Procter & Gamble is following in the footsteps of other major companies such as L’Oreal by investing in a research project to develop artificial skin for cosmetics product testing.

P&G is funding a five-year research project in association with the Singaporean government’s Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR). A*STAR will be inviting scientists from more than 25 national research institutes to apply for grants in association with the project.  

To create artificial skin, a 3-D printer would deliver skin cells and hydrogel, layer by vertical layer, into patterns that promote skin-tissue growth. The research project is just one component of a US$44 million, five-year research program between P&G and A*STAR. The program expands on a research collaboration between the two organizations that began in 2010.

P&G joins a handful of other consumer goods firms seeking to find alternative testing methods to replace animal testing. Europe banned cosmetics testing on animals in 2013. Animal testing is also now banned in Israel, India, Norway and New Zealand.

In April, we reported that L’Oreal had joined forced with San Diego-based 3D bioprinting firm Organovo on a three-phase research project to develop artificial skin tissue.