This initiative is part of the broader 100+ Accelerator programme, a global platform designed to fast-track sustainable solutions through partnerships between leading consumer goods companies and start-ups
In a major boost for supply chain sustainability, Unilever has successfully piloted a smart liquid cleaning system at its nutrition factory in Poznan, Poland, in collaboration with emerging start-up H2Ok Innovations. This initiative is part of the broader 100+ Accelerator programme, a global platform designed to fast-track sustainable solutions through partnerships between leading consumer goods companies and start-ups.
The new AI and Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled system has significantly enhanced efficiency by reducing machine cleaning times by 20 per cent, cutting utility consumption by 10 per cent, and delivering annual savings of €100,000. The breakthrough highlights the potential of smart technologies in transforming FMCG manufacturing processes and sets a benchmark for future innovation across the industry.
Launched by Anheuser-Busch InBev and co-sponsored by Unilever, Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive, and Danone, the 100+ Accelerator provides an innovation testbed where start-ups tackle real-world challenges defined by the programme’s corporate partners. Each year, the initiative invites start-ups to propose scalable solutions to shared sustainability problems, particularly within supply chain management and R&D.
“Open innovation can be tricky when you’re sitting across the table from your competitors,” says Charlotte Ward, Global Head of Unilever’s Climate and Nature Fund. “We work to ensure the challenges set are in areas that are relevant to the entire consumer goods industry.”
She adds, “To solve the world’s greatest challenges, collaboration is essential. 100+ Accelerator provides a mechanism for like-minded businesses to learn from one another and to scale solutions quickly, which benefits their respective businesses and generates transformative impact.”
The successful deployment of H2Ok Innovations’ system demonstrates how cross-industry partnerships and open innovation can accelerate progress toward a more sustainable and efficient future for global manufacturing.
