Natura launches global challenge to eliminate packaging waste

30-Oct-2019

Enrolments for the Natura Innovation Challenge Zero Waste Packaging are open for solutions from innovators worldwide   Natura is making a global call for proposals from its network of innovators to find new means of combating waste generation and plastic pollution. Entrepreneurs, start-ups, research institutions, universities and companies are invited to present solutions for new renewable, soluble or biodegradable materials, as well as innovations in logistics, service or commercial models. The open innovation process has been in place at Natura for over 20 years, and this unprecedented challenge is being promoted in partnership with Natura Campus and Natura Startups. “For us, it is only innovation if it generates a positive impact. We believe in the power of networks to transform modern day challenges.”, says Roseli Mello, Expanded Innovation Director at Natura. The call is for solutions that have already undergone a development stage, be it in applied research, validation or scaling. All the initiatives with the potential to meet the challenge will be studied by the Natura team. The solutions selected may be developed in the form of partnerships and/or investments to ensure feasibility. “We want to connect different types of solutions, to find and integrate proposals that truly add value for our relationship network. We want to learn and to teach using collective potential, in which technology, digital, chains and commercial models come together to further increase our chances of innovating” Luciano Abrantes, Natura’s Director of Digital Innovation, explains. According to a United Nations study, 1.3 billion metric tons of trash are generated annually worldwide. In Brazil, the annual average is 78 million metric tons. In 1983, Natura was the first Brazilian cosmetics company to offer refills. Since then it has increased the use of post-consumer recycled material and green plastic in its packaging. “We are currently economizing the equivalent of the trash produced daily by 4.4 million people, but we want to go much further”, claims Product Innovation Director Daniel Gonzaga. Enrolments for the Natura Innovation Challenge Zero Waste Packaging will be open until November 30. To enter, applicants only need to fill in the form on the website: innovationchallenge.natura/Natura Innovation Challenge Zero Waste Packaging

• When: enrolments open until November 30.
• Enrolments via the website innovationchallenge.natura/
• Feedback for submissions: by March 1, 2020
• Outcomes: In the event of partnership opportunities, Natura will get in touch with the applicant to conduct a joint assessment of usage alternatives for the innovations submitted, applying best collaboration practices and guaranteeing a legal contract.

About Natura Founded in 1969, Natura is a Brazilian cosmetic, toiletry and fragrance multinational. The leader in the direct selling sector in Brazil with over 1.7 million consultants, it is part of Natura &Co, the result of the combination of the Natura, The Body Shop and Aesop brands – which had a net revenue of R$ 9.9 billion in 2017. In December 2014, Natura became the first publicly traded company in the world to receive B Corp certification, reinforcing its commitment to transparent, sustainable conduct in the social, environmental and economic dimensions. The organisation has operations in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, France, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru and the United States. Natura brand products may be acquired from Natura consultants, via the Rede Natura, the app and from company-owned stores in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Nova York, Santiago, Buenos Aires and Kuala Lumpur. For further information about the company, access www.natura.com.br. or check out its profiles on the social networks: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Natura in the USA http://www.naturabrasil.com/ Natura in France https://www.naturabrasil.fr/fr Natura in Argentina http://naturacosmeticos.com.ar Natura in Chile http://natura.cl Natura in Malaysia: www.naturamy.com About Natura Campus Launched in 2006, Natura Campus is a collaboration and relationship programme with science and technology institutions, companies and entrepreneurs. The goal is to promote partnerships and network connections for the development of innovative ideas, technologies and services for new Natura products. It conducts innovation challenges, workshops and articulates an innovation ecosystem for investment in research under development. It has already undertaken Technology challenges in the areas of chemistry and design, Hackathons and calls for project proposals jointly with FAPESP and CNPq. Natura Campus currently promotes the CAPES – Natura Campus Award, aimed at driving excellence in research in Brazil. It involves a network of 6,000 people, 110 research institutions and other actors in the innovation ecosystem. The Natura Campus Portal also receives proposals for new technologies from the network on an ongoing basis. Access: www.naturacampus.br About Natura Startups Launched in 2016, the Natura Startups Programmes is a gateway for entrepreneurs with innovative solutions who want to work with Natura. The purpose of the initiative is to collaborate, enable and accelerate opportunities – by means of partnerships and the generation of businesses with a focus on growth, differentiation and development. So far 80 start-ups have tested their solutions with Natura. Of these, 27 have effectively partnered with the most diverse company areas (start-ups interested in presenting their solutions to Natura should register on the website www.natura.com.br/startups). Among other initiatives, once a quarter the company conducts its Natura Pitch, in which start-ups may present their businesses to Natura executives and other companies in the market. The next Pitch will be held on October 28 and will be focused on digital services for the sales and back office areas.