhofer expertise in the four strategic areas of transportation, Scope 1&2 emissions, water and ESG data. In addition to individual modules for knowledge transfer, the new model also includes project management to plan and ensure measures to intensify the dialog between the research partners.
"Innovative spirit, digital know-how and ambitious sustainability goals are key success factors for Procter & Gamble in order to continuously demonstrate top performance for people in their everyday lives. The heart of our research beats in Germany. We continuously invest in our strong brands, many of which are manufactured in our plants here in Germany, as well as in delivery capability, quality and innovation. To ensure that the industrial transformation to 'Net Zero' succeeds and that innovation and sustainability reinforce each other, P&G relies on partnership-based approaches along the entire value chain," says Astrid Teckentrup, CEO of Procter & Gamble in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
About Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble (P&G) offers consumers around the world one of the strongest portfolios of high-quality, leading brands such as Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Braun®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head& Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Whisper® and Wick®.Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Whisper® and Wick®. P&G operates in 70 countries worldwide. For more information about P&G and its brands, visit www.pg.com and www.linkedin.com
About the PSIC
The Product Supply Innovation Center (PSIC) in Kronberg near Frankfurt was established in 2021 as one of P&G's three existing global PSIC centers to develop sustainable future supply chain solutions based on smart processes. P&G's investment in facilities and talent in various European locations has created an organization of more than 50 specialists who leverage P&G innovations and insights from collaboration with a network of suppliers, technology companies, R&D institutions and top universities.
About Fraunhofer
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, based in Germany, is the world's leading organization for application-oriented research. With its focus on future-oriented key technologies and the utilization of results in business and industry, it plays a central role in the innovation process. As a guide and driving force for innovative developments and scientific excellence, it helps to shape our society and our future. Founded in 1949, the organization currently operates 76 institutes and research facilities in Germany. Around 30,800 employees, most of whom are trained in the natural sciences or engineering, work on the annual research volume of around €3.0 billion. Of this, € 2.6 billion is spent on contract research.
Press contact:
P&G, Sulzbacher Straße 40, 65824 Schwalbach/Ts.
Gabriele Hässig, Managing Director Communications and Sustainability, e-mail: haessig.g@pg.com
Melanie Fischer, Science Communication, e-mail: fischer.mf@pg