Need to Know
29 : 09 : 20

London – Publisher Penguin is launching Naked Books as a way to offer a more eco-conscious reading experience.

Created to mark its 85th anniversary in business, the Naked Books initiative taps into a preference among readers to invest in physical books while being mindful of the materials and processes required. They are instead printed on recycled paper with organic ink, and feature no cover, no chemicals, and no wasted resources; the results is a product that more closely resembles the original manuscript produced by authors.

Available to purchase via the Penguin website, the books will be printed on demand and delivered using carbon-neutral transportation. With lockdown inspiring a greater affinity towards reading physical books over e-books, publishing initiatives that also prioritise environmental factors are likely to resonate with younger readers.

We first identified Generation Z readers’ preference to engage in traditional book formats in Young Bibliophiles. Now, publishers like Penguin are inspiring them further while reducing impact on the environment.

Switzerland – Swiss running brand On is launching a circular retail concept for its new zero waste running shoe, Cyclon.

The new design is a 100% recyclable shoe created from castor beans. Intentionally undyed, the Cyclon shoe features a durable, geometric weave that balances both flexibility and stability. Promoting the tagline, ‘Own the run, not the shoe’ the brand is offering Cyclon shoes as part of a monthly subscription service for £22.90 (€25.33 or $29.99). The subscription encourages runners to wear the shoes until they’re worn, before returning to the brand to receive a new pair.

Set to launch in autumn 2021, the service hopes to revolutionise the current lifecycle of running shoes. On is also operating on a critical mass basis, ensuring that shoes are only shipped when a minimum of 5,000 subscriptions are active in a given region.

This subscription model works in line with the product as one that needs replacing due to the nature of regular wear and high-intensity activity. For more Sustainable Footwear innovations, delve into our dedicated market.

The annual Broken Plate report, published by the Food Foundation, has found that healthier foods are more expensive than foods containing unhealthy levels of fat, sugar and salt. This means that many Britons struggle to afford to eat healthily. In fact, the report reveals that the poorest 20% of the UK would need to spend more than 39% of their disposable income, after housing costs, to eat according to the Eat Well Guide.

Further, there is a continuing disparity between wealthier and poorer circumstances in relation to food accessibility, with the data confirming that the mean cost of more healthy foods in 2019 per 1,000 calories was £7.68, compared to £2.48 for less healthy foods.

While global appetites are gaining a taste for organic and exotic foods, S Margot Finn, author of Discriminating Taste: How Class Anxiety Created the American Food Revolution, highlights the link between social inequality and aspirational eating.