News 17.02.2022

Need to Know

A travel resource that elevates Black communities, a designer re-imagines the potential of bone waste, and scientific ingredients drive beauty sales.

A cultural map reclaiming the data of Black communities

The Black Elevation Map by Black & Abroad, US

Atlanta, Georgia – Travel brand Black & Abroad is releasing The Black Elevation Map, a discovery tool and travel platform that maps the cultural impact of Black communities.

Completed in collaboration with creative data advertising agency Performance Art, the website visualises cultural data on an interactive elevation map of the US. Reclaiming the often-biased process of data collection, the website includes demographic statistics, historical landmarks, Black-owned companies and social media activity. The higher the height of the elevation, the more data density there is.

‘We wanted to help Black travellers see the country in a way that prioritises and celebrates the contributions of folks who look like us – and facilitates travel choices that deepen engagement within our community,’ explains Eric Martin, chief creative officer and co-founder of Black & Abroad.

Helping travellers learn more about the complexity of Black heritage in the US, the project takes a data-driven approach to the Black History Travel Market.

Strategic opportunity

Data collection can be used for the public good. Consider how your company could harness data to create a discovery tool for under-represented groups

Designing objects from animal bone waste

Elos by Souhaïb Ghanmi, Switzerland Elos by Souhaïb Ghanmi, Switzerland
Elos by Souhaïb Ghanmi, Switzerland Elos by Souhaïb Ghanmi, Switzerland

Switzerland – Tackling the issue of animal waste in the meat industry, designer Souhaïb Ghanmi is repurposing surplus bones into home and electronics goods. The Elos Range is a series of electric switches and sockets made from bone debris from the slaughtering process.

In the past, bone waste from the butchering process was used to create tools and implements like knife handles. Over time, though, the material was replaced by plastic. With 130bn kg of bone waste produced by slaughterhouses every year, however, the problem of animal waste persists today.

Instead of discarding bone by-products, Ghanmi is advocating their use in domestic spaces. He has created the Elos range by grounding bone waste from the meat industry into a powder and then repurposing the material to create electric appliances. In homage of the material’s origins, the sockets have been fashioned to resemble joints from the human skeleton.

Contributing to Whole-system Thinking movement, the project demonstrates how even the most unexpected resources can be used to create more sustainable future materials.

Strategic opportunity

Companies should consider launching design competitions to discover new proposals about how to repurpose production surplus

Canada is prescribing year-long passes to national parks

Canada – Doctors in Canada can now prescribe access to nature, historic sites and marine conservation centres to improve the wellbeing of their patients.

Thanks to a partnership between Park Prescriptions (PaRx) and Parks Canada, healthcare professionals will now be able to offer Parks Canada Discovery Passes for free. From coast to coast, the country is known for its magnificent landscape. And with mounting evidence demonstrating the healing benefits of spending time outdoors, the collaboration is aiming to democratise access to nature.

‘There's a strong body of evidence on the health benefits of nature time, from better immune function and life expectancy to reduced risk of heart disease, depression and anxiety, and I’m excited to see those benefits increase through this new collaboration,’ explains Melissa Lem, a family physician and director of PaRx.

With the rise of Flower Therapy and nature prescriptions, medical institutions are tapping into the healing potential of the outdoors.

Flock Together, UK

Strategic opportunity

To maximise wellbeing in the office, consider offering employees ‘nature leave’ to ensure they can spend time outdoors

Stat: Scientific skincare shoppers are a growing market

Routinely, The Netherlands Routinely, The Netherlands

Consumers are adopting a more scientific approach to skincare, searching for specific ingredients that can target their needs. According to Vogue Business, searches for beauty ingredients have increased by almost 700% on Net-a-Porter since 2020.

A new wave of Skinthusiasts are disrupting the way we traditionally shop and search for beauty products. No longer attracted by ‘super creams’ that promise all-in-one results, shoppers are opting to buy products that contain ingredients that complement their multi-step routines. Ingredients such as retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide led the surge of searches on the website.

According to Newby Hands, global beauty director at Net-a-Porter, customers are ‘seeking actives that do a specific job. Rather than having one super-cream that promises to do a lot, they’re personalising their skincare regimen with the specific products they need.’

In response, beauty brands are allowing customers to filter their websites by ingredients rather than brands. As the demand for Certified Skincare grows, companies must provide clear and accurate information about product composition.

Strategic opportunity

The rise of Skinthusiasts has implications for bricks-and-mortar retail, too. Consider organising physical beauty shops according to ingredients

Previous News Articles
Tencent’s AI model generates virtual worlds from a single text prompt

News

Tencent’s AI model generates virtual worlds from a single text prompt

Tencent has launched an open-source AI model, Hunyuan3D World Model 1.0, that allows users to generate complex 3D environments from a single text p...
VR : AI : Technology
Rare Beauty launches debut fragrance and customisable layering balms

News

Rare Beauty launches debut fragrance and customisable layering balms

Rare Beauty has entered the fragrance market with a debut scent that reflects its feel-good ethos.
Beauty : Fragrance : Rare Beauty
Stat: Luxury and online retail fuel men’s skincare boom

News

Stat: Luxury and online retail fuel men’s skincare boom

The men’s skincare market is projected to be worth £21.05bn ($27.99bn, €24.20bn) by 2031, according to a report by Research and Mark...
Beauty : Mens Grooming : Skincare
Sporty & Rich re-imagines wellness hospitality with first residency

News

Sporty & Rich re-imagines wellness hospitality with first residency

Popular lifestyle brand Sporty & Rich is launching its first hotel residency, in partnership with The Pridwin Hotel & Cottages on New York’...
Fashion : Travel & Hospitality : Luxury
Dubai Mallathon re-imagines shopping centres as climate-controlled fitness spaces

News

Dubai Mallathon re-imagines shopping centres as climate-controlled fitness spaces

A new Dubai Mallathon initiative will see seven malls being used as indoor walking and running tracks throughout August 2025 under the patronage of...
Dubai : Dubai Malls : Mallathon
Stat: Shoplifting soars to record high in England and Wales amid retail crime surge

News

Stat: Shoplifting soars to record high in England and Wales amid retail crime surge

Shoplifting offences in England and Wales have hit their highest level in more than two decades, with recorded incidents rising by 20% to 530,643, ...
Retail : Stat : Statistic
Cash App taps Timothée Chalamet for youth-friendly money talk

News

Cash App taps Timothée Chalamet for youth-friendly money talk

Cash App has launched an integrated brand campaign featuring Academy Award-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet which aims to foster intergenerational...
Finance : Gen Z : Youth
Foresight Friday: Rose Coffey, senior foresight analyst

News

Foresight Friday: Rose Coffey, 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, ...
Beauty : The Synthocene Era : Virtual Beauty
Stat: Southeast Asia is TikTok’s largest advertising audience

News

Stat: Southeast Asia is TikTok’s largest advertising audience

Southeast Asia now accounts for nearly a quarter of TikTok’s global advertising audience, according to the Digital 2025: July Statshot report.
Statistic : Stat : Southeast Asia
Spktrl’s AI diamond ring aims to cut screen time

News

Spktrl’s AI diamond ring aims to cut screen time

Parisian start-up Spktrl is reimagining wearable technology with the launch of its AI-powered Light Ring, a piece of high jewellery designed to cur...
Wellness : Augmented Human : The Synthocene Era
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN