Need to Know
22 : 06 : 22

Sweden – A concept kitchen by home appliance company Electrolux is setting a new standard for sustainable eating. GRO is a kitchen system that uses sensors and artificial intelligence to deliver personalised eating and nutrition suggestions.

The system, which was created using behavioural science research findings, is intended to encourage more sustainable eating habits. A countertop smoker, steam oven, grill drawer and fermentation pantry are just a few of the modules of the GRO system, which can be completely customised to suit a consumer’s preferences.

The device will also feature a touchscreen with the GRO Coach digital system that will deliver meal suggestions, goal-setting, nutritional and cooking coaching, and progress-tracking. To encourage climate action, the system will also visualise the user's eating habits and how they directly affect the environment.

What’s more, the kitchen can also analyse a customer’s food inventory and provide recommendations based on what’s in the refrigerator, avoiding food waste. While we have seen home appliances that use the Internet of Things to build Connected Kitchens, AI-powered sustainability coaches could be a significant development in this market.

US – Hemp wellness brand Dr Milo is responding to the gap in the market for visually appealing pain relief products. Its hero product, a topical pain relief serum, features bright red and yellow accents on an aluminium tube. Meanwhile, vibrant typography helps the serum stand out amid the clinical aesthetics of similar medical products.

Through these visual cues, the brand aims to inject a sense of joy and positivity into the realities of managing chronic pain. ‘Our target was to create a more fun pain relief tube with a 1970s vibe for the older generation while staying poppy and fun,’ says the brand. ‘Our primary stacked logo is a custom font, our wave design was inspired by an Australian psychedelic rock band and the bright red poppy brand colour was inspired by the red cross to convey healing.’

We’ve been tracking the evolution of the Pain Management Market in recent years, identifying innovations for specialist products and alternative care services.

While fake luxury goods have historically had a bad reputation, new research reveals that many young Europeans are embracing counterfeit goods. According to a study by European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), more than half (52%) of 15–24-year-olds living in the EU say they have purchased at least one fake item online in the past 12 months.

A total of 37% have bought at least one fake product intentionally over the previous 12 months, while an equal proportion have done so unintentionally. The highest proportion of respondents (17%) purchased knock-off clothing and accessories, followed by footwear (14%), electronics (13%) and beauty products (12%). Interestingly, 24% believe there is no difference between genuine and counterfeit goods.

This rise in purchasing fake goods is primarily due to costs, with inflation and sky-high living costs meaning that customers are seeking Aspirational Fakes to maintain their personal sense of style.