Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
The new international responsible sourcing show, Source Home & Gift taking place from February 5-8 at NEC Birmingham, has partnered with trend agency TrendBible on a powerful and informative Sustainability Report taking a deep delve into what sustainable product development will look like in 2024.
The report has been created to underpin some of the key things to consider when building a model for sustainable product development in 2024 and beyond, including working towards responsible consumption and production, reduced inequalities, good health and wellbeing, climate action and decent work and economic growth. The report is divided into three sections which focus on waste cycles, community impact and regeneration.
Suzanne Ellingham, director of Sourcing of Source Home & Gift, said: “I’m really pleased with the content and scope of this sustainability report with TrendBible. When considering what constitutes responsible and sustainable product development, everything goes under the microscope, the entire business model. From raw materials and manufacturing processes, to packaging, shipping, and how it performs; every aspect of the product’s lifecycle must be planned consciously to help protect people and planet. But that is easier said than done, and for many is a matter of where to start and what next? This report is an invaluable resource and highlights some inspiring case studies from businesses and designers taking leaps and bounds to achieve sustainable product developments. In order to move in the right direction, we must look to the innovators in the market to inspire action, and this report does just that.”
The three sections include Creative with Waste which covers fully circular design, biomaterials, food waste and cradle to cradle textiles; Community to Consumer featuring empowering producers, giving work, communicating social impact, and focus on indigenous; and Regenerative Futures comprising soil regeneration, carbon sequestration, protecting wildlife, bacteria dyeing, and mycelium.
According to Allegorie, 8% of greenhouse gas emissions are generated by global food waste. In fact, one third of all food produced in the world for human consumption never reaches the consumer’s table. Therefore, product design which utilises food waste, and converts it into a raw material for manufacturing is solving multiple problems; reducing waste, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and creating innovative new materials. Some of the world’s leading materialists and designers are currently experimenting with products and materials such as bio leather made from discarded fruit skin or bioplastics made from by products from the chocolate production industry, like the bento boxes in PriestmanGoode’s Zero Takeaway Packaging.
