PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
The Innovation Connections accelerator program aims to fast-track vital food system innovations; Tesco is also calling on the UK government to help accelerate scale-up of late-stage innovations in food supply chains.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
The platform features items from over 100 high-street and high-end designers at up to 60% off. All items are considered new, but feature minor defects that would prevent brands from selling them in stores at full retail prices.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
More and more ecommerce companies are considering how a circular approach, with the support of digital technology, can reduce their footprint and help consumers do the same.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
This week, Sendle and Allbirds launched creative for Earth Week that remind consumers of the vast environmental costs of our addiction to instant-gratification retail and shipping.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Thanks to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the British grocery chain has been cut off from its supply of sunflower oil; the company says it must temporarily revert to using palm oil, which it eliminated from its products in 2018.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Since 2020, Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly program has helped customers discover and shop for more sustainable products. We asked Amazon's Adam Werbach how the program began, what the company has learned, and his vision for the program’s future.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
The ‘Target Zero’ collection features products and packaging designed to be refillable, reusable or compostable; made from recycled content; or made from materials that reduce the use of plastic.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
New cellulosic bio-coating for fresh produce greatly reduces both packaging and food waste by coating the produce with, well, produce.
BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
Why are so few brands and retailers partnering to communicate their sustainability attributes at the moment of truth — when shoppers are in the right mindset to buy? A new guidebook offers 10 guiding principles and many inspirational examples to help guide brands and retailers through the process.
WALKING THE TALK -
With no end in sight to the pandemic and its many ripple effects, we can all use a little bit of brightness in our lives! So, here are some of the many companies, platforms and products aligned with a more intentional approach to consumption, that we’d be happy to support anytime.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
The new Consortium — which includes Closed Loop Partners, PepsiCo, the NextGen Consortium, the US Plastics Pact and other value chain players — aims to pilot industry-wide solutions and map tech and infrastructure investment to advance the circularity of compostable packaging in the US.
BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
The two companies have teamed up to develop an interactive, educational and entertaining experience designed to educate families on how they can conserve resources in their homes with a few simple changes.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
For retailers, the logistical challenges of returns are overwhelming. Without circularity in operations, returned items often end up in landfills. But
retailers can take small, immediate steps to set themselves up for becoming more circular — and more successful.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
The reusable packaging platform’s transition from ecommerce to in-store marks the conclusion of its hugely successful pilot and the beginning of Loop’s next phase of growth, which will see it available in-store across five countries and on four continents.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
New partnership enables foodservice operators to easily guide diners toward climate-friendly food choices. Nestlé Professional Cool Food Meals will
incorporate plant-based proteins from Sweet Earth Foods, which will be carbon neutral by 2025.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
As circular business models continue to increase in popularity, Chairish’s report finds the resale furniture industry projected to grow by 54% over the next five years; two-thirds of consumers surveyed think resale will play a significant role in the future of sustainability.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Retailers and brands that view themselves as leaders in a customer's online shopping journey, and want to keep their trust in sustainability initiatives, need to solve the root of the return culture problem: Fit. Sizeable advancements in AI and machine learning have put the perfect fit in the hands of everyone.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
The retailer is piloting the service, which helps customers prolong the life of their furniture, at IKEA Conshohocken for a limited time — with a goal of
expanding it to all of its US stores in the future.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
Shifting to new packaging formats can feel daunting for brands because of perceived costs and anticipated operational downtime. But through incremental
changes, companies can reduce reliance on less sustainable materials in an efficient, cost-effective and scalable way.