Kew’s work with Procter & Gamble

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is home to one of the world’s most comprehensive and scientifically important collections of plants and fungi. Its resources span over 16700 plant species in living collections across the Gardens, alongside more than 8 million specimens housed in the Herbarium, Fungarium, and DNA Bank. Together, these collections provide an unparalleled foundation for understanding global biological diversity, the chemistry of natural products, and the potential applications of plant and fungal compounds.

Building on this strength, our partnership with Procter & Gamble (P&G) creates an exciting opportunity to translate deep botanical knowledge into real‑world innovation. The Chemistry Innovation & Authentication team at Kew has expertise in identification, characterization, and functional understanding of natural ingredients, which complements P&G’s globally recognized capabilities in product design, formulation, and performance evaluation. The Herbal Essences bio:renew range was developed under this joint project, where new botanical ingredients that are both effective and responsible in their sourcing and use.

The collaboration is driven by a shared commitment to sustainability, seeking natural, environmentally friendly alternatives that reduce ecological impact while maintaining high performance standards. Through this partnership, we are exploring ways to harness bio‑based materials that originate from responsibly managed natural resources, ensuring that innovation aligns with conservation values.

Ultimately, this joint effort seeks not only to unlock the potential of plant and fungal chemistry for future products but also to demonstrate how R&D partnerships with Kew support a more sustainable and resilient future for our planet.