News 11.10.2019

Need to Know

Couples therapy delivered through an app, Microsoft, Sony and Twitch pledge to make gaming planet-positive, and consumers want food with health benefits.

Reinventing sausages for veggie-curious consumers

Misfit Foods
Misfit Foods
Misfit Foods

US – Misfit Foods has launched a range of flavour-packed sausages that reposition the humble foodstuff for both meat lovers and flexitarians.

Available in three flavours – Kale Citrus Chimichurri, Sweet Potato Andouille and Squash Sweet Italian – the sausages are made of 50% humanely-raised, antibiotic-free, hormone-free chicken and 50% vegetables.

Previously known for its wonky fruit and vegetable juices, Misfit has launched products containing meat after learning that the average American eats 200lbs of meat a year. ‘The majority of Americans…want to eat less meat, but they’re not quite ready for a number of different reasons to fully give it up,’ explains Dave Betts, co-founder of Misfit. ‘It allows people to reduce their meat consumption significantly, but really doesn’t make people change their behaviour in a drastic way.’

With its range, the brand hopes to provide a tastier option for veggie-curious meat eaters, or those looking for sausages with health benefits, something explored by Carolien Niebling in her project The Future Sausage.

This app lets couples confront relationship issues

Life Couple Life Couple
Life Couple Life Couple

Global – LifeCouple has been developed to help couples monitor and address different challenges in their relationships.

The app invites partners to reflect on trust, communication, conflict, and intimacy within their relationship by analysing their individual data and offering tools to provoke meaningful conversations. The app utilises artificial intelligence and machine learning to adapt dynamic content to each couples' needs. Couples can take part in daily relationship challenges, ice breakers that prelude difficult conversations, and digital gifts. The app is not intended to be a cure-all, but has been designed to be used alongside traditional forms of couples therapy.

‘It’s not a replacement to therapy but it’s a complement to it,’ says founder Sean Rones. ‘I don’t think this can 100% solve your problem but it can give you the tools to solve your problems.’

Discussions around emotional wellbeing and its impact on relationships continues to grow, with brands such as LifeCouple innovating on traditional therapy methods to serve the needs of digitally-oriented consumers.

Gaming giants pledge to reduce their environmental impact

Global – Tech companies have stepped forward to form the Playing for the Planet Alliance with the aim of reducing the environmental impact of gaming through brand-led initiatives.

Twenty one organisations including Microsoft, Sony, and the companies behind Minecraft and Twitch made the pledge at the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit. Microsoft plans to make 825,000 new carbon-neutral Xbox consoles, while game streaming platform Twitch, which is owned by Amazon, and Minecraft promise to spread sustainability messages to their audiences.

The next-generation PlayStation console, meanwhile, will dramatically reduce its power consumption. ‘I believe games and gamers can be a force for social change and would love to see our global community unite to help our planet to survive and thrive,’ said Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, at UN Summit. ‘There is an undeniable opportunity for leaders in the games industry to take a stand and support the UN Environment team.’

As the ethical implications of online entertainment come to the fore, a number of music platforms are also taking greater responsibility. Read the Sustainable Music Streaming micro trend for more case studies.

Stat: Consumers want food with functional benefits

Recent research by Tastewise has found that 37% of consumers are using food as a tool to achieve their health goals.

Utilising artificial intelligence to analyse millions of social media posts, menus, reviews, and recipes, the intelligence agency was able to determine which ingredients consumers are most likely to use to aid their health. Among the most popular foods are provolone cheese, maple syrup, CBD, pea protein, kefir and maca, which are eaten as aids for weight loss, easing depression, assisting sleep, and boosting gut health.

For brands, there is an opportunity to pivot their ingredients and messaging around food to serve the consumers' desire to make food consumption more aligned with their holistic wellness needs.

Read our interview with Tastewise founder Alon Chen for more on why consumer taste preferences are becoming more nuanced, and how brands can leverage data to get ahead of burgeoning flavour and wellbeing trends.

Previous News Articles
Dehydrating Book highlights the global water crisis

News

Dehydrating Book highlights the global water crisis

Water for People, Edelman and Toronto studio The Gas Company have designed a book that can only be read when wet.
Books : Design : Climate Crisis
Foresight Friday: Fiona Harkin, director of foresight

News

Foresight Friday: Fiona Harkin, director of foresight

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, director of foresigh...
Foresight Friday : Ff : US Economy
Stat: HNWIs in China shift toward luxury travel rather than possessions

News

Stat: HNWIs in China shift toward luxury travel rather than possessions

China’s wealthy elite are increasingly prioritising cultural and immersive luxury experiences over traditional material possessions, according to a...
Stat : Statistic : China
SmartSKN introduces AI-powered customised Korean skincare

News

SmartSKN introduces AI-powered customised Korean skincare

South Korean beauty company SmartSKN has launched K-OWN, an AI-driven skincare platform that uses real-time diagnostics and on-demand manufacturing...
AI Skincare : Skincare : AI In Beauty
Stat: US parents are embracing digital fashion resale

News

Stat: US parents are embracing digital fashion resale

The second-hand market is becoming an essential parenting tool, driven by financial pressures and digital convenience.
Shopping Habits : Thrifting : Secondhand Selling
McDonald’s Japan and girl group XG team up for fandom feast

News

McDonald’s Japan and girl group XG team up for fandom feast

McDonald’s Japan has launched Fandom Feast: McDonald’s Live Party (#リアタイマクパ), an interactive experience blending fandom culture with mobile ordering.
Japan : McDonald's : McDonalds
Skinny Mobile clones its happiest customer to star in AI ads

News

Skinny Mobile clones its happiest customer to star in AI ads

Telecommunications company Skinny Mobile has digitally cloned its happiest customer, Liz Wright, turning her into an AI-powered brand ambassador fo...
Advertising : AI : Skinny Mobile
Danish grocery chain introduces new hack for boycotting US products

News

Danish grocery chain introduces new hack for boycotting US products

Grocery giant Salling Group is introducing a black star symbol on price tags to highlight European brands
Retail : Grocery Shopping : Denmark
Stat: India’s digital media surpasses tv for the first time

News

Stat: India’s digital media surpasses tv for the first time

Indians spent a staggering 1.1 trillion hours on their smartphones in 2024, averaging five hours daily.
India : 5G : Statistic
Estée Lauder claims Advanced Night Repair mimics beauty sleep

News

Estée Lauder claims Advanced Night Repair mimics beauty sleep

Estée Lauder is harnessing the viral appeal of beauty dupes with its latest campaign, positioning its Advanced Night Repair serum as the ultimate s...
Estée Lauder : Beauty : Retail
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN