Driving Innovation Together: How P&G R&D and Newcastle University Are Shaping the Future of Sustainable Consumer Products
April 16, 2026
At P&G, we believe that when industry and academia work together, innovation accelerates. For more than a decade, P&G Research and Development (R&D) and Newcastle University’s Innovation Centre have built a partnership with the power to translate scientific discovery into sustainable, real-world solutions.
The partnership is rooted in common values: scientific excellence, constructive collaboration, and a drive to tackle real‑world consumer challenges. By combining Newcastle University’s academic strengths with P&G’s global reach, researchers can move from insight to impact—shaping the future of consumer products across categories, from fabric and home care to oral care and skincare.
Translating Science into Everyday Performance
Leveraging many fields of expertise, these teams are working to turn breakthrough science into scalable solutions. One example is Microarray Polymer Profiling (MAPP)—a patent‑pending, high‑throughput technology co‑developed by Newcastle University and P&G R&D to decode the complex biology of cleaning.
By allowing hundreds of real‑world soils to be analyzed simultaneously at the molecular level, MAPP has delivered new mechanistic insights, supported product claims, and helped guide the discovery of novel enzymes for future formulations. This focus underpins how P&G designs superior, science‑led products that consumers trust.
Innovation Designed with Sustainability in Mind
Through collaborative research programs, P&G R&D and Newcastle University are addressing challenges spanning the full product lifecycle: from ingredient design and manufacturing to consumer use and end‑of‑life considerations.
The CarboNation project, led by P&G R&D with Newcastle University and CPI as partners, is exploring how carbon dioxide captured from industrial waste streams can be converted into valuable raw materials for fast‑moving consumer goods. By developing efficient carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies that can be retrofitted into existing plants, the team is working toward circular, low‑carbon manufacturing pathways.
The FairWater project spans across water, energy, and consumer goods to reduce household water and energy use. By combining behavioral science, product innovation, and real‑world data from sensor‑equipped homes, the collaboration is testing how everyday routines can become more sustainable without sacrificing performance.
Nature‑Inspired Science, Real‑World Impact
Some of the partnership’s most compelling innovations are inspired by nature itself. Research at Newcastle University’s Dove Marine Laboratory led to the discovery of a novel enzyme released by seaweed‑associated bacteria—originally studied to address marine biofouling. Working with P&G R&D and Novonesis, this discovery evolved into Purezyme®, a breakthrough laundry enzyme now used in Ariel products.
Purezyme® enables effective cold‑water washing, helping reduce energy use and carbon emissions while delivering superior cleaning performance. It is a powerful example of how exploratory academic research, combined with industrial scale, can unlock meaningful sustainability benefits in consumer products.
“This collaboration exemplifies what research and innovation can achieve when expertise and ambition are shared across industry and academia,” said Lee Ellen Drechsler, PhD, P&G Vice President, Corporate Function R&D.
Investing in People and Future Talent to Shape the Future
At the core of the P&G R&D–Newcastle University partnership is a shared commitment to developing future scientific leaders. Through collaborative research and master’s programs, as well as doctoral training partnerships, students and early‑career researchers gain exposure to real industrial challenges while building scientific and commercial skills.
Programs such as the Bioscience for Sustainable Consumer Products (BISCOP) doctoral training partnership and the Process Industries: Net Zero Centre for Doctoral Training are equipping PhD students to translate research into solutions with economic and societal impact.
Spanning low‑carbon manufacturing, AI‑enabled R&D, and next‑generation skincare models, the Newcastle collaboration with P&G is defined through open exchange, lean innovation, and trusted partnership. Learn more about how P&G R&D is shaping future talent and turning science into sustainable impact.
