“At Reckitt, our approach always starts with a deep understanding of consumer needs and scientific insight,” says Mark Ripley, Senior Vice President of Research and Development (R&D). “We don’t just study symptoms – we understand symptoms. Whether it is digestive health, pain relief, cold & flu or immunity – our portfolio is rooted in deep scientific understanding and consumer-centric design.”
Our consumers are very much part of the innovation process. They are co-creators, rather than simply end-users. By taking their needs, values and habits on board when we’re shaping our ideas – whether that’s creating a new product, developing educational information or refining the way we talk about our existing portfolio – we can make sure that any product is packaged in an accessible and consumer-friendly way.
Empowering our consumers to self-care
Creating relevant, accessible solutions is especially key for our self-care products, and designed to help people manage minor symptoms at home. Promoting self-care is intrinsically people-centric. It’s about giving everyone the best healthcare information possible, alongside trusted and effective solutions, so they can support their own health and wellbeing. “We believe that when people are equipped to care for themselves, society becomes stronger, more resilient and more equitable,” explains Mark.
No self-care product works unless it is understood in the correct way, and Reckitt’s goal is to help people feel confident about managing their health.
Aiming for access for all
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified the value of self-care in improving universal health coverage, reaching people in humanitarian situations and improving global health and well-being.1 More than half the world’s population is still not covered by essential health services2 and effective self-care can help close that gap. “Our job is to ensure we make prevention accessible,” Mark says. “At Reckitt, we take everything into account to make sure that what we deliver is both relevant and accessible for consumers wherever they are. Science is only powerful if it reaches the people who need it.”
Working through the challenges
Ensuring our innovation process runs smoothly can be a challenge. “The healthcare arena is a complex environment with constantly evolving regulations and safety standards,” Mark explains. To stay ahead of the game, we stay in close touch with our Medical, Regulatory Affairs and Safety teams, as well as with external associations and thought leaders to help set new category standards of care. By keeping up to date with current thinking and legislation, we can uncover the latest scientific and behavioural insights and unlock new pathways for innovation and growth.
Many brains make great work
The greatest ideas come from collaboration, and this is true at Reckitt – our innovation engine never runs in isolation. To make sure that we’re keeping abreast of current thinking, we take a multidisciplinary approach, reaching out to others both internally and externally to cross-fertilise ideas. As well as expert clinicians, we work with academia, startups, healthcare professionals and regulatory bodies so we can come up with the best and most timely solutions and products, based on robust evidence. “Some of our most transformative innovations have evolved from external partnerships and in-licensing opportunities,” Mark notes.
With this rigour and insight at the heart of their work, Reckitt’s R&D team apply cutting-edge science and technology to create solutions that are evidence-based, effective, relevant and scalable. “Trust is built on evidence,” says Mark, “so at Reckitt, the science will always lead.”
Looking to the future
The next frontier of self-care lies in preventative health, digital diagnostics, and personalised solutions. It’s an exciting time and we’re committed to creating solutions that put people and science first. “The future of self-care depends on all of us,” explains Mark. “It’s a privilege to be leading our organisation across a portfolio of brands that have a critical role to play improving the standard of care for consumers all over the world.”
1. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/self-care-health-interventions
2. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240080379