LSN : News : Stat: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé could influence US Gen Z vote

Nissan develops vehicle-cooling paint

Nissan, Japan

Japan – Nissan has partnered with radiative cooling metamaterials production company Radi-Cool to develop a ‘cool paint’ that significantly reduces vehicle temperatures.

Six times the thickness of regular automotive paint, the cooling paint reflects sunlight and emits electromagnetic waves to deflect heat away from vehicles, lowering roof-panel temperatures by up to 12°C (53°F) and interiors by 5°C (41°F).

In a bid to create cooler cars amid rising temperatures without increasing energy consumption, the paint reduces air-conditioning usage and eases the strain on engines and electric vehicle batteries.

After testing it at Tokyo’s Haneda airport since November 2023, Nissan’s next challenge is to commercialise the extremely thick paint.

In our Mobility topic on LS:N Global, we’re asking what the future of mobility will look like in a regenerative future and tracking the ideas, sustainability innovations and experts that will help shape the direction of this sector.

Strategic opportunity

Beyond electric vehicles, automotive brands should invest in R&D projects to enhance the sustainability of existing cars through technological innovations such as heat-reducing paint, fuel-efficient tiers or regenerative braking systems

Nespresso expands into honey with new Bloom line

Nespresso Bloom

US – In a significant shift from its nearly 40-year coffee legacy, Nespresso has introduced honey and honey syrup under its new Nespresso Bloom line. The launch marks the first time Nestlé’s Nespresso has ventured beyond its core coffee offerings, aligning with a growing consumer trend of using honey as a sweetener in coffee.

The honey is sourced from the same bees that pollinate coffee plants in Colombia, where Nespresso procures some of its beans. This innovative move not only supports sustainability, but also strengthens the brand’s commitment to regenerative agriculture. The launch taps into the rising popularity of honey, which, despite a recent dip, reached a record average consumption of 1.9 pounds per person in 2021, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

Nespresso’s Bloom honey and honey syrup, with their floral flavour and caramel-vanilla notes, will make their debut in selected Nespresso boutiques in New York and San Francisco on 7 August. The products will be available nationwide through Nespresso’s website two weeks later, priced at £14 ($18, €16.50) per bottle. At present, these offerings are exclusive to the US market.

Nespresso’s diversification while remaining true to its sustainability commitment aligns with our findings in Brewing Coffee Futures, in which we explore how conscious consumers are pushing coffee brands to become greener.

Strategic opportunity

Take a page from Nespresso’s book and diversify your coffee offerings so you are not left unprepared for the upcoming bean shortage – matcha, bubble tea and coffee alternatives are all viable options

Rosewood expands Caribbean presence with ultra-luxury Exuma resort

Rosewood Exuma, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, The Bahamas

Caribbean – Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is set to elevate Caribbean luxury travel with Rosewood Exuma, a 124-acre private island resort opening in 2028.

Developed in partnership with private investment company Yntegra Group and located on East Sampson Cay in The Bahamas’ Exumas archipelago, the resort will feature 33 beachfront suites. Amenities will include six dining outlets highlighting local ingredients, a 20,000-square-feet Asaya wellness sanctuary and a beach club with two marinas for yachts up to 150 feet long.

Designed to embody Rosewood’s A Sense of Place philosophy – design inspired by local tradition and location – and reflecting a commitment to positive impact, sustainable building practices will be prioritised throughout the resort. Only 25% of the island will be developed and initiatives such as solar-powered energy will help prioritise environmental preservation.

In our Luxury Travel’s Responsible Future viewpoint with Belmond Hotel Group, we revealed how high-net-worth (HNW) travellers are no longer interested in standardised aesthetics and instead want resorts that reflect and protect the local identity of the destination they’re staying in.

Strategic opportunity

Luxury hotels should reflect and protect their destinations by integrating local culture and sustainable practices, creating authentic experiences that educate guests and preserve the environment

Stat: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé could influence US Gen Z vote

Renaissance World Tour, Beyoncé, Global

US – Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, two of the world’s most influential pop icons, could have a significant impact on the voting choices of Generation Z in the upcoming 2024 US presidential election. According to a new poll conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for Newsweek, 34% of Gen Z respondents indicated they would be ‘significantly more likely’ or ‘more likely’ to vote for a candidate endorsed by Swift, while an even higher 40% said the same for Beyoncé.

As many Gen Zers – those born between 1997 and 2012 – prepare to vote for the first time, their choices could be swayed by these cultural figures. The candidates include former President Donald Trump and Vice-President Kamala Harris, recently chosen as the Democratic nominee, along with other contenders such as Cornel West, Robert F Kennedy Jr, Jill Stein and Chase Oliver.

Although neither Swift nor Beyoncé has endorsed a candidate in this election cycle, their previous support for the Biden-Harris ticket in 2020 hints at the potential power of their influence in shaping the political landscape, especially among Gen Z.

For more insights on how US campaigners are re-inventing door-knocking and turning to a new kind of influential spokespeople, see our analysis of The Power of Precision Micro-Influencing.

Strategic opportunity

Explore partnerships with celebrities or influencers who resonate with Gen Z to amplify brand messaging and drive engagement – especially if they align with social or political causes that are important to this demographic