Menu Home Brands Current page Innovation Innovating boldly for people and planet Every day, 2.5 billion people around the world use our products, and every one of these products is developed using world-class science and technology. We invested €800m into R&D in 2020 and we have over 20,000 patents protecting the ideas, discoveries and breakthroughs that our global team of 5,000 world-leading experts produce. €800m investment in R&D in 2020 20,000 patents protecting our ideas 5,000 experts in 60 countries We’ve been innovating for over 100 years – from re-inventing soap in the late 19th century to pioneering sustainable living today - we innovate for people, for society and for our planet. Experience innovation Watch on Experience innovation Our people are specialists: they are innovators, scientists, engineers, chefs, technologists, regulatory experts and data scientists in fields ranging from material chemistry to animal testing alternatives. We’re very proud to say that over 50% of our senior roles are held by women and 70% of our innovations are enabled through our global network of innovation partners. Sustainable Sustainability is fundamental to everything we do. Research and development powers our ambitious targets, re-inventing the science that makes our products, and partnering with the best minds on our planet. Digital We track over a billion digital consumer connections every day for insights, trends and opportunities. We run automated technology to bring better products to market more quickly and efficiently. Biological Next generation biology is unlocking significant benefits that are essential to us reaching our climate and nature goals. We’re developing world-leading expertise in-house and through partnerships. The next generation is digital Technology sits at the heart of our approach to innovation: we are building automated technology into our innovation centres. Our UK Materials Innovation Factory (MIF) has the highest concentration of robots doing material chemistry work in the world. It delivers data ten times faster than traditional methods. We run virtual tests and scenarios to optimise products before the lab stage, thereby innovating sooner and cutting time to market - in one year we can perform 12,000 rapid product tests. Shanghai, China is home to our Artificial Intelligence Hub where we use insights from real time data to prototype innovations and test them via e-commerce in just a matter of days. Fast, efficient, effective innovating. The next generation is sustainable Making superior products that are kind to the planet and to society, including packaging, ingredients and meat alternatives. Research and development is powering our move away from petro-chemicals, stopping plastic pollution and fixing the broken food system, in collaboration with our partners. Our goal is to make a Clean Future. One of the ways we will do this is by replacing 100% of the carbon derived from fossil fuels in our Home Care products with renewable or recycled carbon. video.pause The next generation is biological Innovation in biology unlocks significant benefits and will be a driver in achieving our climate and nature goals. We are a world leader in the microbiome space and have more than 100 patents in this area alone. We are exploring its influence on all aspects of health and wellbeing. We are also deepening our understanding of the skin and innovating accordingly. One example of this is a new pro-lipids technology that helps the skin to repair its barrier from the inside out. As poor hygiene and sanitation continues to cause untold damage to people around the world, we are developing safe, effective products that kill viruses and bacteria, thereby reducing preventable illnesses. Science is everywhere Every Unilever product is based on an innovation crafted by our experts in collaboration with our network of partners. We translate our scientific discoveries into everyday products that care for the planet and improve people’s health, confidence and wellbeing. We focus on hygiene, skin care, premium beauty, plant-based foods and functional nutrition, such as vitamins, minerals and supplements, whilst constantly evolving alongside our consumers’ ever-changing lives and tastes. Our ground-breaking Magnum Vegan range We need to innovate to succeed. And to succeed we need to make sustainable living commonplace. section.skipThisSection Our Story Innovation has always been at the heart of our business. It's how we progress. It's at the core of our business strategy. Innovation in action We innovate for our consumers, for superior performance, for value for money, and for sustainability - for the planet. A world of R&D World class innovation makes a world of difference SEAC Our Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC) assures the safety and environmental sustainability of our products and the processes we use to make them. Previous page: Home Care Next page: Our brands Share this page facebook twitter linkedin email Connect with us We're always looking to connect with those who share an interest in a sustainable future. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Contact us Get in touch with Unilever PLC and specialist teams in our headquarters, or find contacts around the world. Contact us This is Unilever's global company website © Unilever 2021 What's in our products? Contact Legal notice UK Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement Accessibility Vulnerability Disclosure Policy Cookie Notice Privacy Notice Sitemap Cookie Settings