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This abandoned high school is becoming an eco-village

Eco-village by The Bridge, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania – The high school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, will be transformed into an eco-village for young, underprivileged entrepreneurs.

On a mission to give back to communities in need ‘by empowering and uplifting those held back by poverty’, a range of social entrepreneurs have come together to co-develop The Bridge as a place for young people to live and work. Situated in Harrisburg, which according to the co-founder of The Bridge, Garry Gilliam Jr, is ‘the epitome of systematic oppression’, the redevelopment will give access to basic resources for those in need.

Consequently, the village will include housing, retail and co-working spaces, education centres and entertainment facilities. In response to the lack of local grocery stores selling fresh produce, The Bridge will also feature an on-site indoor vertical farm. With solar panels and a rainwater collection system, sustainability is also integrated in the design of the eco-village.

As poverty remains rife throughout the US, innovators are stepping in to create new communities that offer access to work, living spaces and fresh food. For more, read our macrotrend The American Middle.

Usual Wines unveils an unusual spritz

The Usual Spritz by Usual Wines, US

California – The DTC wine brand has launched the Usual Spritz, made from sparkling wine and natural guava juice.

A modern take on the classic wine spritzer, the Usual Spritz is canned, making it an easy option for consumers to drink on the go or from home. Made with sparkling wine and a splash of real, 100% natural guava juice – and nothing else – the drink is naturally low-abv at 8.5% and low-calorie.

The single-serve wine innovator’s inspiration for the product was to offer something accessible without sacrificing taste or experience. ‘We also wanted to offer our customers a lower abv option and envisa-ed a more elegant version of your typical hard seltzer – so we introduced our Brut + Guava, the first beverage of its kind, low-calorie… but still made with simple clean ingredients and delicious to drink,’ says Matt Dukes, CEO of Usual Wines.

The wine market is tapping into the rise of Hard Pop, as drinkers seek healthy versions of their favourite tipples.

The world's longest bus connects London and Delhi

London To Delhi Bus Trip by Adventures Overland, India

London – A new London bus route will be launched in August 2021, which will take passengers all the way to Delhi, India.

Inspired by the Hippie Trail buses that crisscrossed the world in the 1950s and 1960s, Bus to London aims to ‘recreate that vibrant era gone by’ by launching the 70-day long bus journey. Spanning two continents, 18 countries and covering 20,000km, the trips will include bucket list experiences such as hiking the Great Wall of China and meeting rare species of giant pandas in Chengdu.

Launched by Adventures Overland, Bus to London includes luxury seats and built-in entertainment systems. With only 20 available seats which are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, the bus trip to Delhi is priced at £15,000.

As consumers consider the environmental impacts of flying, we're seeing a push towards Decelerated Tourism, with consumers embracing slower methods of travel.

Stat: Brazilian beauty buyers value brand names

Girls Room by Dove UK

Brand name is an important factor in purchasing decisions for Brazilian beauty buyers, according to a recent survey by Picodi. The study found that – although 77% of women say that price is the key determining factor when it comes to buying make-up – 55% believe the brand to be crucial.

Interestingly, peer and social media recommendations appear to be less influential factors. Just 28% cite recommendation from influencers, and 20% say that expert opinions are a key buying factor. This demonstrates the continuing significance of big brand names in Brazil, whereas some scepticism exists surrounding the advice of social media influencers.

For more on the beauty consumers of the future, and what influences their purchasing journey, explore our latest beauty Community, the Beauty Cultists.