Need to Know
06 : 01 : 23

US – As the Consumer Electronics Show 2023 kicks off in Las Vegas (5–8 January), there has been significant pre-event buzz around – not a new gadget or gaming device – but an open-source connectivity standard called Matter.

Interoperability between smart devices is a constant goal for tech brands and never more so than with smart home devices. From video doorbells to appliances, these devices are produced by multiple companies – and they often do not integrate seamlessly with each other securely.

Supported by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), formerly the Zigbee Alliance, Matter is a language and infrastructure platform through which multiple smart devices can communicate, and it is being developed by the likes of Amazon, Google, Samsung, Texas Instruments and Apple. For consumers, it means all devices can be set up and routed from one place. The first specification release of the Matter protocol will run on Wi-Fi and Thread network layers and will use Bluetooth Low Energy for wi-fi commissioning.

Once certification from CSA is finalised, Matter will enable companies to be faster to market – and the consumer market for smart devices will expand due to ease of use and greater interoperability. Explore more of our analysis about evolving domestic spaces in our Home and Family series.

Denmark – Copenhagen Fashion Week (CFW) has shared a status update on its 2020–2022 Sustainability Action Plan, revealing major progress despite not achieving its target of slashing carbon emissions by 50% since 2019.

The ambitious three-year action plan is the first sustainability strategy undertaken by CFW, which positioned the event as a leader in driving change in the fashion industry. In its concluding report, CFW announced it has met 13 out of 14 goals for 2022. Several carbon emission-cutting initiatives were enacted, from encouraging guests to choose trains rather than flights to only serving vegetarian and vegan meals.

‘As an agenda-setting fashion week whose sustainability efforts are recognised by the wider industry, CFW has deliberately chosen not to reduce the number of international guests, even though it would significantly lower our carbon emissions and allow us to reach our initial climate goal,’ explains the annual report. But the event is rolling out new initiatives. Starting with the next fashion week, which takes place in January 2023, all brands must meet 18 sustainability standards to be part of the official schedule.

Despite not reaching every target, Copenhagen Fashion Week’s transparency and ambition marks a hopeful step forward in reconciling the fashion agenda with sustainability commitments.

Join us in 2023 for a series of inspiring video presentations, guest speaker panels and live Q&A sessions as well as our industry-renowned Trend Briefing in London.

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Join us online or in person this year and get inspired to make a better future happen with trends from Beta Boardrooms, Deep Work Dens and Polywork Campuses to embracing longevity as a core pillar in selling and synthesising tomorrow’s category innovations.

We hope to see you there.