News 16.09.2020

Need to Know

The National Trust promotes nature’s restorative traits, voice vouchers could boost brands’ reach, and beauty shoppers use social media as an educational tool.

A celebration of nature’s wellbeing benefits

Everyone Needs Nature by Wieden + Kennedy for The National Trust, UK

UK – The National Trust is raising awareness of how nature can powerfully enrich people’s lives through a new campaign entitled Everyone Needs Nature.

Through a series of films created by Wieden + Kennedy, the campaign communicates how vital it is to preserve and protect nature and wildlife. The films also explore the mental benefits of connecting with nature, using dynamic typography of words such as ‘calm’ placed on top of atmospheric visuals and audio of natural environments.

The campaign is a response to the lockdown period experienced in the UK and its impact on mental wellbeing – in particular among urban dwellers. It highlights how gardens, parks and the open countryside became spaces of recuperation and positive escapism.

‘Lockdown, more than any other period of time, showed us clearer than ever before the value of nature and its importance for our wellbeing,' explains Shaherazad Umbreen, marketing director at the National Trust. 'Spending time outdoors became the one moment people could look forward to in their day.'

With many global citizens still feeling hesitant about far-flung travel, they're instead embracing opportunities to explore nature, wildlife and open spaces closer to home. For more, explore our Staycation Market.

Pai’s packaging overhaul centres on sustainability

Pai rebranded by Concrete, London Pai rebranded by Concrete, London
Pai rebranded by Concrete, London Pai rebranded by Concrete, London

London – Eco-skincare brand Pai is putting sustainability at the centre of a packaging overhaul.

The brand is relaunching its organic beauty line with a focus on improving recyclability and its carbon footprint through more sustainable boxes, tubes and bottles. Now, 50% of its products are bottled in glass, 40% are made with post-consumer recycled plastic, and the remainder from bio-based sugar cane.

Designed by Toronto-based creative agency Concrete, the new packaging is made with a patent-pending outer carton that is laminate-free, made from 50% recycled and 50% FSC board material, and has biodegradable tamper seals. The brand is also using the upgrade to highlight that it still makes all of its products in-house.

‘Covid brought complexity, but also positives too, making us focus on the benefits of conceiving and making our products under one roof and explaining why our customers should care about this as much as we do,’ says Sarah Brown, founder of Pai.

With brands increasingly considering the whole lifecycle of their products, this is filtering down to packaging as the beauty industry strives to move from zero to positive impact.

Voice vouchers speak to a new retail direction

London – Send me a Voucher is tapping into the potential of voice devices with the launch of bespoke discount vouchers from household brands.

Created by commerce incubator Rehab, the Send Me a Voucher platform takes the form of an Amazon Alexa skill and is able to quickly provide unique codes to individual users.

Consumers can ask for a voucher using Alexa commands, with the voucher service sending single-use codes directly to them via text or email. Looking ahead, the service is set to be launched on Google Assistant, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, allowing consumers to seamlessly receive discounts for brands and restaurants away from the home.

'As brands see their models accelerate to e-commerce rapidly to deal with Covid-19, we’re pleased to bring voice vouchers to the table as a new means of delivering a fantastic experience to customers, who are keener than ever to find savvy ways to save money,' says Rob Bennett, CEO of Rehab.

Consumers are increasingly using a variety of digital eco-systems to connect with the brands and services they love. For more, meet our Digital Architects community.

Voice Vouchers by Rehab, London

Stat: Social media is crucial to beauty research

Versed by Target, US Versed by Target, US

According to a new US report by marketing company Tinuiti, the pandemic has accelerated the trend of beauty shoppers turning to social media networks for product discovery.

With stores closed, the exploration of beauty products has boomed online, more than 60% of consumers surveyed by Tinuiti saying they use online resources for product research. During the pandemic, more than three-quarters of beauty shoppers (76%) have consulted a social media platform such as Instagram, Facebook or YouTube before making a purchase.

For brands keen to understand consumers' browsing and buying beauty habits, the most commonly used device was a smartphone, with almost half of respondents (49%) preferring to use their mobile devices to shop, while 37% favour computers.

As people look for honest guidance in finding suitable beauty products online, brands are creating more intimate digital connections with their customers. For more on how the pandemic has transformed the brand-to-consumer relationship, explore our macrotrend Recuperative Living.

Previous News Articles
The Future Laboratory and Bacardi investigate cocktail culture in 2025

News

The Future Laboratory and Bacardi investigate cocktail culture in 2025

Bacardi, in collaboration with The Future Laboratory, has released its cocktail trend report for 2025, forecasting a transformative year for the sp...
Drink : Spirits : Food
LG Display unveils world’s first stretchable display with 50% expandability

News

LG Display unveils world’s first stretchable display with 50% expandability

LG Display has achieved a major milestone in display technology with the launch of the world’s first stretchable display, capable of expanding by u...
Technology : Design : AI
New research finds that cannabinol significantly improves sleep

News

New research finds that cannabinol significantly improves sleep

Researchers from the University of Sydney’s Lambert Initiative have found new evidence supporting cannabinol (CBN) as an effective sleep aid.
Health : Wellness : Medicine
Stat: Teens face weekly exposure to conspiracy theories

News

Stat: Teens face weekly exposure to conspiracy theories

A new study by the News Literacy Project reveals that teens encounter conspiracy theories on their social media feeds at least once a week, yet mos...
Pop Culture : Youth : Media
Chester Zoo rebrands as a force for nature

News

Chester Zoo rebrands as a force for nature

Chester Zoo has unveiled a rebrand developed in partnership with branding agency How&How. 
Sustainability : Design : Advertising
Gobi Cashmere revitalises brand identity with Mongolian roots

News

Gobi Cashmere revitalises brand identity with Mongolian roots

Mongolian cashmere giant Gobi has unveiled a refreshed brand identity deeply rooted in its heritage and sustainable ethos.
Culture : Design : Fashion
Mall of the Emirates reveals new arts hub with musicals, plays and shows in mind

News

Mall of the Emirates reveals new arts hub with musicals, plays and shows in mind

Mall of the Emirates is set to debut New Covent Garden, a cultural landmark for Dubai’s thriving arts scene.
Retail : Entertainment : UAE
Stat: Demand for green talent surges as supply struggles to keep pace

News

Stat: Demand for green talent surges as supply struggles to keep pace

The global drive for sustainability is transforming job markets, with demand for green talent increasing annually by 5.9% between 2021 and 2024, ac...
Sustainability : Workplace : Youth
Elie Saab marks 45 years with a show of unapologetic grandeur

News

Elie Saab marks 45 years with a show of unapologetic grandeur

Elie Saab, a master of haute couture, celebrated the 45th anniversary of his eponymous fashion house in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Fashion : Luxury : Design
Friendswithyou, fuzzy AI robots exhibition opens at Cleveland Public Library

News

Friendswithyou, fuzzy AI robots exhibition opens at Cleveland Public Library

Art duo FriendsWithYou has unveiled The BAND, a playful installation of five fuzzy, autonomous robots at Cleveland Public Library.
Design : Technology : Youth
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