Colgate Open Innovation Challenge: Avoid and prevent anti-humidity/musty odor in clothes

Description

Colgate-Palmolive is seeking an anti-humidity/musty odor technology that can kill and prevent the growth or neutralization of odors on surface of synthetic and natural fibers clothes. The technology needs to have the necessary regulatory certification to support claims around the prevention of growth of the musty microorganism on the clothes.

Background

As houses get smaller, drying areas within the home get smaller, and the humidity in the air increases, consumers notice that their clothes can produce an unpleasant odor due to improper drying of their clothes. For these reasons, there is a possible consumer need for an anti-humidity/musty odor technology to prevent or neutralize odors in clothes.

Key Success Criteria

Solutions should be:

• Designed to fight the source of musty odor (geosmin, 2,4,6-trichloroanisole and 2-methylisoborneol)
• Have necessary regulatory certification to support claims
• Cost effective

Possible Approaches

• Fabric softeners product
• Spray product

Development Stage

Potential solutions should have a viable prototype/proof of concept with our current formats.

Approaches not of interest

• Approaches potentially cause safety concerns, e.g., nanoparticles
• Approaches affecting the performance of packaging, e.g., color change, odor, and weakening strength

Preferred Collaboration types

To partner with a start-up company, inventor, university, etc. for licensing, joint development, material supply or test and learn.