LSN : News : Prada’s new business loan is tied to its sustainability goals

Kinship is a scientific skincare line for Gen Z

Kinship, US

US – The skincare brand combines wellness with science to create a bio-positive range of products.

Kinship uses a proprietary microbiome technology called Kinbiome at the heart of its products, a pro-probiotic that supports a strong natural skin barrier. The brand is launching with five staple products: a naked papaya face cleanser, Insta Swipe exfoliating pads, hydrating gel-cream moisturiser, Pimple Potion acne treatment, and probiotic moisturising sunscreen.

While its ethos is science-backed and plant-based, Kinship is also rooted in consciousness – its products are accessible, clean, consciously packaged and cruelty-free. To reach its target audience of Generation Z, the brand’s first campaign is colourful and youth-focused, featuring young men and women, emojis and text exchanges about self-care.

To see how new beauty brands are ensuring they have a positive impact on the planet, read our latest sector macrotrend, Bio-positive Beauty.

Timberland’s latest store champions nature in the city

Timberland, store design by Dalziel & Pow, London

UK – The outdoor and workwear brand's latest flagship store is designed to showcase its sustainability credentials.

Featuring potted trees, a full-height living wall and visuals depicting nature scenes, Timberland's new London store promotes the brand’s position at the intersection of nature, fashion and urban living.

Designed with creative agency Dalziel & Pow, its interior combines timber and greenery with concrete elements. Subtle lighting emulates natural daylight, which comes into the store through large windows. Its fit-out has been made with a combination of recycled materials obtained from industrial leftovers, as well as bio-resin mannequins.

Educational pillars throughout the store share Timberland’s CSR and sustainability messaging, giving shoppers insight into its use of recycled materials and responsible technologies. A community table, meanwhile, lets customers learn and share small yet tangible actions that can make a difference to their community, such as urban greening.

For more examples of how sustainability and recycled materials are changing store design, read our Circular Store Design listicle.

Prada’s new business loan is tied to its sustainability goals

Italy – Luxury goods group Prada is demonstrating its commitment to a conscious future with a business loan tied to its sustainability targets.

The £43m ($56m, €50m) sustainability-linked loan has been signed with Crédit Agricole Group and is the first of its kind to be signed in the luxury goods industry. Interest rates on the five-year loan will be reduced following the achievement of targets relating to Prada’s sustainability efforts and working practices.

The first target is focused on increasing the number of its stores assigned LEED gold or platinum certification. The second on the number of training hours the group provides employees, and the third will be linked to use of Prada Re-Nylon (regenerated nylon) for the production of goods.

‘This transaction demonstrates that sustainability is a key element for the development of the Prada Group, increasingly integrated into our strategy,’ says Alessandra Cozzani, Prada Group’s chief financial officer. In this way, Prada is following new metrics of progress beyond economic growth, demonstrating our Post-growth Society macrotrend in action.

Prada, Tuscany

Stat: Young fans shell out for exclusive sports content

Young fans are interacting with sports content beyond live games, according to a new report by video management platform Imagen. The study found that in the US four times as many Millennial and Generation Z fans watch over three hours of non-game sports content each week compared to Baby Boomers.

Furthermore, 78% of fans enhance their live experience with non-game content by dual screening while watching a live game. When it comes to Millennials, 39% are willing to pay for exclusive online sports content, signalling an opportunity for sports leagues to engage with fans by delivering more personalised and immersive content such as archived videos, behind-the-scenes footage and documentaries.

The findings highlight the lucrative Luxury Sports Fan Market, as sports brands recognise the opportunities in creating bespoke digital content for young fans.