News 16.07.2020

Need to Know

A hygienic cutlery solution for out-of-home eating, Diageo’s sustainable whisky bottle, and British shoppers switch to local shopping.

Pebble creates cutlery for pandemic dining

The Pebble by Otherware with Pentatonic and Pharrel Williams, global

Berlin and London – Circular economy company Pentatonic is collaborating with singer and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams on a portable dining set for hygienic, on-the-go eating.

The product, known as The Pebble by Otherware, is the first item from the partnership. It comprises an outer case and holds a re-usable set of cutlery, a straw and chopsticks, in a bid to reduce people’s use of single-use plastics. It can also be clipped onto a bag for portability. Tapping into Pentatonic's circularity ambitions, the plastic case and implements are made from recycled CDs.

While the design was originally created as a sustainable option for festivals and commuting, hygiene concerns emerging during the pandemic have made the product especially relevant. ‘A dining set that stays with you wherever you go offers peace of mind, avoiding communal sources of cutlery when eating and drinking anywhere that's not home,’ reads a statement from Pentatonic.

As some people remain tentative about dining out or even at others’ homes, cutlery for personal use could become more appealing. In our new Sustainability series, we explore other innovations for eco-conscious living.

NASA’s perfume aims to inspire STEM studies

Eau de Space by Omega Ingredients and Kickstarter Eau de Space by Omega Ingredients and Kickstarter
Eau de Space by Omega Ingredients and Kickstarter Eau de Space by Omega Ingredients and Kickstarter

US and UK – American space agency NASA has created an out-of-this-world fragrance – Eau de Space – to inspire young people to study science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) subjects.

The scent is being promoted and sold via a public-facing Kickstarter campaign, with pledgers able to purchase a £12 ($15, €13) bottle for themselves, and a second bottle for donation to K-12 STEM programmes around the world, to support experiential education. The fragrance also aims to encourage discussion and awareness between the public, parents, teachers and scientists about the importance of STEM education.

NASA originally worked with Steve Pearce, chemist and founder of Omega Ingredients, to develop the fragrance, which has to date been used to help astronauts to acclimatise themselves to outer space environments before launching into orbit. Eau de Space is based on interpretations from astronauts who’ve visited space previously, many of whom describe space as smelling smoky, fruity or rum-like.

Imaginative and boundary-pushing fragrance formulations are on the rise, but the educational slant represents a new direction for perfumers and fragrance brands. For more on new directions in scent, explore our microtrend New Fragrance Frontiers.

Diageo unveils a paper-based whisky bottle

Global – Drinks group Diageo has given its Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky a makeover – bottling it in paper-based, sustainably sourced packaging.

The fully recyclable and plastic-free bottle is the first of its kind for the mainstream whisky market, and is intended to form a blueprint for other branded alcohol and drinks bottles.

The innovation comes as part of a larger initiative between Diageo and FMCG groups Unilever and PepsiCo to launch Pulpex Limited, a sustainable packaging technology company.

Ewan Andrew, chief sustainability officer at Diageo, says of the launch: ‘We’re proud to have created this world first. We are constantly striving to push the boundaries in sustainable packaging and this bottle has the potential to be truly ground-breaking. It feels fitting that we should launch it with Johnnie Walker, a brand that has often led the way in innovation throughout its 200-years existence.’

While brands including Evian and Carlsberg have previously experimented with recyclable and paper bottles, Diageo’s innovation pushes paper packaging into the luxury spirits market. In Bio-bottles, we explore other plastic alternatives catering for increasingly eco-conscious consumers.

Diageo in partnership with Unilever and PepsiCo

Stat: Britons shift their focus to shopping locally

Rent the Runway drop-off service at WeWork, US Rent the Runway drop-off service at WeWork, US

Recent data from YouGov shows a changing attitude among British people wanting to shop and support local businesses as the nation moves through the first wave of Covid-19.

According to its data, almost two fifths (38%) of British people have shopped locally for food and drink due to lockdown restrictions. Of these shoppers, many continue to shop this way, even as lockdown restrictions lift. YouGov also reports that shopper priorities are changing, with more people checking the store has the item they want in stock before visiting, and that it is implementing social distancing measures.

With a view to high-density shopping malls, meanwhile, it’s anticipated that footfall could remain subdued. Some 48% of Britons say they feel uncomfortable about visiting an enclosed retail space like a shopping centre.

As retailers navigate the inter-Covid period, they will need to account for Epidemic Retail Futures and how they can seamlessly cater for consumers both in and out of future potential lockdowns.

Previous News Articles
Uno single-cup bra line champions post-mastectomy confidence

News

Uno single-cup bra line champions post-mastectomy confidence

Breast cancer survivor Katy Marks of Citizens Design Bureau has introduced Uno, a bespoke one-cup bra line for post-mastectomy women.
Fashion : Inclusivity : Womenhood
Vape brand Ripple branches out into incense aromatherapy

News

Vape brand Ripple branches out into incense aromatherapy

Ripple, best known for its botanical and better-for-you vapes, is expanding with the launch of sleek, drop-shaped incense cones.
Scent : Wellness : Youth
Unilever embraces AI with the launch of Horizon3 Lab in Canada

News

Unilever embraces AI with the launch of Horizon3 Lab in Canada

Unilever, based in the UK, is set to open its first AI-dedicated lab, the AI Horizon3 Lab, in Toronto, Canada.
Technology : AI : Foresight
Stat: Gen Z’s Spotify listening habits are driven by mood and nostalgia

News

Stat: Gen Z’s Spotify listening habits are driven by mood and nostalgia

Each year, Spotify publishes its Spotify Wrapped campaign, providing users with bespoke analytics about their listening habits, as well as a compil...
Music : Pop Culture : Media
Adidas and Jerry Lorenzo team up to create Fear of God Athletics

News

Adidas and Jerry Lorenzo team up to create Fear of God Athletics

On 3 December 2023, Fear of God Athletics, the collaboration between Fear of God founder Jerry Lorenzo and Adidas that was three years in the makin...
Fashion : Sport : Design
Textiles made from human hair to be commercialised in 2024

News

Textiles made from human hair to be commercialised in 2024

Would you wear clothes made with human hair? While the idea may initially repulse you, Human Material Loop wants to flip the narrative and normalis...
Design : Sustainability : Fashion
AmorePacific makes vegan leap into ingestible beauty

News

AmorePacific makes vegan leap into ingestible beauty

South Korean beauty titan AmorePacific’s Vital Beautie brand has unveiled a ground-breaking retinol-based dietary supplement.
Beauty : Health : Wellness
Stat: Report suggests flexible working fuels revenue growth

News

Stat: Report suggests flexible working fuels revenue growth

A ground-breaking US report released in October 2023 by hybrid work management start-up Scoop, in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group, chall...
Workplace : Finance : Technology
Ad uses dark humour to campaign against pension funds investing in fossil fuels

News

Ad uses dark humour to campaign against pension funds investing in fossil fuels

Academy Award-winning actress Olivia Colman has taken on the role of Oblivia Coalmine, a latex-clad oil executive, in a campaign video by Make My M...
Sustainability : Media : Pop Culture
One Good Thing introduces wrapper-free snack bars with edible coating

News

One Good Thing introduces wrapper-free snack bars with edible coating

Sustainable food and drink start-up One Good Thing (OGT) is making waves with its innovative approach to snack packaging.
Sustainability : Food & Drink : Alternative Packaging
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

What do we use cookies for?

We use cookies to enable the use of our platform’s paid features and to analyse our traffic. No personal data, including your IP address, is stored and we do not sell data to third parties.

Learn more