RB, Lions Health and Save the Children join forces to tackle air pollution with unique innovation hack

RB, the global leader in consumer health and hygiene, has partnered with Lions Health and Save the Children to tackle the world’s largest environmental health risk* – air pollution – in an innovation challenge like no other.

Hosted at the globally renowned Lions Health, part of the International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, the RB & Lions Health Innovation Hack will bring together RB’s R&D and marketing teams with external, entrepreneurial minds from around the world, to pioneer blockbuster innovations that protect children from the devastating effects of air pollution exposure. Pollution is currently responsible for one in eight of total global deaths – killing 7 million people every year.ⁱ This figure is likely to increase and the Innovation Hack aims to inspire sustainable solutions to this global health problem.

Sharon James, Senior Vice President R&D at RB comments, “At RB, we are inspired by a purpose to deliver innovative solutions for healthier lives and happier homes across the globe. We focus on consumer driven discoveries that can drive meaningful behavioural change and want to pioneer viable solutions to fight the effects of air pollution. The R&D-led Innovation Hack will see like-minded partners from both inside and outside of our business coming together to discover and create innovations that could potentially change the lives of future generations.”

United by a common purpose, technical and commercial representatives from RB, including medical and regulatory experts will be teamed with leading creative catalysts and innovators, as they compete to find a solution that could make a real difference. RB’s long standing charity partner, Save the Children will be on hand to share insight of global health issues. The competing ideas will be presented to a judging panel in a live, open outputs session. Following the Innovation Hack, RB will explore whether any of the shortlisted ideas could have the potential for development.

Tanya Steele, Interim Chief Executive of Save the Children, comments, “Our ground-breaking partnership with RB, which began in 2003, has already allowed us to reach over 1.6 million children. This innovative partnership between Save the Children and RB harnesses the research and expertise of RB with Save the Children’s on the ground experience to stop children dying of diarrhoea. It is pioneering how the private sector and NGOs can accelerate change for children.

The Innovation Hack represents another opportunity to make a real difference to millions more and we’re delighted to be involved in such an initiative. We applaud the ambition of this activity to find a breakthrough that will help protect children across the world from the effects of air pollution exposure and reduce the number of associated health conditions.”

Louise Benson, Festival Director at Lions Health comments, “We are delighted to be hosting the Innovation Hack in partnership with RB and Save the Children. The Lions Health festival celebrates life-changing creativity in the healthcare industry and we hope we can inspire some award-winning creations of the future.”

The RB & Lions Health Innovation Hack will take place in Cannes, France, from 18-19 June 2016. Competing teams will present their resulting product innovations during an outputs session, open to all Lions Health ticket holders, held at Palais II at 11.00 (local time) on Sunday 19 June.

More information can be found on the Cannes Lions website.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

For more information, to request an interview with an RB, Lions Health or Save the Children spokesperson either prior to the hack or at the hack itself, or if you would like to attend the outputs session, please contact:

Rebekah Lee: Rebekah.Lee@virgohealth.com / 020 8939 1254

Beth Whitworth: Beth.Whitworth@virgohealth.com / 020 8939 1266

About RB

RB is the world’s leading consumer health and hygiene company. Inspired by a purpose to deliver innovative solutions for healthier lives and happier homes, RB is in the top 20 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. Its health, hygiene and home portfolio is led by global Powerbrands including Nurofen, Strepsils, Gaviscon, Mucinex, Durex, Vanish, Dettol and Scholl.

About RB R&D

R&D at RB is truly unique and proud to be different. We focus on Consumer Driven Discovery - understanding consumers’ needs and discovering new ways to innovate and change their lives. Our goal is to initiate and drive and maintain innovations that are consumer-preferred, responsible and sustainable, because people, society and the environment go hand-in-hand.

At RB R&D research, regulatory and medical science all have a voice. Together as one global organisation, we embrace the fusion of science, emotion and creativity, with passion and belief to inspire and discover our best ideas – ideas that make a difference and lead to healthier lives and happier homes.

Find out more about R&D at RB here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9j7JGCAafo

About Lions Health - 18 & 19 June 2016, Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France

Lions Health is a global annual awards for creative excellence in pharma and healthcare & wellness communications, judged by international industry professionals. The awards form part of a two-day Festival of content, learning and debate that will explore the essential and unique issues relating to the world of healthcare communications, present exhibitions and screenings of the work being judged, and offer unrivalled networking opportunities. Lions Health is organised by Lions festivals. www.canneslions.com/lions_health/

About Save the Children

We do whatever it takes to save children. From their first moments of life, we work to get children the healthcare, food and water, safety and education they need to survive and thrive. We're on the ground in 120 countries and we’re there for children in their toughest moments, in the toughest places. Our pioneering work helps give children, no matter where they’re born, the chance to fulfil their potential. Last year we responded to 97 emergencies and reached 15.4 million children directly through our work. www.savethechildren.org.uk

Save the Children's partnership with RB, first launched in 2003, has raised over £30 million to date and reached 1.6 million children. Save the Children and RB are combining expertise and skills to target the devastating global death rate from diarrhoea in children under five with programmes in India and Nigeria.

*World Health Organisation – http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/air-pollution/en/