FOCUS ON
Phosphate-free ADD has better
spotting performance
Access Business Group International
LLC has been awarded Patent No US
7,781,387 B2 for a dry, phosphate-free
automatic dishwashing detergent
(ADD). The detergent contains a base
that includes one or more of a sulfate,
a carbonate, a citrate and a silicate; a
nonionic surfactant; a spot reduction
system; an enzyme system; and an
oxygen bleaching agent. The improved
spotting and filming performance is
provided by the spot reduction system
which combines a polyacrylate and a
carboxymethyl inulin.
HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Oct
2010, 47 (10), 32
Detergent patented by Henkel
German company Henkel has
received Patent No US 7,781,389 B2
for a bleaching agent-containing
detergent or cleaning agent. The
composition contains a particulate
phthalimidoperoxyalkanoic acid, zinc
ions and a phosphonocarboxylic acid.
It may additionally include surfactants
with a nitrogen-containing head group
and/or other active substances.
HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Oct
2010, 47 (10), 32
Unit dose fabric treatment patented by
Sun Products
The Sun Products Corp has secured
Patent No US 7,763,579 B2 for a
method of preparing a unit dose fabric
treatment. The method involves the
use of a liquid fabric treatment
composition containing one or more
soaps and a plasticizer produced
from a reactive premix composition
consisting of an ester-containing soap
precursor, a base material, optionally
a solvent and water. The reaction
temperature is 50-100°C.
HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Oct
2010, 47 (10), 32
ENVIRONMENT
Unilever to halve environmental
impact by 2020
Anglo-Dutch consumer products
major Unilever wants to halve the
JANUARY 2011
S U R FA C TA N T S
environmental impact (greenhouse
gas emissions, water consumption,
waste generation) not only of its own
production but also of its suppliers
and consumers by no later than 2020,
as part of its global sustainability
plan. Through its Sustainable Living
Planet initiative it also intends that all
the agricultural raw materials it uses
will come from sustainable agriculture
by 2020 at the latest, and that by
2015 100% of the palm oil it uses will
be produced sustainably. Bit by bit the
entire production chain will undergo
major improvements in sustainability
and durability. In addition, Unilever
wants to improve the hygiene
standards of 1 bn people in Asia,
Africa and Latin America, thus also
reducing childhood mortality. By
selling the water purifier Pureit it
intends to make clean drinking water
available for 0.5 bn people. The
company’s products include Omo
laundry products and Dove personal
care products.
Het Financieele Dagblad, 4 & 15 Nov 2010, (Website:
http://www.fd.nl/) (in Dutch)
COMPANY
RESULTS
P&G delivers 2% growth in net sales
for 1Q 2011
The Procter & Gamble Co (P&G)
reported net sales of $20.1 bn for 1Q
2010-2011 (quarter ended 30 Sep
2010), up 2% behind broad-based
volume growth. Organic sales grew
4%. Volume increased 8%, with
growth in all major geographic
regions and five of six business
segments. Unit volume was up double
digits in developing regions and mid-
single digits in developed regions. Net
earnings from continuing operations
increased 2% to $3.1 bn for the
quarter. Key initiatives for the quarter
included the North American
launches of Tide with Acti-Lift, Gain
dishwashing liquid and Febreze Set ‘n
Refresh; and brand restages of
Pantene in Asia and Downy in North
America. Beauty net sales were in
line with 1Q 2009-2010 at $4.9 bn
during 1Q 2010-2011 on unit volume
growth of 4%. Volume in developing
regions increased double digits, while
volume in developed regions declined
slightly. Net earnings increased 7% to
$829 M. Fabric Care and Home Care
1Q net sales increased 3% to $6.3 bn
on 10% unit volume growth. Volume
in developing regions grew double
digits, while volume in developed
regions was up high single digits.
Volume increased by high single
digits in Fabric Care and by double
digits in Home Care. Net earnings
decreased 7% to $937 M as sales
growth was more than offset by
operating margin contraction.
P&G earnings 1Q 2010-2011, 27 Oct 2010 (The
Procter & Gamble Co, 1 or 2, Procter & Gamble Plaza,
Cincinnati, OH 45201, USA, tel: +1 513 983 1100,
website: http://www.pg.com)
Reckitt Benckiser: strong 3Q 2010
results
Reckitt Benckiser’s 3Q 2010 figures
show an uplift in margins, boosted by
its continuing cost-cutting measures.
Gross margin jumped by 80 basis
points to 60.2%, while operating
margin rose by 210 bps to 24.7%. Net
revenues were up 7% at constant
exchange rates to £2.1 bn while net
income rose 14% to £426 M. For the
year to date (YTD), net revenues
were up 6% (constant exchange) to
£6.2 bn and net income increased
16% to £1.15 bn. While 3Q net
revenues at the North America &
Australia division (27% of total) rose
by just 2% to £593 M, with operating
profit up 17%, the star performer was
its developing-markets division (23%
of total), where sales surged by 18%
to £481 M and operating profit rose
28%. In the latter markets, the Dettol
personal care range delivered an
excellent result while growth in Fabric
Care was driven by Vanish. However,
Reckitt suffered flat revenues in
Europe (42% of total revenue),
reporting net revenues of £843 M
(£862 M for its 3Q 2009) and
operating profit of £196 M (£197 M).
For the first nine months of 2010, this
segment has reported net revenues
of £2.595 bn (£2.644 bn) and
operating profit of £597 M (£600 M).
Growth came mainly in Health &
Personal Care, Home Care and
Dishwashing with the launches of
Dettol No Touch Hand Soap System
and Quantumatic both contributing.
The performance of Fabric Care was
impacted by increased competitive
5