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
Arabian Travel Market 2025: The power of human and spiritual connection

News

Arabian Travel Market 2025: The power of human and spiritual connection

Day two of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 continued to spotlight the future of global tourism with a strong focus on human, cultural and spir...
Travel : Travel & Hospitality : Global Events
ChatGPT expands into e-commerce

News

ChatGPT expands into e-commerce

OpenAI has announced the launch of new shopping features within ChatGPT.
Technology : Retail : AI
Stat: American Gen Z are more optimistic about finances than their elders

News

Stat: American Gen Z are more optimistic about finances than their elders

Young people are surprisingly optimistic about their personal finances, reveals new data from the NBC News Stay Tuned Poll, powered by SurveyMonkey.
Politics : Finance : Economy
Arabian Travel Market 2025: AI and accessible tourism

News

Arabian Travel Market 2025: AI and accessible tourism

LS:N Global reviews the most innovative discussions, impactful presentations and new product showcases seen at The Arabian Travel Market 2025 ...
Travel : Travel & Hospitality : Global Events
Stat: Consumers are willing to pay more for brands they trust

News

Stat: Consumers are willing to pay more for brands they trust

More than two-thirds of consumers in the US, the UK and Australia are willing to pay an average of 25% more for their favourite brands, according t...
Retail : Advertising And Branding : Value
Heineken launches innovation studio to supercharge social drinking

News

Heineken launches innovation studio to supercharge social drinking

Brewing company Heineken has launched Heineken Studio, a new experimental platform designed to redefine the social drinking experience.
Hospitality : Food And Drink : Beer
BritBox reveals 14-hour one-shot film tribute to British tv

News

BritBox reveals 14-hour one-shot film tribute to British tv

In a bold stand against CGI and AI imagery, BritBox’s latest campaign See It Differently brings back the magic of real-time filmmaking.
Britbox : Storytelling : Interactive Storytelling
Stat: Construction workers outpace financiers in crypto ownership 

News

Stat: Construction workers outpace financiers in crypto ownership 

Cryptocurrency is gaining surprising traction in sectors beyond Silicon Valley and Wall Street. According to the 2025 State of Crypto Holders Repor...
Stat : Stats : Cryptocurrency
Owen Nowhere brings kids’ tv to the blockchain

News

Owen Nowhere brings kids’ tv to the blockchain

We Ghosted Media has announced Owen Nowhere, a new animated kids’ series that bypasses tv and streaming in favour of a decentralised platform built...
Cryptocurrency : Cryptic Currencies : Cryptic Consumers
Jameel Motorsport turns Fortnite into environmental wake-up call

News

Jameel Motorsport turns Fortnite into environmental wake-up call

Jameel Motorsport and Serviceplan Arabia have launched The Treeless Map, a Fortnite experience designed to raise environmental awareness by removin...
Gaming : Sustainability : Technology
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