Reckitt Benckiser to launch innovation challenge to tackle air pollution

Reckitt Benckiser is launching a special innovation challenge to devise new ways of combating the global problem of air pollution.

The company is partnering with Lions Health and Save the Children to launch the RB & Lions Health Innovation Hack, which will see the firm's research and marketing teams partner with external entrepreneurs from around the world to brainstorm ways of protecting children from the effects of exposure to pollutants.

It will be hosted at Lions Health, part of the International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, on June 18th and 19th. Competing teams will present their resulting product innovations during an outputs session on the 19th.

The aim will be to inspire sustainable solutions to a problem that is currently estimated to cause one-eighth of all global deaths.

Sharon James, senior vice-president for Reckitt Benckiser, said: "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."

The company is dedicated to supporting humanitarian efforts worldwide, having provided a relief package worth $1 million to help combat the Zika virus outbreak earlier this year.