News 24.07.2019

Need to Know

The UK’s first low-ABV pub, Saint Iris Adriatica offers whole-body skincare and British women are more financially independent than ever.

Snøhetta uses architecture to propose slower tourism

Path of Perspectives, Snøhetta, Innsbruck
Path of Perspectives by Snøhetta, Innsbruck
Path of Perspectives by Snøhetta, Innsbruck

Innsbruck, Austria – The Path of Perspectives introduces 10 structures to highlight the unique features of an alpine trail.

Snaking along the Northern Limestone Alps, Snøhetta’s architectural interventions are designed to blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. By allowing visitors to experience the alpine mountains from different perspectives, the structures encourage people to spread equally throughout the area, rather than gathering at a single viewing point.

The 10 elements, each shaped from Corten steel, are inscribed with quotes from Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. ‘The words invite visitors to take a moment and reflect, both inwardly and out over the landscape, giving a dual meaning to the path of perspectives,’ reads the studio’s press release.

As travel becomes cheaper and tourist numbers grow, Snohetta is offering a solution to the overtourism epidemic by discouraging crowding.

Swoon sets out to redefine sweetener

Swoon, US Swoon, US
Swoon, US Swoon, US

New York – The brand has launched a new liquid sugar substitute naturally sweetened with monk fruit.

Swoon’s first-of-its-kind sweetener feels, tastes and acts like simple syrup, meaning it can be used to sweeten a variety of hot and cold beverages, from tea and coffee, to cocktails and lemonades. According to the brand, Swoon can be swapped for refined sugar or syrups on a 1:1 ratio.

The product contains zero sugar and is an all-natural alternative to artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose and aspartame. Instead, Swoon’s natural sweetness comes from monk fruit, a melon that has zero glycaemic impact and is safe for diabetics. In fact, developing a product that doesn’t raise blood sugar was key focus for co-founder Jennifer Ross, herself a Type 1 diabetic.

As consumers – particularly Generation Z – try to reduce their refined sugar intake, food and beverage brands must consider their sugar-free offerings.

Sainsbury’s pub challenges binge-drinking culture

London – The supermarket has launched The Clean Vic, a traditional take on the British pub that will only sell no and low-alcohol beverages.

Serving a wide range of alternatives to beer, wine and spirits, each drink available at the pub is entirely non-alcoholic or has an ABV of just 0.5%. Visitors also have the chance to taste Celtic Soul, the UK’s first non-alcoholic dark distillate, which offers a refined drinking experience similar to that of drinking whiskey.

The Clean Vic is also offering masterclasses hosted by Millie Gooch, founder of Sober Girl Society, for those looking for inspiration on how to cut down their alcohol intake. According to Sainsbury’s, the launch coincides with a 31.8% increase in its sales of no and low alcohol products, recorded over the last 12 weeks.

With this space, Sainsbury’s is targeting Low-proof Drinkers, who are eschewing the extremes of binge-drinking and abstinence in favour of a more considered relationship with alcohol.

The Clean Vic, Sainsbury's, London

Symbiotic bodycare inspired by the Balkans

Wake-Up Droplets by Saint Iris Adriatica Wake-Up Droplets by Saint Iris Adriatica

London – Wellness-inspired skincare brand Saint Iris Adriatica has developed a brightening serum for both face and body.

The brand’s Wake-Up Droplets are the latest addition to its line of whole-body skincare – or what it refers to as symbiotic bodycare – which uses naturally active ingredients inspired by the Adriatic Sea. Containing vitamin C for its antioxidant properties, as well as prebiotic pomegranate enzyme and Adriatic mountain daisy extract to target pigmentation, the gel-like serum is intended to be used all over.

Further blurring the lines between skincare and bodycare, the packaging design reflects the Balkan's spas and apothecaries, while offering a gender-neutral, contemporary take on its Adriatic heritage. As such, Saint Iris Adriatica demonstrates how brands are developing more efficacious formulas and highlighting the benefits of a body-centric approach to skincare. For more, read our Rethinking Bodycare microtrend.

Stat: Women’s attitudes shift around shared finances

An increasing number of women in the UK are choosing not to share their wealth with their partner, according to a study by Netwealth. The survey of nearly 4,000 British women found that more than a quarter of those between the ages of 16 and 34 are opting to keep their financial assets separate, while 55% of women aged over 55 choose to share their wealth.

As many as 45% of women say keeping their wealth separate is to maintain financial independence, while 40% prefer to manage their money themselves. ‘The traditional approach to managing finances jointly is being overturned by a new generation of financially more autonomous females,’ says Charlotte Ransom, CEO of Netwealth.

In this age of Uncoupled Living, financial brands must ensure they are catering to the Women’s Wealth Market.

Thought-starter: Is it time for a re-usable packaging revolution?

Growing concern about the environmental impact of plastic packaging is driving innovations in re-usable and refill concepts among retailers and FMCG brands. Foresight writer Alex Hawkins explores this burgeoning market.

The pressure is mounting on brands and retailers to address the issue of single-use packaging and the glut of waste it creates, with consumers, environmental organisations and new legislation calling for immediate action.

In response, a growing number of retailers are embracing packaging-free initiatives – from dedicated aisles in supermarkets to entire stores. ‘Retailers recognise how important it is to tackle plastic pollution, removing it where possible and ensuring all packaging is recyclable,’ says Peter Andrews, head of sustainability policy at the British Retail Consortium.

Online platform Useless, for example, is a directory for zero-waste stores. Created by ethical agency Nice and Serious, the Useless website helps shoppers find London-based retailers offering loose or unpackaged produce, alongside refill services for home cleaning products and toiletries.

Read the full the Re-usable Packaging Market here.

Blueland, US
Previous News Articles
Ocado’s Shopping List Stories campaign finds emotional value in the weekly shop

News

Ocado’s Shopping List Stories campaign finds emotional value in the weekly shop

Ocado is reframing grocery shopping as an emotional experience with Shopping List Stories, a new campaign by Uncommon Creative Studio.
Food And Drink : Supermarket : Branding And Advertising
Foresight Friday: Alice Crossley, senior foresight analyst

News

Foresight Friday: Alice Crossley, senior foresight analyst

Every Friday, The Future Laboratory team offers an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, ...
Foresight Friday : Ff : Lionesses
Stat: Netflix confirms anime watching is no longer niche

News

Stat: Netflix confirms anime watching is no longer niche

More than half of Netflix’s 300m global subscribers now watch anime, according to proprietary figures shared by the streamer.
Pop Culture & Media : Youth : Technology
The Faroe Islands bring back the joy of getting lost

News

The Faroe Islands bring back the joy of getting lost

As algorithm-driven travel fuels overtourism, a new initiative is challenging travellers to let go of planning and control.
Travel : Tourism : The Faroe Islands
Thai perfume brand Journal turns fragrance samples into NFC collectables

News

Thai perfume brand Journal turns fragrance samples into NFC collectables

Fragrance brand Journal is rewriting the rules of scent sampling with a wearable fragrance tester that doubles as a social connector.
Beauty : Fragrance : Technology
Stat: Survey finds hardening stances on office attendance are impacting UK staff wellbeing

News

Stat: Survey finds hardening stances on office attendance are impacting UK staff wellbeing

Hardening return-to-office mandates are fuelling anxiety among UK workers, with 38% reporting that media coverage of stricter attendance policies i...
Office : Workplace : Stat
Innovation Debrief 2025–2026 report goes live

News

Innovation Debrief 2025–2026 report goes live

Discover the top 50 innovations acknowledging, driving and anticipating change in our new Innovation Debrief 2025–2026 report. 
Innovation Debrief 2024-2025 : Future Trends 2026 : Cultural Foresight
Joe Wicks’ Activate turns movement into play for kids

News

Joe Wicks’ Activate turns movement into play for kids

Fitness trainer Joe Wicks is swapping live-action workouts for animation with Activate – a lively new series of five-minute fitness bursts designed...
Fitness : Health And Wellbeing : Gen Alpha
IKEA creates open-air library along the Seine in Paris

News

IKEA creates open-air library along the Seine in Paris

IKEA has unveiled the Billyothèque, a pop-up outdoor library transforming a stretch of Paris’s Seine riverbank into a space for slow, serendipitous...
Ikea : Reading Room : Reading Experience
Stat: US teens turn to AI companions for life advice

News

Stat: US teens turn to AI companions for life advice

A new study by Common Sense Media reveals that 72% of US teens aged 13–17 have tried AI companions, with over half now using them regularly.
Technology : AI : Stat
You have 1 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN