LSN : News : Stat: Lifestyle and environmental factors affect health and ageing more than genes, study suggests

Human Waste Bag turns dog walkers into plastic pollution warriors

Human Waste Bag by Neil Walsh, Australia

Australia – Creative director Neil Walshe has unveiled Human Waste Bag, an open-source design encouraging dog owners to clean up plastic pollution alongside their pets’ waste.

Free dog waste bags are already widely available for free at council-run beaches. Now Walshe, who walks his dog daily on Cronulla Beach, Sydney, has introduced messaging prompting users to pick up litter as well. He set up the initiative after observing a contradiction in behaviour: ‘I watch people pick up their own dog’s poo but then disgustedly step over plastic that has washed up on the shoreline,’ he explains. ‘Human Waste Bag is designed to get people thinking and maybe picking up a few bits of plastic too.’

The design is available as an open-source file and has been sent to every council along the New South Wales coastline. By leveraging an existing habit, the project aims to nudge small behavioural shifts that could have a significant impact on coastal pollution.

In our Subversive Sustainability Ads microtrend report, we analysed how brands are using rebellious humour to cut through the noise and opt out of binary messages of climate doom or hope.

Strategic opportunity

Rather than resorting to fearmongering, climate doom or overtly optimistic tactics, satirical campaigns have a higher chance of speaking to people in their own language and encouraging better behaviours

Spain opens first LGBT retirement home for those closeted under Franco

Spain – Spain has opened its first retirement home dedicated to LGBTQ+ residents, offering a safe and inclusive space for those who lived through the repression of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship.

During Franco’s rule (1939–1975), homosexuality was criminalised, forcing many LGBTQ+ individuals into secrecy. While Spain has since become a global leader in LGBTQ+ rights, legalising same-sex marriage in 2005, many older people still struggle with the long-term effects of discrimination, including financial insecurity and social isolation.

Federico Armenteros, the driving force behind the initiative, is determined to provide a dignified and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ seniors. ‘Many of them spent their lives hiding who they are. Now, they deserve a space where they can be themselves without fear,’ he says.

The retirement home aims to provide care, alongside belonging, for a generation that fought for the rights enjoyed today. As Spain continues to advance inclusivity, this project marks another step towards acknowledging and addressing the unique challenges faced by older LGBTQ+ individuals.

Explore our Boomers Now and Next: From Ageing to Becoming macrotrend report to understand how life stages are being reimagined, with people embracing empowerment, fun and self-expression in a way that celebrates authenticity in old age.

Photography by Askar Abayev

Strategic opportunity

Redefine retirement by breaking outdated norms and creating communities that prioritise inclusivity and foster a true sense of belonging

Stat: Lifestyle and environmental factors affect health and ageing more than genes, study suggests

Photography by Zen Chung

UK – A new study published in Nature Medicine explores the relative impact of genetics and environmental exposures on ageing and premature death, quantifying their contributions to long-term health outcomes.

Researchers from the University of Oxford analysed data from nearly half a million UK Biobank participants, assessing 164 environmental factors alongside genetic risk scores for 22 major diseases. The findings revealed that environmental exposures account for 17% of the variation in premature death risk, compared to less than 2% explained by genetic predisposition.

Key drivers include socioeconomic status, physical activity and living conditions, with smoking linked to 21 diseases. Childhood factors, such as maternal smoking and early-life body weight, also have lasting impacts on ageing and mortality risk.

The study underscores our Longevity Lifestyle macrotrend report, in which we explore the importance of preventative healthcare in the form of healthy lifestyle choices to improve healthspan and lifespan.

Strategic opportunity

Healthier lifestyle choices start with education. Partner with experts in nutrition and exercise to create tools, incentives and education to help people to lead longer, health-optimised lives