At this year's all-virtual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), consumer goods manufacturer Procter & Gamble is showcasing a new set of home technologies and products designed to tackle climate change, water use, and waste.
"What's great about CES this year is that we are very explicit about our sustainability innovation," Virginie Helias, chief sustainability officer at Procter & Gamble, told Cheddar.
The P&G LifeLab allows visitors to create an avatar to enter and explore a virtual platform. Inside are featured innovations such as Microban 24, a sanitizing spray that lasts a full day, and EC30, a water-activated cleaner that cuts out plastic packaging.
"People are seeing now the tangible effects of climate change on their lives," Helias said. "They are saying all over the world that climate change impacts their daily lives."
This awareness is leading to more people who want to reduce their own carbon footprint. Procter & Gamble is making the case that effort should begin in the home.
"When you have a footprint, it starts in your home. The water that you use, for instance, is the second highest source of greenhouse gas emission in your home."
The importance of water-use in fueling climate change is why P&G has launched the 50 Liter Home Coalition. Helias explained that a 10-minute shower uses about 100 liters of water, while the sustainable level is 50 liters per person each day.
"You can't have that without technology innovation that conserves water and allows the water to be recycled in the home," she said.
The LifeLab showcase reflects a steady evolution in P&G's product development.
Helias said she started in her role 10 years ago after pitching the position to the CEO. Since then, she's watched as sustainability became a central tenet of the company.
"At the time, it was nothing more than a department," she also told Cheddar. "Now it's a strategy. It's a built-in strategy in everything we do."
Of course, in the world of consumer goods, convenience and utility are still in P&G's pitch to consumers.
"In an era of mass disruption, consumers are increasingly relying on trusted, superior performing products to support their everyday lives," said Marc Pritchard, P&G chief brand officer, in a press release. "Our virtual P&G LifeLab Everyday demonstrates how technology fuels innovative products and how we are keeping ahead of this transformation, creating brands that make life a little bit easier, and the future a little bit brighter, each and every day."
OpenAI has appointed Slack CEO Denise Dresser as its first chief of revenue. Dresser will oversee global revenue strategy and help businesses integrate AI into daily operations. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently emphasized improving ChatGPT, which now has over 800 million weekly users. Despite its success, OpenAI faces competition from companies like Google and concerns about profitability. The company earns money from premium ChatGPT subscriptions but hasn't ventured into advertising. Altman had recently announced delays in developing new products like AI agents and a personal assistant.
President Donald Trump says he will allow Nvidia to sell its H200 computer chip used in the development of artificial intelligence to “approved customers” in China. Trump said Monday on his social media site that he had informed China’s leader Xi Jinping and “President Xi responded positively!” There had been concerns about allowing advanced computer chips into China as it could help them to compete against the U.S. in building out AI capabilities. But there has also been a desire to develop the AI ecosystem with American companies such as chipmaker Nvidia.
U.S. sports betting is booming as NFL and college football fuel massive activity. BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt breaks down trends, growth, and what’s next.
President Donald Trump says a deal struck by Netflix last week to buy Warner Bros. Discovery “could be a problem” because of the size of the combined market share. The Republican president says he will be involved in the decision about whether federal regulators should approve the deal. Trump commented Sunday when he was asked about the deal as he walked the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors. The $72 billion deal would bring together two of the biggest players in television and film and potentially reshape the entertainment industry.
Disney's changes to a program for disabled visitors are facing challenges in federal court and through a shareholder proposal. The Disability Access Service program, which allows disabled visitors to skip long lines, was overhauled last year. Disney now mostly limits the program to those with developmental disabilities like autism who have difficulty waiting in lines. The changes have sparked criticism from some disability advocates. A shareholder proposal submitted by disability advocates calls for an independent review of Disney's disability policies. Disney plans to block this proposal, claiming it's misleading. It's the latest struggle by Disney to accommodate disabled visitors while stopping past abuses by some theme park guests.
