Innovation Challenges

• No specific on the cost target of the solution. 
• Depending on the type and scalability of the solution and other assessment criteria, Shell A&F may consider a potential partnership to deploy the solution across the agriculture and/or forestry value chains where relevant.

• The solution provider must be able to conduct and complete the pilot test within a period of 6-12 months or within a suitable period determined by Shell A&F.

Unilever is the largest Ice Cream manufacturer in the world, with over a billion smiles delivered every year in over 40 countries. Every day, millions of consumers choose our products from the frozen cabinets in the local baker, at a beach kiosk, or in a convenience store. These freezer cabinets keep our ice cream perfect for consumption occasions, but also present an issue relating to getting lost or stolen from the points of sale. We are looking for low-cost solutions (with a cost of not more than €10 per cabinet) to know the location of these cabinets in real time.  

Each operating country should have a central hub with the system providing the option for individual regional sales teams/distributors to manage their fleet of cabinets. Ideally, we would like an IoT/Telemetry solution that provides information on 3 parameters viz. cabinet location, temperature performance, sales from the cabinet. However, we do realize that these come at a price so a very low-cost option that gives cabinet location should suffice.

We are happy to be guided by expert advice on the most efficient and cost-effective solutions regarding the choice of IOT networks (e.g., LPWAN, bluetooth, cellular or wideband network) that we should consider.

Several off the shelf and customised solutions from several companies have been studied and found to be too expensive for implementation across our cabinet fleet.

Relevant standards 
All cabinets purchased by Unilever must comply with the regulation of the country in which it will be installed (e.g., CE, UL, CCC, NOM 022 etc.). Where no local legislation is applicable, the cabinets comply with CE or UL (Underwriting Laboratories) rules. Hence any retrofit solution being proposed should ensure that the above approvals on the cabinets are not violated as the responsibility/ liability for the optimal performance and safe working of cabinets should rest with cabinet manufacturers.

During prototype phase if approvals are difficult or time consuming to achieve then we could consider prototypes for in house lab testing. However, units that are to go into point-of-sale outlets later would need necessary approvals.

Solutions should be available for testing in 2022, with a view towards industrial application in 2023.

Unilever is the largest ice cream manufacturer in the world, with over a billion smiles delivered every year in over 40 countries. Every day, millions of consumers choose our products from the frozen cabinets in the local baker, at a beach kiosk, or in a convenience store. These point-of-sale freezer cabinets keep our ice cream perfect for consumption, but also represent a significant proportion of our greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint, due to the energy required to maintain ice cream frozen at -18°C. 

Retail emissions—specifically ice cream freezers—account for 10% of Unilever’s value chain GHG footprint, and Unilever owns a fleet of over 3 million point-of-sale freezer cabinets. These freezers are typically set to a temperature below -18°C. 

We are looking for solutions to lower the energy use per cabinet while maintaining the required ice cream quality.  These solutions could relate to the refrigeration system as well other construction aspects of the cabinet.

Our ice cream cabinets currently work using the widely used vapour compression refrigeration system. While most of the fleet uses static refrigeration, some of the special models as in scooping or verticals work with ventilated systems. Over the last few years, we have been working to reduce energy consumption of our freezers by moving to hydrocarbon refrigerants (propane and isobutane), use of energy efficient components (compressors, fan motors, and low E glass).

Other solutions that we have assessed 
The use of solid insulated lids have been considered, however ice cream being an impulse product category, the visibility of the products is key for improved sales hence use of solid/opaque lids that prevent consumers from seeing the ice cream is not accepted by the trade. Solar films and other electrically activated films that change from opaque to transparent have been tested but have either been ineffective or too expensive to implement.

Ice cream cabinets are mass produced and relatively low cost (ranging from around €120 to €400 depending on the size/volume of the models). Hence any add on cost required for the new features suggested would need to be extremely low or provide substantial benefits that outweigh the increase investment.

Unilever currently has a cabinet fleet of around three million ice cream cabinets globally with a large addition to the fleet annually.

Solutions should be available for testing in 2022, with a view towards industrial application in 2023.

WS Audiology (WSA) combines 140 years of experience and expertise in hearing technology and develops one in every three hearing aids worldwide. WSA aims to be the most sustainable hearing aid company, and we are committed to make our packaging more sustainable. 

Each one of our hearing aids comes inside a jewel case currently produced with post-consumer recycled (PCR) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or virgin acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) plastic. The jewel case has a clamshell design to provide external protection to the hearing aids that it holds within. The jewel case is white in colour and is expected to have a lifespan of 3 – 8 years, withstanding daily usage and long-term wear and tear from being carried around and opened/closed—at least twice a day. 

WSA is thus seeking to develop a more sustainable packaging material by fully or partially replacing virgin plastics used in manufacturing the jewel cases. The proposed solution can be a recycled material or full sustainable material solution, and should be able to fulfil WSA’s brand requirements, such as retaining the colour, functionality and quality of their existing jewel case packaging.

Solution providers should be able to manufacture or be willing to work with appointed manufacturers (outside of Singapore) to pilot and subsequently scale up the production of the material solution for commercial scale manufacturing.

WSA is open to receive proposals of plastic and non-plastic solutions, so long as the material is of a sustainable nature/source, and is able to match the current requirements.

The proposed technology or material solution should be able to achieve the following:

• Fully or partially (between 60 to 70%) replace virgin acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) or post-consumer recycled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
• Be of pure white colour – as close to color code RAL Signal White 9003 (CIELAB L*a*b 88, -0.40, 2.70)
• UV resistant – through the use of compatible UV inhibitors or other methods 
• Be compatible with injection moulding process
• Mechanically stable – able to withstand more than 3 drops from a height of 0.75m on both the opening mechanism and at a 45° angle from the opening side 
• Opening durability – able to last a minimum of 5,000 repeated opening and closure
• Lacquer scratch test – lacquering on the material should be able to withstand abrasion in accordance to ASTM F2357-04
• Printability – material should allow for printing on its surface, preferably via laser printing but open to other solutions
• Colour leaching – all printings on the material should not leach colour; tested by wiping with a foam that will be moistened with sweat, and colour should not remain on the foam
• Smell – all materials used for the jewel case should not release smell; smell test will be performed by WSA or its associates

• The proposed technology has to be cost effective
• Open to receive solutions of varied Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), starting from TRL 3
• Solution providers should be able to manufacture or be willing to work with appointed manufacturers (outside of Singapore) to pilot and subsequently scale up the production of the material solution for commercial scale manufacturing. 

Solution development and pilot testing are expected to be accomplished within the next 12 months for the Singapore market. WSA is committed to achieve the development of a sustainable solution for its jewel cases within the next 3 years.