Dubai – The architecture studio has premiered a video which visualises the concept of a high-speed transportation network that carries cargo.

DP World Cargospeed, a collaboration of DP World and Virgin Hyperloop One, aims to create a new autonomous system that will enable cargo to be rapidly transported around cities. The system is made up of pods that travel around an infrastructural network at speeds of up to 700 miles per hour. ‘The movement of people and goods is part of the vital infrastructure that binds all our cities together – and cities are the future of our society,’ says Norman Foster, founder of Foster + Partners.

Fuelled by the growth of on-demand culture,services are expected to move fast but Foster + Partners notes that hyperloop offers a more sustainable solution since it does not have direct carbon emissions.

For more innovations and ideas that will shape the future of the urban environment, follow our Smart Cities far futures series.

Scotland – Local distillery, Eden Mill has announced the public release of the first Single Malt Whisky distilled in St Andrews, in 160 years.

The brand is celebrating the historic milestone by offering customers the chance to purchase the whisky in a limited-edition Hip Flask range. As the new collection has been matured in ‘honey casks’ which hold a smaller amount of liquid, Eden Mill decided to release the extracts in smaller bottles. The series includes seven single malt whisky expressions. For instance, No1 was matured in French Virgin Octave, and offers a cinnamon spice taste and a hint of citrus.

‘The Hip Flask Series is about applying the pioneering and experimental nature synonymous with Eden Mill to single malt whisky, showing the power of trying different grains, processes, maturation techniques and woods to highlight what you can do differently within the realm of single malt Scotch whisky’, explains Paul Miller, co-founder of Eden Mill.

As a new generation of whisky drinkers comes to the fore, whisky brands, especially those of the Scotch variety need to consider how to be more accessible to this consumer, whilst still celebrating tradition.

A new study, conducted by researchers at Clemson’s university, found that 40% of shoppers were interested in sustainability initiatives. Despite this, many failed to notice the labels which in fact rated the product’s sustainability.

The purpose of the research was to identify whether a consumer is influenced by a visual sustainability rating system, placed on the front of a product’s packaging. To measure this, researchers attached a mobile eye-tracking system to the participants head, that showed where their attention was drawn to when shopping.

As consumers become increasingly interested in the true source and environmental impact of products, brands are demonstrating transparency through a number of logos and symbols including vegan, vegetarian, organic, gluten free. The crowded packaging can often be often mean that some labels go unnoticed, so brands may need to focus on more education around their certifications.