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Milan - Designed by sci-fi artist and body architect, Lucy McRae, Compression Cradle is an experimental machine that affectionately compresses the body.

Exhibited at Triennale Milano, the installation sees air blown through membranes into a latex-like fabric. This in turn inflates a blanket that covers the participant, instilling in them a profound feeling of relaxation. When the air is removed, it squeezes the body to create the sensation of being artificially hugged.

Through the installation, Lucy McRae explores our current touch-deficit, which could become more extreme in the future. ‘If we slowly de-evolve from physical touch wanting beings then potentially that could change species as we know it, which starts to tip into broken nature, extinction and how we are evolving and de-evolving,' the artist explains.

As people increasingly choose to live independently and technology vies for their affection, brands will need to consider how they can cater to society’s evolving physical and emotional needs.

Milan – Designer Mi Zhou has created a sustainable alternative to single-life plastic packaging which is consistently used by FMCG brands in the health and beauty industries.

‘In a commercially-driven society and in order to achieve maximum profits, manufacturers wrap everything in plastic which, as we are all aware, now pollutes every single corner of the world’, notes Zhou. This, and the fact that there is now more plastic in the ocean than marine life was a catalyst to develop a more sustainable alternative and the designer decided to explore how soap could be used in this context.

Called Soapack, the material can be used to package either toiletry or cleaning products in various shapes and formats. Once the contents have been expended, Soapack can then itself be used for cleaning.

As discussed in our Material Far Futures report, brands are looking to a new generation of transient materials to replace those with a limited-lifespan, therefore significantly reducing their environmental impact on the planet.

London – Liquorette, a bar that offers customers the chance to play bartender, will deliver a range of cocktails to London homes in under an hour.

The delivery service is designed to reinvent the at-home drinking experience and enhance dinner or cocktail parties for time-pressed consumers. Customers within an 8km circumference of the bar’s central London location can order cocktails online or via Deliveroo, which will be delivered in less than hour.

Customers can choose from All Star cocktails, developed by in-house bartenders, or create their own custom concoctions. When the order arrives, they use a Liquorette shaker – included in the order – to mix the cocktails and serve fresh to guests.

With more people now choosing to socialise at home, Liquorette is creating a new type of convenient drinking experience that enables customers to enjoy high-quality cocktails without having to leave the house.

Young parents and women are leading a movement towards ethical financial saving, according to a new report by Triodos Bank UK. The research found that 65% of parents say it is important that their children’s savings help protect the planet, while 69% of younger parents – aged 18-34 – would like their children’s savings to be directed towards an organisation that shares their values.

Parents are also passing down environmental awareness, with 66% of mothers discussing the importance of protecting the planet with their children. Furthermore, the study noted how female savers are driving the demand for impact savings accounts and investments, with 60% saying they would switch bank if their money was having a negative impact on the environment or society.

As explored in our macrotrend Uneasy Affluence, wealthy Generation X parents are teaching their socially-orientated offspring how they can be more responsible with their wealth.