P&G
History.

A legacy of forward-thinking

For over 180 years, we’ve challenged norms and shaped the future — from the products we put on the shelf to the people we bring on our team. Click on a category to explore the milestones that made us who we are today.

Serendipitous moments

Community

Innovative products

Revolutionary technology

Everyday practices

Putting people first

Sustainability

Moments of brilliance

Serendipitous strokes of genius and passion-fuelled ideas created iconic brands and defined us as a company.

OUR FUTURE

Open call for ideas

Our Connect + Develop programme helps us collaborate with innovators around the world to create solutions for our consumers’ needs.

Learn more

2000

A food wrap that whitens teeth: Glad Press’n Seal & Crest Whitestrips

To combat the problem of cling film losing its grip, P&G develops a technology and creates Glad Press’n Seal. At the same time, a young employee working on at-home teeth whitening products links up with his mentor who shares a prototype of the food wrap with him. Sparked by this new idea, they cut the wrap into small strips, and apply it to their teeth. Shortly after, Crest Whitestrips is developed.

1998

One insight that led to easier cleaning for all: Always & Swiffer Wet Jet

A consumer explains to a product researcher that while she likes Mr. Clean liquid, it doesn’t make the cleaning process any easier. She opens her broom cupboard — full of mops, brushes, and buckets — and asks him to clean that up. Our researchers combine our capabilities in highly absorbent non-wovens, like the ones used in Always and Pampers, with our cleaner solutions expertise, and create both the Swiffer Wet Jet and the Quick Clean products.

1961 Pampers diapers packaging — 1961

A grandfather inspired by his grandson: Pampers

While looking after his first grandchild, a P&G researcher quickly notices how messy terry nappies are and that they have to be carried around until returning home. This leads him and fellow researchers to develop a better and more affordable disposable nappy. Since then, Pampers has developed continuously — moving from pins to tapes, becoming thinner and more cloth-like, and with custom designs for babies at every stage of development.

1973 Bounce packaging — 1973

A softener for the dryer: Bounce

With the arrival of tumble dryers in homes, static cling becomes a key issue. P&G finds a new way to deliver fabric softener via a towel. Research quickly leads us to an inventor who had already figured it out, and we acquire the technology. Bounce dryer sheets are introduced as a fresh alternative to liquid fabric softeners.

1894 VapoRub bottle — 1894

A father's concern: VapoRub

A pharmacist develops several home remedies, such as cough syrups and other liquids that he sells in his local shop. One day his infant son becomes unwell. Unsure if any of the ingestible products would be effective, he creates an externally-applied salve that releases cough-soothing vapours when heated by the body. His son’s health improves, and generations around the world grow up with VapoRub.

A corporate force for good

Our employees have been the driving force behind our support for our environment, communities, and people — a practice that has been ingrained in our culture for over a century.

Children smiling and holding a glass of purified water — OUR FUTURE

Building our impact

Each year, we actively continue to integrate citizenship into our business practices. The more we do that, the bigger the impact we can have on the people we serve, the communities where we live and work, and the broader world that surrounds us.

See what we’re up to now

A girl kicking with her leg — 2015

Always #LikeAGirl

The most-liked commercial from the 2015 Super Bowl changes the conversation about girls and sports, taking a derogatory phrase and making it one of empowerment, strength, and pride. Millions of girls around the world rally to change #LikeAGirl to mean amazing things. This massive engagement starts to change public perception: while only 19% of girls had positive associations with the phrase “like a girl” before the campaign, 76% agree they no longer view the phrase as an insult after watching the Always #LikeAGirl film.

2012

Honoured in the community

The United Way — a not for profit organisation that fights for health, education, and financial stability — celebrates its 125th anniversary and awards us with The Spirit of America Award, its highest national honour for any corporation. We have always set great store by supporting our local communities, starting in 1915, with Cincinnati’s first coordinated community charity following devastating floods in the region.

A member of Tide Loads of Hope programme helping with laundry — 2005

Tide Loads of Hope

The programme is launched to help families hit by natural disaster by washing, drying, and folding laundry for them. By 2012, we wash more than 34,000 loads of laundry for families affected by disasters, including Hurricane Katrina, the San Diego wildfires, and Hurricane Ike. In 2017 alone, the Tide Loads of Hope programme washes 3,100 loads of laundry.

Products that broke the mould

P&G's history is full of innovations that solved problems and inspired others in the industry to follow.

Business women in a meeting — OUR FUTURE

Inventing the products we need

Working with our own experts and innovators and by cooperating with others, we’re identifying the consumer needs that aren’t being met, and developing technology to fulfil them.

See what we’re working on now.

1955 Crest packaging — 1955

Preventing tooth decay

Our researchers collaborate with Indiana University to develop the first stable fluoride toothpaste. Crest is introduced and becomes the first fluoride toothpaste clinically proven to fight cavities and help prevent tooth decay — the second-most prevalent disease at the time. We also start a dialogue with dentists, enlisting them to help patients prevent dental issues instead of just treating them — dramatically changing the way people think about taking care of their teeth. In 1960, the American Dental Association recognises Crest as effective against cavities, catapulting the brands credibility.

1949 Oral-B soft toothbrush — 1949

The soft toothbrush

A Californian dentist invents Oral-B toothbrushes using soft nylon bristles, out of concern for his patients gums. As a small entrepreneur, he sells them only to his dentist friends who in turn recommend the brand to their patients. Oral-B will grow to become one of the largest global brush brands.

1946 Tide packaging — 1946

Tide, the washday miracle

In 1933, Dreft is introduced as the first-ever household synthetic detergent, but researchers continue to develop a product that can clean the consumer’s toughest stains. After almost a decade of failed work, the project is ordered to stop. But for 7 years, the lead researcher secretly works on the product in his spare time. By 1946, he has created a game-changing product which is introduced as Tide. Called “the washday miracle”, it cleans better than anything on the market.

Tech that revolutionised the industry

If there’s one thing we know, it’s that there is always a smarter, more efficient, or better way of doing things. This principle has led to P&G products that have changed the way of thinking in the various sectors.

Various Charmin toilet paper packaging — 1965

A new way to make toilet paper

Recognising that people could only buy paper that was either soft or strong, Charmin creates a new way to allow for both in the same tissue, calling it CPF. With this new technology comes the famous ad campaign, “Please don’t squeeze the Charmin”.

Practices that improve people's lives

Providing customers with quality products that improve their day-to-day lives has driven our existence for over 180 years.

Image of Alchemy bottle and herbs — OUR FUTURE

Ingredient transparency

We’re committed to continuing transparency about the ingredients we use (and don’t use) so that you can be confident when you choose P&G products.

See our fragrance ingredients list here

Women in office — 1941

Talking to consumers

We become one of the first companies to formally respond to consumer correspondence. By 1974, free-phone numbers allow consumers to contact us directly. By the 1990s we incorporate email, and with the advent of social media in the 2000s, connecting with consumers becomes easier than ever. In 2011, we invent a listening solution which lets brands monitor what consumers are saying about their products in real-time.

1924

Start of market research

Dr Paul "Doc" Smelser, an economist from Johns Hopkins University, joins the team. He collects statistical data, breaking down consumers by income and background, making us the first company to conduct deliberate, data-based market research with consumers. This allows us to improve consumer understanding and anticipate their needs to create products that improve everyday life.

Employees of Ivorydale R&D facility — 1890

First R&D lab

R&D quickly becomes a critical function at P&G and our first lab is added to the Ivorydale facility. By the 1920s, R&D is an integrated division of our company, employing a staff of several hundred young men and women. The research department develops ways to improve products, then passes on its findings to be translated into new manufacturing processes.

A company that puts people first

What enables us to be one of the largest consumer goods companies in the world is filling our buildings with passionate, inspired, motivated people who believe in going the extra mile, every day.