The moment we have all been waiting for is here! 2020 is finally over and we have a new year to celebrate.
This pandemic is a direct consequence of human inaction and indifference towards the planet. Its been one hell of an eye opener and hopefully a reminder that the planet's eco-system is delicate and needs safeguarding.
So we got thinking (over a couple of mince pies, lots of wine and late night feeds) about which eco trends will we see emerge this year in light of the fiasco that was 2020.
Location, location, location
Last year we saw 'veganuary' take centre stage; this year we're seeing 'reganuary' leading the eco race. While we've all been stuck at home pondering life's big questions, lockdown has given birth to a 'shop local' movement. Shopping local is great from a feel good factor but also great for the environment. Its all about reducing food miles and knowing where your food comes from. Is it local? Is it organic? Is it free range? These are all important questions we should be asking ourselves about the food we eat and will continue to become the norm as we emerge from this pandemic.
Keeping it natural
We've all been rocking the bed to kitchen table look. Day and night PJs, messy hair and no make up. Its frankly been a blessing for my skin! This year we predict that this no make up look will continue to take precedence with a focus on quality, natural and ethical skincare to keep our skin looking healthy and dewy. The 'look good while doing good' mind frame isn't going anywhere and is only becoming more mainstream thanks to the pandemic. We're going to see more people taking a closer look at companies' ethics on animal testing and using animal bi-products, product ingredients and supply chain before supporting a brand.
Reuse and reduce
The single use plastic ban is here which signifies an important shift in our way of thinking. The importation of plastic cotton buds, straws, cutlery, bags and stirrers has finally been banned which will not only force us to look for other sustainable alternatives for these banned products but we predict this shift in behaviour will also become the norm across other areas of our life. This ban will force a change in mindset around sustainability and create a greater conversation and awareness around the repercussions of our buying habits on the environment.
Circular economy
We've seen this first hand at the shop. People are moving towards refill options for everyday products including cleaning products, hand sanitiser and even hair and skin care. Circular economy products are a great way to reduce packaging which is one of the main culprits of waste pollution. The pandemic shone a bright light on the convenience of refilling since you are able to refill and store products in larger quantities, reducing your trips outside the house. While this has been great during lockdown, we predict that this refill culture will continue to grow as more people discover the convenience and positive environmental impact of refill products.
100% recyclable
Realistically plastic is not going anywhere for a while because of its economic benefits for large organisations like Coca Cola and Unilever. However, because of consumer demands for these organisations to make drastic changes and move towards a sustainable approach we're seeing the rise of 100% recyclable plastics. Brands including Dove and Coca Cola have pledged to drop their current plastic packaging for fully recyclable packaging. We've also seen sustainable brands like Ecover use recycled and recyclable packaging. We predict that more companies will join the recyclable club as consumers continue to shun products in non-recyclable packaging for sustainably conscious brands.