News 02.07.2024

Need to Know

Wallmakers’ sustainably made Toy Storey home, Asda introduces Nanzones and why UK consumers are ready to use AI to buy fashion.

Wallmakers turns unwanted toys into sustainable Toy Storey home

Toy Storey by Wallmakers, India
Toy Storey by Wallmakers, India
Toy Storey by Wallmakers, India

India – Architecture studio Wallmakers has constructed a house in North Kerala, India, repurposing some 6,200 unwanted toys. 

Toy Storey House was designed to address the environmental concerns surrounding the amount of plastic used in children’s toy manufacturing and the high level of toy consumption in the Vatakara region where the house is located.

Designed to be somewhere local children can come to visit their old toys, as well as a functioning home, the house was designed in a circular shape to ensure accessibility from every side. Each curved wall features discarded toys placed between earth blocks and Mangalore tiles, allowing light penetration and cross-ventilation throughout the space. 

Sustainability is integral to the house’s infrastructure. The central courtyard and composite wall are constructed from on-site compressed stabilised earth blocks (CSEBs) while a ferrocement shell domed roof conserves energy and materials by reducing reinforcement needs.

Eco-conscious architects are increasingly looking to innovative materials, local sourcing and community to design Regenerative Homes such as Toy Storey House, that embody the kind of creative imagination needed to build a more sustainable future.

Strategic opportunity

Collaborate with local communities to collect recyclable materials for construction projects, fostering involvement and inspiring deeper engagement with sustainable living practices

The Every Company and Landish Foods unveil protein coffee and matcha

Fermy, US Fermy, US
Fermy, US Fermy, US

US – Functional protein specialist The Every Company and Landish Foods, a leader in nutritional wellness, have introduced Fermy, a new brand featuring protein coffee enhancer and protein matcha latte ready-to-mix powders. 

‘So many of us with rushed mornings are not getting enough protein to start the day, especially quality protein,’ said Daniel Novak, CEO of Landish Foods, in a press release. These innovative products are powered by Every’s egg white protein, offering 8g of highly digestible protein per serving. Fermy also includes MCT – a type of healthy fat called medium-chain triglyceride – and lion’s mane mushroom, catering for consumers seeking easy, clean and sustainable protein with brain-boosting benefits. 

This launch follows successful introductions of Every-powered functional beverages like pressed-juicery smoothies and Pulp Culture’s protein-boosted hard juices. As explored in our Functional Feasting macrotrend report, these products meet the demand for functional, protein-dense beverages that support health-first lifestyles with superior flavour and texture. 

Strategic opportunity

Consider expanding your product line with functional ingredients – for instance, can you use functional mushrooms or adaptogens to stay ahead of the trend?

Asda introduces Nanzones for older football fans

UK – British supermarket chain Asda has launched in-store football fan zones for senior citizens to watch the Euro 2024 matches.

The Nanzones opened in Asda stores in Watford, Manchester and Liverpool at the end of June, providing a welcoming environment for older sports fans to socialise while enjoying the England games.

More than 1.9m seniors are expected to watch football alone this summer (source: Asda). Nanzones offer free, safe and welcoming spaces with snacks and drinks for people of all ages to come and watch the matches alongside older fans.

Asda has also called for people to check in on older relatives, friends and neighbours and offer those who can’t make it to a Nanzone some companionship during the Summer of Sport. The aim is to reduce loneliness and strengthen local community bonds.

In our Boomers Now and Next: From Ageing to Becoming macrotrend report, we explored how care networks, inter-generational mixing and regular socialisation are essential to combating loneliness in older citizens. Asda’s Nanzones provide fun and social community spaces to enjoy the upcoming sporting fixtures.

Nanzones by Asda, UK

Strategic opportunity

Court the silver pound by hosting or sponsoring community events such as coffee mornings or book clubs that foster familiarity with your brand while creating social spaces for older citizens

Stat: UK consumers are ready to use AI to buy fashion

T Phone by Deutsche Telekom, Germany T Phone by Deutsche Telekom, Germany

UK – Artificial intelligence is revolutionising fashion retail by refining purchasing functionality, ensuring seamless user experiences and optimising omnichannel strategies, according to Drapers’ new report, Connected Consumer 2024

In a survey of 2,000 UK adult consumers aged 18–60, more than a third (34%) of shoppers said they are open to using AI for deals and promotions, and 27% for searching for fashion products. Satisfaction with AI chatbots is notably high; 35% of the shoppers who have used AI chatbot services say they are satisfied with them, compared with just 7% who say they are dissatisfied.

This trend is significant as 59% of shoppers purchase fashion online at least once a month. Retailers like Zalando are already using AI to enhance search capabilities, preparing for spikes in demand during major events such as the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

For more insights and best-in-class examples of retailers using AI, head to our EQ-Commerce macrotrend report. 

Strategic opportunity

Introduce AI to provide personalised recommendations and styling advice, using data on consumer preferences, past purchases and browsing behaviour to curate tailored shopping experiences

Previous News Articles
Louis Vuitton brings La Beauté to life with immersive Soho pop-up

News

Louis Vuitton brings La Beauté to life with immersive Soho pop-up

Louis Vuitton has marked the launch of its first cosmetics line with a limited-time pop-up in New York’s Soho, transforming 104 Prince Street into ...
Retail : Luxury : Beauty
Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

News

Foresight Friday: Dan Hastings, deputy foresight editor

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
Stat: US adults are losing confidence in capitalism 

News

Stat: US adults are losing confidence in capitalism 

Stat : Statistic : Money
Knight Frank’s research signals the rise of wellness in luxury real estate

News

Knight Frank’s research signals the rise of wellness in luxury real estate

In The Residence Report, released in September 2025, global real estate consultancy Knight Frank explores the future of luxury residential developm...
Luxury : Real Estate : Wellness
Nike changes Just Do It to Why Do It? in new campaign

News

Nike changes Just Do It to Why Do It? in new campaign

Nike has re-imagined its iconic Just Do It slogan for today’s athletes with the launch of its latest campaign, Why Do It? 
Visual : Nike : Campaign
New Zealand’s Department of Conservation merges sustainability and local pride

News

New Zealand’s Department of Conservation merges sustainability and local pride

The Department of Conservation in New Zealand has unveiled a three-year campaign with Deloitte Digital and Deloitte’s Sustainability and Climate te...
Conservation : National Branding : New Zealand
Stat: The majority of Gen Alpha consumers buy clothes to create content

News

Stat: The majority of Gen Alpha consumers buy clothes to create content

Clothing retailer PacSun’s study of more than 6,000 Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers in the US reveals how fashion purchases are increasingly made for...
Gen Alpha : Fashion : Retail
John Lewis celebrates 100 iconic products for its centenary

News

John Lewis celebrates 100 iconic products for its centenary

John Lewis is marking 100 years of its Never Knowingly Undersold promise with a new multi-media campaign created by advertising company Saatchi &am...
Brand Heritage : Heritage : Branding
Monzo tackles financial literacy with The Book of Money

News

Monzo tackles financial literacy with The Book of Money

British online bank Monzo has launched The Book of Money in response to research showing that half of Britons (51%) feel they are not reaching thei...
Finance : Gen Z : Education
Stat: Light preventative personal care routines on the rise

News

Stat: Light preventative personal care routines on the rise

Kenvue, owner of brands including Neutrogena, Aveeno and Listerine, has launched A New View of Care: The Power of Personal Care Routines, a global ...
Stat : Statistic : Health
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