5 Global Trends Shaping a Sustainable Future
With Brianne West
Founder of Ethique, one of the world’s first solid shampoo bars, Brianne was driven by her passion for the planet by removing the traditional plastic bottle and creating a zero-waste bar of shampoo that does just that and leaves no mark on the planet.
From humble beginnings, Ethique is now across 26 countries with huge growth plans. Brianne wears many hats - Scientist, Change Maker and Leader - to take us into the world of tomorrow were plastic and single use is no more.
She's been able to change the habits of hundreds of thousands of people and with competitive products coming to play, she's always one step ahead. anticipating new trends in the area of sustainability.
She's already saved 20 million bottles from landfill. In recent years, sustainability has been a big driver in businesses and as a front runner in leading change, Brianne and her team are incredibly inspiring to be around. It poses the question though, with all the positive changes that have happened over the last 10 to 15 years, what does tomorrow's world really look like?
Here are Brianne's top five movements paving the way for a sustainable future
1. Taking a Step Backwards
If you really don't need it, don't buy it.
I think people are going to take a step back and say, single use is not the convenience that I think it is. It's convenient for me here in the moment, but where is it when I throw it away?
2. More Impact Driven Businesses
Purposeful businesses are more profitable, they grow faster, they last longer and they foster more customer loyalty AND they keep their team for longer.
No longer is it acceptable to most consumers that a business simply sells something, and doesn't worry about where it came from or where it's going at the end of its life.
Now I think 86% of consumers expect a company to be working to resolve social and environmental problems, and I know a whole lot of people think of businesses sole purpose is to make profit.
Consumers no longer agree with you.
3. The Rise of Plant Based Diets
You can’t ignore the rise in plant based diets.
Not just going vegan, but actually using meat substitutes or dairy substitutes made from pea protein
I think you will start to see people being really conscious with what they use, eat, buy, make and again it will come back to this rise of consumers demanding better.
4. Consumers Demanding Better
You cannot deny the change in just demanding better.
So, more sustainability certifications are demanded but also more robust ones. There's a lot of ones out there that are grey, shall we say, with limited standards, but those are getting more robust as people go along.
People learn more. People understand more about it. People are more inclined to set higher standards and do better anyway.
5. Consumers Demanding Better
Do it now. We don't have time to wait.
I think a lot of organisations could make themselves much more circular with very little impact if they thought about their packaging.
The problem is no one looks at supply chain and that is a really common thing as supply chains are really dirty, wasteful and incredibly unethical.
I know a lot of organizations like all will be recyclable by 2030. Honestly, I think that's a cop out. Do it faster.
Good Change Conversations
Good Change conversations with Kristy Hunter and Stine Smith is a seasonal podcast dedicated to equipping you with practical advice to do small, but good changes.
In each episode we interview people making good changes, who are experts in their field. If you are looking to make small changes, Stine & Kristy will give you the inspiration and action plan to do this, today.
Listen to our full Good Change Conversation with Brianne and explore more episodes
