LSN : News : DHL delivers accessibility with AI

Re-usable takeaway boxes that challenge mindsets

Street Food Box, UK

UK – Street Food Box is a re-usable packaging innovation in response to the need for more sustainable on-the-go food containers.

While most consumers are accustomed to recycling or tossing out takeaway packaging, the box, created by White Bear Studio, focuses on re-usability. It is made from a patented polypropylene called PRIPLAK – a non-toxic material that is both recyclable and re-usable – and bears the strapline ‘Eat, Rinse, Sleep, Repeat', spelling out its offer as a packaging alternative.

Its logo takes inspiration from recognisable recycling symbols, instead reflecting its ability to be washed and used again. In this way, the product provides an environmentally conscious alternative to traditional packaging, while raising awareness of the importance of looking beyond recycling as a sustainable option. Street Food Box can also be printed with customised branding and colours, making it available to other food retailers.

In our Eco To Go microtrend, we share the packaging innovators providing alternatives to single-use food containers.

Belli Welli’s gut health snacks are also indulgent treats

Belli Welli, Los Angeles

Los Angeles – The snack brand's range is designed to meet the needs of people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other gut health issues.

Belli Welli’s products avoid common aggravators such as gluten, dairy and sugar alcohols, and are made from plant-based ingredients and contain probiotics. The range was launched with four snack bars in bold flavours – Fudge Brownie, Mint Chocolate, Cinnamon Swirl and Lemon White Chocolate – resulting in a health-conscious yet indulgent snack.

A sense of indulgence also extends to Belli Welli's packaging and brand identity, with colourful, holographic wrapping that steers away from conventional health food branding. The snacks’ square shape tunes in to being a convenient quick fix, while the brand’s language, such as tagline ‘Probiotics in a brownie instead of a pill’, makes it relatable to its target audience.

As we explore in Total Tastes, food brands are tapping into health concerns in a way that balances both flavour and functionality.

DHL delivers accessibility with AI

HelloDone and DHL Parcel UK

UK – Courier company DHL is catering for shoppers' accessibility needs through a partnership with artificial intelligence (AI) messaging platform HelloDone.

The initiative allows people with disabilities to contact DHL’s UK couriers through messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, communicating any accessibility adjustments that might need to be made during the delivery process. This includes a Just a Minute option that tells drivers they may need to wait longer than usual when delivering a parcel. Another option lets customer suggest an accessible safe place for parcels to be left if they’re not available to accept the delivery.

‘Customers with disabilities and other impairments are continually faced with undignified and challenging delivery experiences,’ says Sean Sherwin-Smith, general manager of post purchase at HelloDone. ‘This disparity in the post-purchase journey has never been more apparent than during the pandemic, with more and more of us shopping online for goods and services.’

This initiative showcases how e-commerce and logistics services can cater for all consumers’ needs, building on the examples explored in the Accessible Retail Market.

Stat: US consumers’ conscience tilts towards lab-grown meat

Misfit Foods

American consumers are beginning to recognise the benefits of cell-based – otherwise known as lab-grown – meat, with many saying they would be willing to buy it in place of reared animal meat.

A survey commissioned by plant-based company Eat Just finds that nearly seven in 10 consumers would be willing to make the swap. Of the respondents who said they would consider buying cell-based chicken or beef – 21% for each product – the top reason cited was that the meat is made without killing animals. Meanwhile, some 19% of chicken buyers and 17% of beef buyers said they would make the change because they consider cell-based meat to be a healthier choice.

These findings indicate that a greater awareness of lab-grown meat and its benefits could sway more consumers to opt for non-traditional alternatives.

While the sector remains nascent, brands such as Meatable are reframing the narrative around lab-grown meats, using creative branding to remove doubt among food shoppers.