Unilever seeks new pack partners on ‘open innovation’ site

FMCG giant Unilever (NVC-Member) is ramping up its open model of innovation for packaging and other products with the launch of a new open innovation website.The site has been developed to help the Anglo-Dutch business find the new technologies that will allow it to reach its goal of doubling in size by 2020 while reducing its overall environmental impact. Unilever cited packaging as a key technology for the open innovation site, which lists a series of technology ‘wants’ for Unilever projects. It said it was looking for lighter and more sustainable packaging which “will cut the weight, quantity and waste of our product packaging”. Unilever first laid out its plans to double its turnover, but to halve the total environmental footprint of its products, in its Sustainable Living Plan published in late 2010 (PackagingNews, 21 March 2012).