News 02.07.2024

Need to Know

Wallmakers’ sustainably made Toy Storey home, Asda introduces Nanzones and why UK consumers are ready to use AI to buy fashion.

Wallmakers turns unwanted toys into sustainable Toy Storey home

Toy Storey by Wallmakers, India
Toy Storey by Wallmakers, India
Toy Storey by Wallmakers, India

India – Architecture studio Wallmakers has constructed a house in North Kerala, India, repurposing some 6,200 unwanted toys. 

Toy Storey House was designed to address the environmental concerns surrounding the amount of plastic used in children’s toy manufacturing and the high level of toy consumption in the Vatakara region where the house is located.

Designed to be somewhere local children can come to visit their old toys, as well as a functioning home, the house was designed in a circular shape to ensure accessibility from every side. Each curved wall features discarded toys placed between earth blocks and Mangalore tiles, allowing light penetration and cross-ventilation throughout the space. 

Sustainability is integral to the house’s infrastructure. The central courtyard and composite wall are constructed from on-site compressed stabilised earth blocks (CSEBs) while a ferrocement shell domed roof conserves energy and materials by reducing reinforcement needs.

Eco-conscious architects are increasingly looking to innovative materials, local sourcing and community to design Regenerative Homes such as Toy Storey House, that embody the kind of creative imagination needed to build a more sustainable future.

Strategic opportunity

Collaborate with local communities to collect recyclable materials for construction projects, fostering involvement and inspiring deeper engagement with sustainable living practices

The Every Company and Landish Foods unveil protein coffee and matcha

Fermy, US Fermy, US
Fermy, US Fermy, US

US – Functional protein specialist The Every Company and Landish Foods, a leader in nutritional wellness, have introduced Fermy, a new brand featuring protein coffee enhancer and protein matcha latte ready-to-mix powders. 

‘So many of us with rushed mornings are not getting enough protein to start the day, especially quality protein,’ said Daniel Novak, CEO of Landish Foods, in a press release. These innovative products are powered by Every’s egg white protein, offering 8g of highly digestible protein per serving. Fermy also includes MCT – a type of healthy fat called medium-chain triglyceride – and lion’s mane mushroom, catering for consumers seeking easy, clean and sustainable protein with brain-boosting benefits. 

This launch follows successful introductions of Every-powered functional beverages like pressed-juicery smoothies and Pulp Culture’s protein-boosted hard juices. As explored in our Functional Feasting macrotrend report, these products meet the demand for functional, protein-dense beverages that support health-first lifestyles with superior flavour and texture. 

Strategic opportunity

Consider expanding your product line with functional ingredients – for instance, can you use functional mushrooms or adaptogens to stay ahead of the trend?

Asda introduces Nanzones for older football fans

UK – British supermarket chain Asda has launched in-store football fan zones for senior citizens to watch the Euro 2024 matches.

The Nanzones opened in Asda stores in Watford, Manchester and Liverpool at the end of June, providing a welcoming environment for older sports fans to socialise while enjoying the England games.

More than 1.9m seniors are expected to watch football alone this summer (source: Asda). Nanzones offer free, safe and welcoming spaces with snacks and drinks for people of all ages to come and watch the matches alongside older fans.

Asda has also called for people to check in on older relatives, friends and neighbours and offer those who can’t make it to a Nanzone some companionship during the Summer of Sport. The aim is to reduce loneliness and strengthen local community bonds.

In our Boomers Now and Next: From Ageing to Becoming macrotrend report, we explored how care networks, inter-generational mixing and regular socialisation are essential to combating loneliness in older citizens. Asda’s Nanzones provide fun and social community spaces to enjoy the upcoming sporting fixtures.

Nanzones by Asda, UK

Strategic opportunity

Court the silver pound by hosting or sponsoring community events such as coffee mornings or book clubs that foster familiarity with your brand while creating social spaces for older citizens

Stat: UK consumers are ready to use AI to buy fashion

T Phone by Deutsche Telekom, Germany T Phone by Deutsche Telekom, Germany

UK – Artificial intelligence is revolutionising fashion retail by refining purchasing functionality, ensuring seamless user experiences and optimising omnichannel strategies, according to Drapers’ new report, Connected Consumer 2024

In a survey of 2,000 UK adult consumers aged 18–60, more than a third (34%) of shoppers said they are open to using AI for deals and promotions, and 27% for searching for fashion products. Satisfaction with AI chatbots is notably high; 35% of the shoppers who have used AI chatbot services say they are satisfied with them, compared with just 7% who say they are dissatisfied.

This trend is significant as 59% of shoppers purchase fashion online at least once a month. Retailers like Zalando are already using AI to enhance search capabilities, preparing for spikes in demand during major events such as the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

For more insights and best-in-class examples of retailers using AI, head to our EQ-Commerce macrotrend report. 

Strategic opportunity

Introduce AI to provide personalised recommendations and styling advice, using data on consumer preferences, past purchases and browsing behaviour to curate tailored shopping experiences

Previous News Articles
AI-generated images of animals in plastic help WWF-Korea raise awareness about pollution

News

AI-generated images of animals in plastic help WWF-Korea raise awareness about pollution

WWF-Korea has launched Animal Trash Fashion, a powerful out-of-home campaign using AI to starkly illustrate the devastating impact of plastic pollu...
Sustainability : Design : Advertising
Rixo launches pre-loved resale platform

News

Rixo launches pre-loved resale platform

British fashion brand Rixo is expanding its circular ambitions with the launch of Rixo Pre-Loved, a resale platform where customers buy and sell it...
Retail : Fashion : Sutainability
Stat: Global business travel spending hits historic high

News

Stat: Global business travel spending hits historic high

Business travel is set to reach a record £1.18 trillion ($1.57 trillion, €1.36 trillion) by the end of 2025, according to ...
Stat : Statistic : Global Travel Market
Axe gamifies fragrance sampling with arcade-inspired bus stop activation

News

Axe gamifies fragrance sampling with arcade-inspired bus stop activation

Axe is making fragrance sampling fun again with a new campaign for its Cherry Fizz body spray.
Advertising : Fragrance : Retail
New wearable tracks hydration levels in real time

News

New wearable tracks hydration levels in real time

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a non-invasive wearable that continuously monitors hydration levels in real time.
Wearable Technology : Healthcare : Hydration
Stat: Online resale is booming in Britain

News

Stat: Online resale is booming in Britain

Online resale is booming in Britain, with pre-owned shopping now worth £4.3bn ($5.8bn, €5bn) annually and is set to rise to £4.8bn ($6.4bn, €5.5bn)...
Retail : Fashion : Technology
Prada’s 2025 Qixi campaign turns Shanghai’s bridges into a stage for love

News

Prada’s 2025 Qixi campaign turns Shanghai’s bridges into a stage for love

Prada’s campaign for the 2025 Qixi Festival – often referred to as Chinese Valentine’s Day – reimagines China’s legendary love tale through an...
Luxury : Fashion : Chinese Folklore
M&S tracks plastic’s afterlife with invisible UV packaging tags

News

M&S tracks plastic’s afterlife with invisible UV packaging tags

M&S : Sustainability : Retail
Stat: Britons are increasingly turning to biohacking through wellness supplements

News

Stat: Britons are increasingly turning to biohacking through wellness supplements

According to a July 2025 YouGov poll, one in five Britons (21%) have taken a wellness supplement in 2025 – pointing to the rise of personalise...
Health And Wellness : Supplements : Stat
Ocado’s Shopping List Stories campaign finds emotional value in the weekly shop

News

Ocado’s Shopping List Stories campaign finds emotional value in the weekly shop

Ocado is reframing grocery shopping as an emotional experience with Shopping List Stories, a new campaign by Uncommon Creative Studio.
Food And Drink : Supermarket : Branding And Advertising
You have 1 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN