We must look at all categories where we can offer plant-based and sustainably sourced choices for intentional consumers. There has never been a time where we need to be more collectively conscious of the products we consume, and acknowledge their impacts on our long-term health.

As a seasoned executive in the consumer packaged goods market for more than twenty years, Ive had the opportunity to watch first-hand the remarkable evolution of major consumer trends tied to healthier lifestyles.

Consumers have transformed the retail landscape at large, as almost every category in your favorite grocery store now has a beautiful organic section carved out for those with natural preferences.

Our Gen Z children, the future buyers of this country, are eager to uncover where and how the products they consume are sourced, asking for Meatless Mondays, and making conscious choices about what goes in and on their bodies.

More celebrities are jumping on the vegetarian or flexitarian bandwagon I challenge you to open Instagram and not see a post about plant-based products or the plastic waste produced by traditional alternatives.

This growing trend is great news for our health, for the environment, and for the emerging businesses that are launching innovative new products daily to improve our well-being.

The question I ask is this: What about the less buzzy, but arguably most significant market categories such as feminine care? I said it; stay with me. Even if you are a male reading this, you have a Mother, Sister, Aunt, Wife or Daughter ... and we all share the same planet.

My cousin and I founded TOP the organic project (TOP) because, when we went looking for organic and eco-friendly feminine hygiene products for our daughters, we realized there were few options.

For decades, the feminine care category has operated with a complete lack of transparency as companies are not required to list their ingredients nor test their impact on womens health.

There have also been significant (and largely ignored) environmental and social impact issues that have gone completely unaddressed by the masses.

Every year, more than 20 billion period products end up in landfills, in the United States alone. Mainly composed of plastic materials and by-products, period product waste has a measurably negative impact on the environment, derailing global sustainability efforts, as each plastic tampon and pad takes thousands of years to decompose.

As a mom-owned social impact company on a mission to make sustainable, organic period products accessible for all, we recently launched a plant-based applicator tampon, the PLANTICATOR a high-performing alternative to the traditional, plastic-based tampons that dominate 90 percent of the market today.

Image credit: TOP the organic project

Benefits include a reduction in the use of fossil fuel resources, faster decomposition and an overall decrease in toxins; as well as eliminating BPA a hormone disruptor with documented health risks for women and girls altogether.

With the bioplastics market predicted to skyrocket from $6B to $19B+ by 2026, TOP aims to transform the period landscape with options that are better for you and the planet, similar to the evolution we're seeing with plant-based food and drink.

We recently visited the flagship store of one of the country's largest retailers, near their corporate office. It was a beautiful store with every aisle curated to meet all of your mainstream grocery needs with plenty of natural and organic alternatives. The store had both a sports bar and a wine bar we have indeed come a long way since the grocers of our past.

We were in awe of this modern shopping experience until we reached the feminine care cove at the back of the store. It looked like an aisle from the late 1980s, at best. When we asked the buyer why it looked so dated versus the rest of the store, he simply shrugged his shoulders and said, There just hasnt been much innovation in that category.

Our primary mission is to give every woman a choice to be proud of in the feminine care space, through innovation and a long overdue makeover for the feminine care aisles at grocery stores nationwide. Its our responsibility as global citizens to look at all categories where we can offer plant-based and sustainably sourced choices for intentional consumers who are paving the way for a brighter future. There has never been a time where we need to be more collectively conscious of the products we consume, and acknowledge their impacts on our long-term health.

Published Mar 17, 2020 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 12pm GMT / 1pm CET

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The Continued Evolution of Plant-Based Products and the Ones We're Not Hearing About - Sustainable Brands

With the start of the new decade, marketers and technologists alike have both an opportunity and a challenge to help brands optimize their data in a new era of customer service.

Each year, leaders across industries reveal their predictions about how technology will influence the marketing landscape, making the beginning of this new decade the perfect opportunity to pause and reflect on the not-sao-distant past.

Winning CX will come from Brands who can balance relevance, consistency and convenience to drive engagement. The kind of engagement that drives optimal customer lifetime value and real business impact.

Historically, predictions have promised major breakthroughs in everything from emerging realities to artificial intelligence and smart mobile devices. However, I believe organizations will experience an unprecedented realignment of the fundamentals across industries this decade, particularly in marketing technology. In an era where shareholder value is no longer everything, and customer experience continues to be a leading driver of business results, this shift will be integral to success.

We see a glimpse into how businesses can prepare for this changing landscape in Fjords Trends 2020 report. In this years outlook, Fjord Accenture Interactives design arm includes three emerging trends that I see as most relevantfor businesses in 2020, as were in a critical position to help organizations and investors provide exceptional customer experiences.

Learn More:Heres How You Can Take Your Loyalty Program Global

Today, organizations are under tremendous pressure to redefine their successes outside of financial performance. In my experience, success no longer solely equates to growth; organizations must start reassessing corporate purpose and recalibrate how they see their role in the world to survive.

Outlined as the Many Faces of Growth, this trendreminds us that we have a responsibility to help organizations react to investors, customers and employers when navigating changing societal values, concerns about climate change and economic and political instability to name a few.

Todays leading brands are using data to not only make relationships with customers more relevant and useful, but more meaningful, too. Theyre creating experienceswith a purpose and learning where to draw the line between invasive and inventive.

This idea reminds me of a few key findings we discovered in Accenture Interactives 2019 Consumer Pulse Survey:See People, Not Patterns, in which we surveyed over 8,000 consumers globally. We found that 93% of consumers agree its important that every interaction they have with a brand is excellent, whenever or wherever they happen in the decision to purchase from a brand, while 87% of consumers think its important to purchase from brands that understand the real them.

The good news is that there is a big opportunity for brands to take a thoughtful approach not only in the use of data usage through personalization but in creating impactful experiences at the intersection of purpose and innovation. Whether its working with retailers to use materials and dies that are better for the environment or helping quick serve restaurants reduce food waste or partnering with the local government to create smart cities and increase speed of first responders in a crisis, creating experience with purpose build the trust and emotional connection customers crave and help improve peoples lives.

Consumption habits are rapidly evolving as people continue to redefine their identity in more ways than one. As a result, organizations need to take a proactive approach to understand the complex layers of their audiences, leveraging those insights to create more personalized experiences for all.

According to a recent Gartner CMO Spend Survey, marketing technology consumed nearly a third of marketing budgets, making this segment the largest area of investment for marketing resources and programs. Based on the survey, CMOs spent an average of 25 percent of their marketing technology budget on three channels: search (11.2 percent), email (5.9 percent), and website (7.6 percent). Marketing and customer analytics platforms accounted for 8.9 percent, indicating the need for measurement tools and processes to continue supporting these programs.

With this in mind, Ive noticed something contradictory: people still want to consume products, but dont want those products to define who they are their expectations are truly fluid.

Consumers are on a quest to show who they are without pointing to their possessions or what they do for a living. Consequently, organizations need to gain a deeper understanding of the people they serve and in some case redefine that understanding to accomplish a greater sense of relevance, across touchpoints.

Ive also seen a growing number of people becoming more conscious consumers, usually to support a cause whether the planet or society resulting in added pressure for businesses to follow suit. For example, Brazilian start-up Beleaf, formerly known as Vegan J, is one of several plant-based food companies around the world to change its name to broaden its appeal to meat-eaters. In the U.S., around 95% of people buying from meat alternative food business, Impossible Foods, are ironically meat-eaters. Vegan is now the fastest-growing food takeaway in the UK, and recent YouGov research suggests a conscious flexitarian diet could soon become the countrys norm.

Similarly, Millennials and Gen Z two of the biggest buying demographics are fondest of personalization. Yet in contrast to their predecessors, Gen Z has a completely different set of considerations for making buying decisions. As the Gen Z population increases, customized advertising is going to become increasingly inevitable, given the need for smarter audience management strategies and increased segmenting and targeting. To achieve this, brands should not only focus on consumers experiences at every interaction during the customer journey, from websites and mobile apps to brick-and-mortar stores but also the consumers intent and context. For example, I have very different needs when I travel for business versus travel with my family on vacation. Context matters.

Learn More:Privacy vs. Personalization: A Divide Amongst Generations

Were leaving a physical cookie trail as we move around our cities with widespread facial and body language recognition capabilities on the rise. As machines get more sophisticated at reading our physical features, our bodies are increasingly becoming our signature as the line between privacy and convenience becomes blurred. I believe it is our obligation to use data responsibly, while learning from it to aid future costumer interactions.

Forrester defines omnichannel marketing as the practice of digitally sequencing advertising across channels, which is connected, relevant, and consistent with the customers stage in their life cycle. As such, living services sophisticated, contextually-aware and digital will continue to become the norm across the marketing technology ecosystem.

In fact, across industries, this is already the norm. UK health start-up Babylon for example, combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) with peoples medical expertise to deliver improved access to healthcare. AI initially helps to identify a patients condition, then assesses their reaction to help gauge whether they fully understand the advice they receive.

Yet responsible data usage, also continues to blur the lines. Several Amazon smart products for example, including Echo Frames (smart glasses) and Echo Loop (a portable smart ring that can make phone calls), have sparked privacy debates and exemplify how living services are becoming intertwined into society.

Despite the cookie trail, transparency continues to reign. Our recent survey also found that around 73% of consumers are willing to share more personal information if brands are transparent about how it is used, up from 66% in 2018. The changing landscape represents an opportunity for brands that provide consumers with value for their data, while simultaneously ensuring the brand wont lose or abuse their data and recognize consumers in a way that puts them at ease.

Learn More:Watch out CX Industry -- Omnichannel Personalization, Data and AI Are here

Brands are a set of promises and the way those promises are kept are in the experiences they deliver. Systemic complexities ranging from economics and politics to technology and more rapidly changing society raise new challenges but its clear organizations have a unique opportunity to innovate with purpose and create experiences backed by new business models, services and products as they redefine value in the decade ahead.

When organizations adapt to an experience-led approach, marketers and technologists are not only helping brands be present across touchpoints such as smartphones, computers, digital assistants and TVs; theyre able to penetrate into a liquid experience ecosystem in a unified fashion that conveys a single meaningful brand narrative and ultimately deliver experiences that matter.

While the decade ahead will unearth new breakthroughs that will challenge consumer trust, growth models and expand the boundaries of personalization, something we know for sure is that organizations who embrace the long-term view by focusing on their societal impact at large while striving to empathize and help improve the lives of their customers will emerge as winners.

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Understanding the Evolution of Martech in 2020 - MarTech Advisor

This piece was published before the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

How good does never getting dumped sound? Don't be fooled. . . Lauren Bonner has never been dumped, and it's turned her into a monster. Some say 'assuming people who reject you must just be afraid of falling in love with you' is unhealthy, but actually, it's self-care.

You might have seen Lauren on SBS's 'The Feed', or ABC's 'Tonightly'. Now, she's making her Melbourne International Comedy Festival debut as well as heading to Gold Coast Laughs Festival, tracking her evolution from self-conscious teen to ice-cold heartbreaker. Don't you mess around with her.

What can we expect from you in this show? Really just a whole bunch of jokes about a whole bunch of stuff. I talk a bit about dating and relationships, but also about the bus, ghosts, MSN Messenger, and MMA fighter Conor McGregor. Funny, relatable, raw, real.

What is your favourite thing about comedy? Because its live, its always unpredictable. Some stuff can make people laugh nine times out of ten, and then you can try it another night and no-one laughs. You just dont know whats going to happen. Actually that might be my least favourite thing about comedy.

What makes a heartbreaker? Pat Benatar would define it as the the invincible winner, and I would agree.

Why do you think never having been dumped has turned you into a monster? Its given me too much power.

If you could give your 'self-conscious teen' self any advice, what would it be? Youre hotter than you think you are. Do yoga every day, start now your body will begin to break down soon. Dont let that guy take you on a first date to Westfield.

What are you looking forward to about presenting 'Heartbreaker'? Id love to find an audience that really digs it. Ive had a pretty even mix of gals and guys who have liked what I do, so basically if youre cool and open-minded about weird, dumb, gross sh.t, please come along.

How are you going to make sure it goes down as a truly memorable moment? My hauntingly beautiful poster photo will be burned into public memory forever.

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Lauren Bonner Is An Ice-Cold Heartbreaker - scenestr

Plagues of global proportions might seem biblical, but coronavirus is creating new challenges for faith leaders. Last week in Australia, many churches, mosques and synagogues decided proactively to cancel their normal worship services. These were not easy decisions for groups for whom being a gathered community is central to their identity and practice.

On the weekend, the federal government announced new, stringent measures as part of a stage 1 lockdown, which means faith communities can no longer gather to worship. In Victoria, funerals and weddings are also banned.

Australias largest Uniting Church, Newlife, was one of the first in Australia to move services online following the prime ministers call to cancel gatherings over 500. Their lead minister, Stu Cameron, addressed the congregation online and called this the most loving thing to do. As a church used to multimedia worship, they are well equipped to move online.

Read more: View from The Hill: Entertainment venues closed in draconian measures to fight the virus

Traditional churches such as St Johns Anglican Church in Toorak face different challenges. They have cancelled Sunday services but are keeping the historic church and garden open as long as possible for personal prayer and reflection. Their priest, Peter French, is more concerned about how they will continue to care for the dead and grieving as St Johns often sees over 1,000 people during the week for funeral services.

Weddings can be postponed, but funerals are another matter. French said:

Were working closely with our local funeral directors and are deeply conscious of the need for love and compassion for the grieving even if we cant physically gather together in the traditional way. Funeral services for the foreseeable will look very different.

Italy has banned funerals of any kind. Bodies are being buried or cremated with only a priest or celebrant present. This leaves grieving loved ones in limbo, waiting until they can hold a proper funeral service.

The PMs announcement on Sunday evening now makes clear that Australian church and religious organisations are also prohibited from holding funeral services. Sitting shiva in the traditional way or gathering in other rituals to mourn the dead will not be possible for the foreseeable future.

Not all faith communities are responding in the same way. The coronavirus pandemic has exposed a long-held tension between science and faith for conservative faith communities. Conservative Christian churches such as Margaret Courts Life Church have said the blood of Jesus will protect their communities.

Such claims are rooted in a prosperity theology that naively claims God will protect and bless the faithful (usually financially), coupled with a simultaneous distrust of science. This distrust is because scientific theories, such as evolution, are mutually exclusive to a literal reading of the creation stories in the Bible, particularly Genesis, and are therefore seen as a threat or in conflict with faith.

At the other end of the ecclesial spectrum, the Greek Orthodox Church has thus far continued to serve communion, claiming that one cannot contract an illness from Holy Communion, because bread and wine are the body and blood of Christ. Scientists might disagree.

Worst of all are those seeking to benefit from the fear that such a pandemic evokes. Televangelist and Trump adviser Paula White at first dismissed the seriousness of coronavirus and is now opportunistically asking for cash donations for a hospital for the soul sick. Citing Psalm 91, a psalm that speaks of Gods protection in a time of difficulty, she asks people for donations of $91 as seed funding for Gods blessing. Others are promising healing through the television. Preying on peoples fears in this way is contrary to Christian tradition and theology.

Christians were famous in antiquity for staying to care for the sick and dying during significant plagues. After all, to risk ones life for the sake of another is a very Jesus-like thing to do.

Christians are, of course, not alone in these brave acts of service. This kind of self-sacrificial service is central to many of the worlds religions.

But the dynamics of the current pandemic are different. Staying close to others might threaten their life more than ones own. It poses a new kind of problem: how do you love your neighbour when you arent supposed to be near them?

The challenge for all communities is how to foster community and support one another while keeping physical distance. Many faith communities are live-streaming services or sharing pre-recorded sermons. Others are encouraging small groups to meet in homes or meeting in real time via software such as Zoom.

Read more: Grattan on Friday: We are now a nation in self-isolation

Pastoral care is more complicated. Some faith communities have set up a pastoral care roster of weekly phone calls to check on both the physical and spiritual needs of members. Others are delivering care packages and meals to the doorsteps of elderly members or have a buddy system, asking members to commit to checking in with one another every couple of days or youth to help older folk with technology.

At the heart of any religion is community: people gathering together to worship, pray, caring for one another, and eating together. There is therefore something antithetical about asking members of faith communities to show their love by keeping away from one another. It is a difficult and counter-cultural thing for many to do. Yet, it is what most faith leaders in Australia are asking of their communities as they trust the advice of scientists and experts that this is the best way to show care for the most vulnerable in our community.

In this time of great anxiety, leaders of all faiths have both an opportunity and responsibility to step up with words of comfort and compassion, drawing on the depths of their sacred traditions and texts.

The lasting effect of coronavirus on faith communities remains to be seen. Will people flock back to their synagogues when finally allowed, joyful at being able to be together again? Or will habits be broken and connections lost as people discover other ways to pray and nourish their spiritual lives outside of Sunday church?

Perhaps the creativity these new circumstances demand will lead to a wider range of faith expressions and fundamentally change the nature of faith communities in the 21st century.

Whatever the future looks like, creative and new forms of care and worship are emerging. It is hard to imagine these wont leave a lasting legacy on faith communities.

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Pray, but stay away: holding on to faith in the time of coronavirus - The Conversation AU

Youve been hearing this advice everywhere for months now, and Im about to repeat the same thing: wash your hands often, especially when you return back home and be sure to use sanitizer if available while youre out and about. Also, dont EVER touch your face until youve washed your hands. It can be annoying when you have to make a conscious effort not to put your hands anywhere near your face, but its all for your own good.

The reason weve heard these things since the novel coronavirus was discovered in China is pretty simple. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can survive outside of the body. Its spread via tiny droplets when someone coughs or sneezes, droplets that then land on surfaces around the infected person. Touching those surfaces is enough to get it on your hands. And from there, it might be just a matter of time until it reaches your mouth or eyes.

Researchers have looked at the COVID-19 viruss ability to survive on different surfaces and in the air, and the conclusions arent great. The virus can live from hours to days outside of the body, and thats why washing your hands and disinfecting surfaces is crucial for beating this illness. Also, because it can live up to three hours in the air, you should avoid being in close proximity to people until the spread of this deadly virus is under control.

Published in The New England Journal of Medicine earlier this week, the new study is penned by researchers from various institutions, including National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Hamilton, MT), Princeton University (Princeton, NJ), University of California (Los Angeles, CA), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA).

The researchers compared the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) with its predecessor, the SARS-CoV-1, which is the most closely related human coronavirus, in five environmental conditions, including aerosols (air), plastic, stainless steel, copper, and cardboard.

Heres how long the novel coronavirus can survive outside of the body in each situation, according to their tests:

The researchers said that even though the virus can live up to three days on plastic and stainless steel, it has a longer half-life and is more stable on plastic.

The findings for both coronavirus types were similar, although its the SARS-CoV-2 results that matter most since thats the virus were all trying to get rid off right now:

We found that the stability of SARS-CoV-2 was similar to that of SARS-CoV-1 under the experimental circumstances tested. This indicates that differences in the epidemiologic characteristics of these viruses probably arise from other factors, including high viral loads in the upper respiratory tract and the potential for persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 to shed and transmit the virus while asymptomatic.Our results indicate that aerosol and fomite transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is plausible, since the virus can remain viable and infectious in aerosols for hours and on surfaces up to days (depending on the inoculum shed). These findings echo those with SARS-CoV-1, in which these forms of transmission were associated with nosocomial spread and super-spreading events,and they provide information for pandemic mitigation efforts.

In other words, keep washing your hands and be conscious of not touching your face. Keep disinfecting commonly used surfaces and keep practicing social distancing. You will have to buy essentials from time to time, and that means going out or ordering online. In both cases, you should continue to sanitize your hands, avoid contact with others, and sanitize whatever you buy as soon as it enters your home. The advantage here is that stores and restaurants will be or should be equally paranoid about cleanliness, so the risk of infection should be significantly diminished.

Image Source: NACHO GALLEGO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Chris Smith started writing about gadgets as a hobby, and before he knew it he was sharing his views on tech stuff with readers around the world. Whenever he's not writing about gadgets he miserably fails to stay away from them, although he desperately tries. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.

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New study finally reveals how long coronavirus survives on surfaces and in the air - BGR

To fight the spread of coronavirus, government officials have asked Americans to swallow a hard pill: Stay away from each other.

In times of societal stress, such a demand runs counter to what evolution has hard-wired people to do: Seek out and support each other as families, friends and communities. We yearn to huddle together. The warmth of our breath and bodies, of holding hands and hugging, of talking and listening, is a primary source of soothing. These connections are pivotal for responding to and maximizing our survival in times of stress.

Priority number one is to follow the recommended social distancing guidelines to control the virus. The cure is definitely not worse than the disease experts projections of disease spread and mortality without strong intervention make this clear.

But as with any pill, there are side effects. As psychological scientists at the University of Washingtons Center for the Science of Social Connection, our lab studies social connectedness, why it is important and how to maximize its benefits. Our clinical and research experiences help us understand the side effects of social distancing and suggest strategies for addressing them.

Human Beings Are Social Beings

In times of stress and illness, being deprived of social connection can create more stress and illness. People who are lonely have higher levels of the hormone cortisol, an indicator of stress; show weaker immune responses to pathogens; and are at increased risk for premature death. Isolation can lead to depression, suicidal thoughts and other clinical conditions.

For those who must be quarantined because they are infected with the virus, this research has one important implication: Depriving the sick of social connection and physical closeness unfortunately may make it harder for them to defeat infection. For example, lonely college students respond more weakly to influenza vaccinations than do non-lonely students.

There are other costs. Loneliness makes people feel more vulnerable and anxious in social interactions. An official mandate to socially distance and isolate may increase what psychologists call intergroup anxiety, the natural threat and distrust people feel when interacting with those who are different.

People may circle the wagons around themselves and those they perceive as like themselves those with whom they share a common identity while excluding everyone else. The recent travel restrictions play into these very human fears, and could exacerbate impulses to blame and stigmatize others as the source of this crisis. These fears fuel negative and inaccurate stereotypes of others, rather than cultivating connections to a larger human community that is suffering together.

Reach Out And Connect

While social distancing and isolation are in effect, there are things everyone can do to mitigate their downsides.

Now is the time to reach out to friends and family and connect with them however you can. Let people know how much you care about them. While live human connection is best, a phone call, with a real voice, is better than text, and a videochat is better than a phone call.

We believe such social technology-faciliated connections will aid all of us in staying as healthy as possible during this time. Although research on this is not comprehensive, we think its valuable to use social technology to mitigate the effects of loneliness and isolation for those who are sick.

What you say when connecting also matters. If you are stressed and upset, talking about your feelings can help. You may or may not feel better, but you will feel less alone. If youre on the receiving end of this kind of sharing, resist the impulse to dismiss, debate or tell the other person not to worry. Your task is to listen and convey that you understand their feelings and accept them. This process one person sharing something vulnerable, and the other responding with understanding and care is the basic dance step of good, close relationships.

Human touch is also vital for well-being. If you are distancing with people who are close to you and healthy, dont forget the positive impact of a gentle hug, or holding someones hand. Safe, mutually consenting physical touch leads to the release of oxytocin. Sometimes called the love hormone, oxytocin helps regulate your fight or flight system and calms your body in times of stress.

For those who are untouchable because theyre sick with COVID-19, affectionate therapy dogs may provide measurable benefit. (As of this writing, WHO guidelines suggest pets are safe.)

Things You Can Do

Other actions can help boost your and others well-being as youre adapting to a world of social distancing.

Embrace others, figuratively. Be aware of your tendency to circle the wagons around your group. Importantly, even though it doesnt always feel this way, youre not born with a fixed group that you trust and fixed groups that you distrust. These feelings and associations are flexible and change with context. Imagine, for example, who feels safe and familiar to you when at work versus at a family dinner versus at a football game. Now is the time to expand how you define your group identities. This is a global pandemic. Human beings are in, the coronavirus is out.

Be generous. The practical side of this idea of expanding your identities is an encouragement to be generous, broadly speaking. Giving to others in times of need not only helps the recipient, it enhances the givers well-being, too. If you feel compelled to go to the grocery store to stock up on toilet paper, consider checking in with people you know who are more vulnerable and see what they might need. Give them some of that toilet paper. Help others around you, including neighbors you may not know well, people with whom you dont usually feel a sense of kinship and people experiencing homelessness. Doing so combats the impulse to build walls. It puts you in touch with the better angels of your nature, and gives these angels voice and purpose.

Finally, remember to breathe. In this moment, with all the stress and anxiety, many people feel overwhelmed and disconnected. But youre still here and those around you are in this chaos with you, too. A few conscious, gentle breaths can restore that connection, slow your mind and give you clarity, at least for a moment or two.

This coronavirus crisis may not end soon. Things may get worse. As people hunker down, the negative side effects of social distancing and isolation will shift and evolve. What feels manageable today may not feel manageable tomorrow.

As psychologists, we are concerned that the lack of social connections, increased stress, disruptions and losses of livelihoods and routines will tip some people toward depression. We are concerned about increased family conflict as people are forced to navigate unusual amounts of time together, many in confined spaces.

Flexibility is adaptive. Building a foundation of healthy coping, maintaining awareness of the side effects of our necessary societal changes, and staying connected to our values and to each other, are imperative. Human beings have great capacity for empathy and caring in times of suffering. Maintaining social distance doesnt need to change that.

_______________________________________________

Jonathan Kanteris thedirector of the Center for the Science of Social Connection at theUniversity of Washington, and Adam Kuczynskiis aPhD Student in the Department of Psychology at theUniversity of Washington.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read more:
Social Distancing Comes With Social Side Effects. Here's How To Stay Connected. - KUT

The food industry is growing at an impressive rate recent figures show that 230bn is spent on food and drink each year, and that figure is only set to grow. Which means big business for brands in the industry.

However its a landscape that is constantly changing, and in order to capitalise on the potential opportunity, brands have to get under the skin of what is driving that evolution namely the societal trends that are having an increasingly greater impact on the industry, and which are pushing consumers to make bolder, selective and ultimately, more informed choices when it comes to what they eat and drink.

Emotion is at the heart of each of these purchasing motivations, and its that which dictates whether its tossed in the trolley or stays on the shelf. So, since were all about stirring emotion, we thought wed explore some of the trends shaping those emotions and the implications for the world of marketing.

Health and wellness

Its no secret that as a society, were more preoccupied with our own health and wellness than ever before. But, far from being a consideration which is left behind in the gym, this trend is creeping into decisions around what we eat and drink.

Convenience is king and, paradoxically, fast food is no longer an ugly word when it comes to the health-conscious consumer.

Smart brands, which enable consumers to cut corners while still delivering the goodness theyre looking for are on the up, and far from being reserved for the gyms resident muscleman, protein bars are taking the place of sugary treats. For brands that are able to deliver the full health and wellness package, get your message out there far and wide. For those that cant, maybe its time to think about innovation, or perhaps theres an ingredient, process or service which can be leveraged to start playing within a new space.

The Gen Z effect

The generation we all saw as kids 20 years ago has grown up, and by 2021, they will make up 31% of the worlds population. Its time to listen up and take note of what makes them tick. More than any other generation, theyre ad savvy they know when theyre being marketed to, and want to be courted with clever tailored creative, not patronised with blanket advertising. Feeding into this is their steadfast views around gender stereotyping, which is where a lot of brands are slipping up, still falling back on outdated typecasts and marketing to a gender, rather than a person. They believe in conscious eating, but want to be able to indulge while doing so, which means that brands who can tick both these boxes a la Greggs' vegan sausage roll rank highly. Thinking about framing a product which has previously been considered as naughty into something more positive opens up an entirely new market.

Sustainability

Sustainability is the buzzword on everyones lips, but for the food industry. It's a theme that is beginning to stretch beyond just packaging and throughout the whole supply chain. Consumers are more aware of the impact their purchasing decisions have on the environment. Theyre willing to do their homework to find out more, but expect a reciprocal approach from the brand and want to see them doing their bit too. Having a positive story around what your brand is doing in this space is a great way of generating additional exposure it doesnt have to be a complete rewrite, but a packaging refresh or a small change in a recipe can make all the difference when it comes to consumer perceptions.

Purpose

Long gone are the days when a product was chosen solely for its standout ability on a shelf, consumers are now purchasing products based on how they align with their values and beliefs. Having a standpoint which is communicated in a relatable way can give you a competitive edge, but ensuring its genuine and that it runs as a red thread throughout all your comms is crucial to not disaffecting your audience. Above all, balancing profit and purpose is key it cant happen overnight, but making small changes, from sample send outs to the energy consumption in your office reinforces your standpoint.

Social commerce

Our favourite brands are now not only available without us having to leave our homes, but also without us having to stray away from our preferred social media platform. Social influence is a massive driver in purchasing decisions and allows brands to sell direct to consumers. Lots to be positive about, but ensuring that this is done in an unobtrusive and authentic way remains a challenge. Brands who do achieve in this area, succeed in future proofing themselves, while gathering data and insight to improve customer experience and interaction with the brand.

The above represents just a handful of trends and influences which are shaping consumer motivations when it comes to purchasing. The list is endless, but what is certain, is that consumer expectations are higher than ever before when it comes to the brands they interact with.

The food industry is no exception to this. The challenge for marketers is how best to communicate their offering to this group of consumers whose purchasing decisions are, more than ever before, governed by their emotions and beliefs. If youd like to find out more about how you could stir emotion with your brand, feel free to email us.

Emma Milson, junior account manager at Stir PR.

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How to capitalise on the opportunities currently available in the food industry - The Drum

Last Updated

March 21, 2020, 9:25 a.m. ET

The coronavirus is changing how we live our daily lives. Taking a look at how the global pandemic has affected various aspects of life in the United States reveals the unique nature of this crisis.

March 20, 2020, 9:00 p.m. ET

By Melena Ryzik

Their doctors may be fake, but it turns out hospital procedurals like Chicago Med, The Resident and Greys Anatomy, are awash in authentic medical gear. With production halted, and a critical shortage of supplies in real-life hospitals, the TV industry has stepped in to donate what would otherwise be their props: Surgical masks, gloves and more, originally intended for actors, are now en route to actual health care personnel.

We are doing it big time, Carla Corwin, a producer on the NBC series Chicago Med, wrote in an email this afternoon. Studio approved. We are donating all supplies to the Illinois Department of Public Health and they can distribute to the various hospitals as they see fit. Ms. Corwin added that they are also including gear from their sister shows Chicago P.D. and highly sought-after N95 masks from Chicago Fire.

Chris Shader, the prop master on Chicago Med, and Dr. Andrew Dennis, a Chicago trauma surgeon who serves as a consultant on the show, helped organize the effort. A donation had already been made to an emergency room in Rockland, Ill. that Ms. Corwin described as without supplies.

On Wednesday, The Resident, a Fox drama in its third season, dropped off two trunks full of masks, surgical gloves, booties, lab coats and isolation gowns, among other supplies, to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, a spokeswoman for the show said. The donation was coordinated by Dr. Roshan Sethi, a Harvard-trained radiation oncologist and co-creator of the series, which is filmed in Atlanta and set at a fictional hospital. Grady is the largest hospital in Georgia.

To the entire team @theresidentonfox, thank you for this incredibly generous donation of #PPE from your set, Dr. Karen Law, a rheumatologist and internist at Grady, posted on Instagram, using the shorthand for personal protective equipment. Yesterday, I had a serious discussion with the residents about how, though supplies are low, a magical shipment of masks is unlikely to arrive. And yet, a magical shipment of masks DID arrive, in the form of this very generous gesture.

Shows like Greys Anatomy had also made donations, or were planning them, production members said.

The entertainment industry, at a near standstill because of the coronavirus pandemic, joins others in the culture world who are using the unexpected tools of their trade to fill gaps in the health care system.

Conservation specialists at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam are donating the gloves and masks they use to protect artworks to health care workers, Artnet News reported, and more museums are expected to participate after one of the museums art historians tweeted about the effort. And in France, libraries, museums and archivists are also giving away their supplies, Le Figaro reported on Thursday, after a library in Strasbourg initiated the movement. And, a hospital in Versailles got some masks from its neighbor, the famous palace.

March 20, 2020, 8:30 p.m. ET

By Siobhan Roberts

A simple tree diagram shows how limiting contacts early might prevent many infections.

If each infected person spreads the coronavirus to two other people, the chain of infections would grow exponentially.

Avoiding even one social transmission early on in the chain could significantly reduce the number of infections.

If each infected person spreads the coronavirus to two other people, the chain of infections would grow exponentially.

Avoiding even one social transmission early on in the chain could significantly reduce the number of infections.

If each infected person spreads the coronavirus to two other people, the chain of infections would grow exponentially.

Avoiding even one social transmission early on in the chain could significantly reduce the number of infections.

If each infected person spreads the coronavirus to two other people, the chain of infections would grow exponentially.

Avoiding even one social transmission early on in the chain could significantly reduce the number of infections.

If each infected person spreads the coronavirus to two other people, the chain of infections would grow exponentially.

Avoiding even a single social connection early on in the chain could significantly reduce the number of infections.

By Jonathan Corum

After studying infectious diseases, epidemiologists like Helen Jenkins, of Boston University, and Bill Hanage, of Harvard, who are married, typically go one of two ways. They either become completely and utterly infection conscious, Dr. Hanage said, or they are the type of person who drops the toast and picks it up and wipes it off and eats it.

We would mostly be in the second category, but this has pushed us into the first category fairly visibly, he continued, adding, when the facts change, I update my priors a statisticians term for what one believes and expects. With the coronavirus pandemic, the facts update daily. To adapt, Dr. Hanage, who studies and teaches the evolution and epidemiology of infectious diseases, broadly embraced the guiding principle that he conveys to his students: Come on, youve got to think like the pathogen! Try to see it from the point of view of the pathogens and their evolution. What is going to be most helpful to them? What is going to enable them to leave the most descendants?

Dr. Jenkins and Dr. Hanage who have two daughters, ages 10 and 7 are spreading a basic message: Very simple interventions, such as working from home and severing even one link, have an exponential effect. Every individual acting preemptively can make a huge difference.

During one interview this week, the couples 7-year-old daughter passed Dr. Hanage a note that read: Im lonely. I just just just hope it will be family day. So far, family time focuses around Jenga play sessions, and dinner, followed by a nightly viewing of the 90s sitcom Frasier.

It makes us laugh, which is much needed, Dr. Jenkins said although she added that at the sight of anyone onscreen shaking hands, I do find myself wincing.

The two epidemiologists, who were at their home in Cambridge, Mass., explained the science behind their message:

Tell us about the tree diagram.

HJ: It simply shows what happens if you cut even one contact that would have resulted in transmission.

A tree diagram is not the type of thing epidemiologists would usually draw, because it seems obvious. But clearly we still need to do better at getting these concepts across to people.

BH: I build a lot of trees, but they are phylogenetic trees. My lab is very interested in figuring out ways of using genetics to detect transmission. The thing on our whiteboard is just a transmission tree. Every time you cut a link, you dont just take out that link, you also take out all the potential cases and links descending from it. Those people could be infected by other means, later on, but every time each of us stops or even just delays an infection is a small victory.

March 20, 2020, 8:00 p.m. ET

By Jessica Bennett

Johanna Moran and her husband, Terry, have created a schedule with three shifts: A is the morning shift, when Terry does child care and school for their 3-, 5- and 7-year-olds while Johanna works; B is for the afternoon, when Mom takes over. The evening shift, C, is split between Mom and Dad for now. But her husband, a journalist, will return to work on Monday, and Moran worries she might need to be the one to scale back her hours to keep up. My husband is by far the breadwinner, said Moran, 40, who is a China analyst for a defense contractor in Washington. So I do understand, he cant tell his bosses, That schedule doesnt work for me. But its clear that if something needs to go, its going to be my job.

This is the new reality for many parents who have the luxury of working from home. Amid coronavirus fears, school closures and shelter-in-place mandates including a new one in Los Angeles on Thursday and in New York on Friday many have added teacher, coach, germ police and round-the-clock caregiver to their rsums.

I feel like I have five jobs: mom, teacher, C.C.O., house cleaner, chef, said Sarah Joyce Willey, a chief client officer for a health services company in Sharon, Mass., who has been working from home while teaching her 7- and 9-year-olds all week, while her husband, who works for the state of Rhode Island, is at work. My kids also call me Principal mommy and the lunch lady. Its exhausting.

Which isnt to say that dads are not feeling squeezed. Indeed, there are dads staying home full time while their wives work on the front lines of the epidemic.

These added duties are challenging for any parent and the struggles for families who dont have the option to stay home are of course even harder. But many moms who work outside the home face an added stressor: They remain the chief operating officers of their households.

Researchers call this the second shift: the idea that when a woman gets home at the end of the day, she must clock into her second, unpaid job buying groceries, cooking, cleaning and doing dishes, plus the invisible work like planning, coordinating and anticipating needs, said Darby Saxbe, Ph.D., the director of the Center for the Changing Family at the University of Southern California.

Saxbe said that she hopes the mere fact of being confined to the home while challenging will make womens disproportionate domestic work more visible to their partners. In one sense, that might open up some more discussion and recognition for couples. On the other hand, that might exacerbate disparities.

It took two months for JoAnn Clevenger to reopen Upperline, a traditional Creole restaurant in New Orleans, after Hurricane Katrina devastated that city in 2005.

This time, a virus has closed the place, probably for a lot longer. It didnt take long for her to realize that a takeout operation wouldnt keep the business alive, and the odds that she will reopen anytime soon are against her. On Thursday, Ms. Clevenger wrote out the last paychecks to her 24 employees, some of whom had been with her for more than 25 years. Stay safe, stay in touch, she wrote on each one. Youre what makes the Upperline great.

The prognosis for independent operations like hers seem dire. From big cities like New York to smaller ones like Birmingham, Ala., restaurants have been forced to close their dining rooms; many have simply shuttered, while others are relying on takeout and delivery. Cities like Omaha and Tempe, Ariz., have limited the number of guests, but closings are on the horizon. Large chains and well-funded restaurant groups have the resources to ride out a protracted shutdown, but the independent restaurants that make up about two-thirds of the American dining landscape noodle shops, diners and that charming urban restaurant that always had a line out the door may not survive.

School closings are a drastic change for kids at this challenging time, and childrens authors whose normal routines are also disrupted are finding ways to reach their readers in different ways. Dozens of book festivals, tours and events have been canceled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and some writers are turning to social media to engage with their fans, offering readings of their books, art classes and other activities to keep them entertained. Heres what Mo Willems, Gene Luen Yang, Amie Kaufman and other authors are doing.

The author and illustrator Mo Willems is inviting kids to draw with him every day for Lunch Doodles. In the first couple of sessions, which are hosted on YouTube and started on Monday, he walked viewers through his process, gave them a tour of his studio, answered questions and drew whimsical creatures or created simple animations for them to try at home. Im really looking forward to it, he said in one video, because theres nothing more fun than doodling with a friend.

U.S.A. Swimming on Friday called for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee to push for a one-year postponement of the Tokyo Summer Olympics in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Games are scheduled to begin in late July.

Our athletes are under tremendous pressure, stress and anxiety, and their mental health and wellness should be among the highest priorities, Tim Hinchey, the chief executive officer of U.S.A. Swimming, said in a letter to Sarah Hirshland, the chief executive officer of the U.S.O.P.C., that was posted on Twitter.

Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, told The New York Times on Thursday that the committee was considering different scenarios but remained determined to stick to the schedule.

U.S.A. Swimming had already canceled all sanctioned events through April 30, including the TYR Pro Swim Series scheduled for April 16-19, a tuneup meet for elite athletes ahead of the Olympic trials, which are scheduled for June 21 to 28.

The push to postpone the Games comes as many elite swimmers have scrambled to find alternative places to train after their pools closed.

Tim Kelly, of Nations Capital Swim Club in the Washington, D.C., area, coaches Phoebe Bacon, who is ranked fourth in the world in the 100-meter backstroke. Kelly said he had been on the phone nonstop for the last week trying to find a stable place for Bacon to swim after American University, her usual training location, closed on Sunday.

Bacon, he said, is now working out in a teammates backyard pool that is only 15 meters long, which is 35 meters shorter than an Olympic pool. The typical training pool for a competitive swimmer in the United States is 25 yards long.

Until we know that there is a postponement, its almost like you have to find some way to stay wet for fear of losing that feel for water, Kelly said. Were looking for all the creative ways to stay fit and healthy.

March 20, 2020, 6:30 p.m. ET

By Victor Mather

The sports department is compiling a daily list of ways the sporting world is working its way through the coronavirus pandemic. In todays edition, they took a look at virtual games.

There may be no Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend, but Formula One plans to simulate the race. The result will be a Virtual Grand Prix with some of the actual drivers and celebrities behind the wheel using the video game F1 2019.

Unlike the ruthlessly capitalist Formula One series, in which the wealthiest teams tend to dominate, the virtual series will include a little socialism of sorts. Due to the wide variety of gaming skill levels amongst the drivers, game settings will be configured in such a way to encourage competitive and entertaining racing, Formula One said. That means some drivers, who arent regular gamers, will get advantages like reduced vehicle damage, anti-lock brakes and traction control.

Strat-O-Matic, the venerable board game, says it plans to simulate the baseball season with each games results and statistics announced on the day games were scheduled to be played.

Want to simulate some games on your own? The addictive soccer game Football Manager is free this week, and is setting records for number of players.

Leyton Orient, a fourth-tier soccer team in England, got the idea to run a simulated tournament on FIFA 20 and put out a call on Twitter to see what other teams might be interested in (virtually) entering. More than 100 answered, including teams from Italy, Sweden and Australia. The tournament gets underway this weekend.

Well take a shot and pick A.S. Roma to win the title. Can we bet on this somewhere? (Please?)

March 20, 2020, 6:00 p.m. ET

By Jori Finkel

A critic looks at how we can plug into the art-world conversation from the comfort of our (self-quarantined) homes.

Many museums and galleries have closed in attempts to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but the conversation about art keeps going and you can get your fix of the art talk (and also the gossip) through a growing number of art podcasts. Hosts include curators, art writers and artists. Here are my picks for 10 art podcasts worth subscribing to, from one in Los Angeles showcasing the music that moves local artists to another, out of Sydney, focusing on Aboriginal culture.

Recording Artists Helen Molesworth gives some of the most incisive and insightful exhibition tours of any contemporary art curator of her generation, and her new podcast Recording Artists, produced by the Getty, puts this intellectual-storytelling skill set to good use. Here her subject is not one of her own exhibitions (she recently organized the Noah Davis show for the David Zwirner gallery), but six renowned artists Alice Neel, Lee Krasner, Betye Saar, Helen Frankenthaler, Yoko Ono and Eva Hesse whose audio interviews with the historians Barbara Rose and Cindy Nemser are now in the archives of the Getty Research Institute. Smart move: After introducing the artist and issues at hand, Ms. Molesworth brings in smart guests to weigh in, like Lari Pittman and Amy Sillman speaking on Krasner. Memorable moment: in one recording, Alice Neel, who lived a famously bohemian life and painted portraits of a wide cross-section of society, makes the surprising admission that she left Greenwich Village because there were too many very butch lesbians on the streets. Ms. Molesworth, who identifies as queer, says she respects the painters frankness. Besides, she adds, I think that I, or any artist I know, could have easily talked her out of this position.

March 20, 2020, 5:30 p.m. ET

By Kevin Draper

The XFL, an upstart professional football league that hoped to attract football-starved fans during the winter months, announced Friday that it was canceling the rest of its season. The leagues eight teams were halfway through the 10-game season when the league initially suspended play last week.

The COVID-19 pandemic, and the most recent local and state regulations, have left the XFL no choice but to officially cancel the remainder of the 2020 season, the league said in a statement.

The original XFL the X isnt short for anything, though many people believe it stands for eXtreme debuted in 2001 with a purposefully brash and violent image. It drew an astounding 14 million viewers for its first game, but fans quickly learned the quality of football was subpar, and the league didnt make it to a second season.

Vince McMahon, the majority owner of World Wrestling Entertainment who was a partner in the original XFL, announced two years ago he was reviving the league. XFL executives adopted a humble attitude this time around, downplaying gimmicks and attendance expectations, and insisting they were in it for the long haul.

Next year XFL fans will find out if that is indeed the case.

March 20, 2020, 5:00 p.m. ET

By Hanna Ingber

For parents who are separated or divorced, social distancing is especially tricky. In an essay for NYT Parenting, Hanna Ingber shared what her familys experience has been like, learning to co-parent in the age of coronavirus.

Nearly two months ago, when the new coronavirus was upending life in China, I felt for those living through this nightmare. As the news became more and more dire, I began worrying about the virus making its way to the United States. I cycled through anxieties about illness and quarantine, but my biggest fear was how my soon-to-be-ex-husband and I would handle this.

We share custody of our two boys, ages 6 and almost 4, and at that time, we argued about almost everything. We both wanted our kids to be healthy, but we rarely agreed on what that looked like. To him, the boys needed to eat all their vegetables. To me, meals shouldnt be a battle. On sunny days, I slathered the boys in sunscreen. My ex wanted them to soak in the rays and get enough vitamin D. Our constant fighting about way more than just parenting led us to file for divorce 18 months ago. Now, living apart, I hope hes putting sunscreen on the kids, and Im sure he hopes Im making them eat all their veggies. But frankly, there isnt much either of us can do about it. Then came the coronavirus.

Throw a pandemic into the mix of a fraught divorce, and who knows what might happen.

I had feared that when the virus came here my ex and I would be on different pages about how to handle it. What happens if I followed the rules, but he kept up his normal routine? I imagined having no option but to send my children to his house, where they could get infected.

I couldnt discuss any of this with him. So I did the only thing possible: I ordered more ramen.

As I read about families under lockdown, I imagined myself home alone with my boys. What would happen if one of them got a fever, and I needed to take him to the pediatrician, but I didnt have a partner who could stay home with the healthy kid? I recalled scenes of Wuhans overrun hospitals. Would I have to bring both of my boys into a doctors office filled with ill patients?

I shopped more, ordering disinfectant wipes and laundry detergent.

What if I got sick? I wondered: How do single parents take care of themselves and their children?

I bought cough syrup and childrens Tylenol.

In late February I told my therapist I was displacing my anxiety about being a single parent and our looming divorce trial onto the virus. She nodded along, agreeing that my stress was connected to my situation. But somewhere during the session, I accidentally convinced her that my anxiety was warranted. As she left, she said she needed to go shopping.

I drove my family nuts with all of my worries, but I decided not to talk to my ex about it. I feared that if I tried giving him rules or even made suggestions, it could backfire.

I waited. And waited. Finally, once it was clear the virus was in the New York area, and we started discussing the situation, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that we had come to the same conclusions independently. We both stopped traveling, and we agreed that if one of us started developing symptoms, wed tell the other.

One morning I found a WhatsApp message from him asking if he should send the boys to school that day. He wanted to make such a difficult decision together. I almost burst into tears from relief.

March 20, 2020, 4:30 p.m. ET

By Anna Goldfarb

Its understandable that people are looking to the internet to lessen feelings of social isolation. Not only does an evening event help give the day structure, but seeing friendly faces can be a lifeline for people who miss their friends and loved ones.

Whether youre having a cozy chat with your far-flung besties, or plan on dropping in to a video chat room filled with dozens of strangers, there are some things you need to know about having a successful virtual happy hour. They include:

Originally posted here:
Coronavirus Impact: A Spelling Bee on Hold, a Wedding Finding a Way, and a Pantry Recipe - The New York Times

In response to the coronavirus, Jing Daily is highlighting the community of individuals that together are building the luxury industry in China. Our interviews are illustrating the individuals who are contributing to the fashion community, from consumers and behind-the-scenes employees to business executives and influential creatives. Sophia Jin, a young consumer who has shifted in her consumption to the role of active brand co-creator, is the next in our series.

I connected with Jin last Sunday afternoon. Because of the coronavirus most of China is home quarantined, which makes it hard to distinguish a weekday from the weekend. On a WeChat call, Jins high energy filled the conversation with a wealth of observations. Everyone now stays a few feet from each other, we call it the Scandinavian distance, she joked as she recounted a rare venture outside.

The 25-year-old Shanghai native, Sophia Jin, counts as one of the 40 percent of Chinese millennial consumers that will attribute to the $1.5 trillion luxury sales made in China by 2025. In a hypothetical consumer research setting, she would be listed as a young Chinese millennial educated abroad; a fashion devotee and only child from a well-off middle-class family. But the evolution of her relationship with the world of luxury and fashion cant be reduced to such stereotypical labels.

Plaza 66 at Nanjing West Road in Shanghai. Photo: Shutterstock

As a young child, Jin dreamed of being just like Anne Hathaways character in the 2006 Hollywood film based on the fashion industry, The Devil Wears Prada. As a Shanghainese, she grew up in the fashion capital of China, passing the likes of Gucci and Louis Vuittons hoarding along the Nanjing West road on a weekly or daily basis. The American reality TV show Project Runway known for its caustic presenter Tom Gunn also had a particularly strong impact on her growing up. Each week she watched designers create dazzling outfits in the hope of being offered a coveted slot at New York Fashion Week and dreamed of a career in the fashion industry.

Copley Place in Boston. Photo: Shutterstock

This dream became a reality when she was admitted to Boston University in the US and majored in Communication Studies a track that would tailor-suit her to a career in fashion public relations. Her Boston school, located in the heart of Ivy Leagues like MIT and Harvard, was filled with Chinese students known as Fuerdai, meaning well-cushioned, only-children sent for a rigorous education by wealthy parents. It was commonplace to spot them dressed in identikit clothing from brands like Canada Goose, Gucci, and Dior, hanging around the local luxury mall (Copley Place) as they swapped credit card swipes for the latest trends.

Conscious of this fact, Sophia wanted to be more than a trend-follower. She went to get a business graduate degree and immersed herself in the luxury business category. When she returned to China, she started her career in the PR sector at a luxury management company where she helped the company to build a truly homegrown Chinese luxury brand. The dream was big and hard to achieve and the young returnee soon discovered the intricacies of navigating luxury on the mainland: In China, luxury is about preserving culture and heritage Its hard to capture the soul of this business and turn it into a profitable one.

At one point in the conversation, Jin recalled a time when she attended a luxury retail event when the words of Laurent Claquin, President of Kering Americas, had a strong impact on shaping her outlook as a consumer. His talk, outlining how being unsustainable fundamentally threatens a brands existence and future, hit home and since that revelation, her consumption has taken on a more conscious slant. Now, she considers herself an active co-creator of brands. I am looking for quality in my purchases, she explained proudly, adding, frequent pop-ups hosted by brands like Louis Vuitton seem to mean so little and go against the principle of sustainability.

This January, Jin quit her Anne Hathaway life and started an apprenticeship at an unnamed business consultancy firm. In the interview below, she recounts how the unexpected outbreak has reset her personal relationship with the luxury industry and her consumption habits, as well as its a knock-on effect on the global economy. And to her surprise, during the lockdown she found herself becoming more interested in homegrown Chinese brands and has spent more time interacting with her favorite brands sales associate on WeChat.

How would you describe your relationship with fashion?

I see fashion as an expression of lifestyle and belief.

What was your first luxury item?

A Hello Kitty golden necklace from Chow Sang Sang which was gifted to me by my parents when I was 12.

What are your favorite fashion and luxury brands?

When I was a student in Boston, I fell in love with a local fashion brand called Paridaez. It embodies everything an ethical brand may need, its beneficial to consumers, workers, and the environment. Its functional pieces are minimalistic and transformable and are all locally-made with environmentally-friendly material.

In China, one of my favorites is a local cashmere brand Vogo and I also love a perfume brand called Maison Francis Kurkdjian. I have been dying to check out Comme Moi, a designer brand created by the Chinese model Lu Yan. Currently, I dont shop luxury or fashion as much as I did before the outbreak, Im more likely to splurge on wines and food.

If we think of the brands of the future, what qualities would you look for from them?

As I mentioned, I want to be a co-creator of the brands I follow. In the future, brands should be conscious of the current concerning issues in society like gender inequality or global warming. They also need to be community-engaging and provide an aspirational lifestyle or ignite a cultural movement. For example, I liked how fashion is used to empower the LGBTQ group in a documentary called Paris is Burning. We watched it in my fashion history undergraduate class and it was really powerful to see what fashion can do.

Whats your favorite shopping destination?

Its mostly online, from local e-commerce destinations like Taobao, Tmall, and international platforms like Farfetch.

Have your consumption attitudes and habits towards luxury or fashion shifted since the COVID-19 virus?

In the past, I wanted to go to an offline store as part of retail therapy. In general, I think the virus will accelerate a lot of changes in consumption habits in China. E-commerce is so accessible here and stores that dont serve customers thoughtfully will lose their competitiveness. Retail spaces, however, will become a source of experiences beyond mere transactions.

The COVID-19 virus has reset my thinking about the fashion industry and made me think about how unnecessary or how pointlessly wasteful it can be. I am an advocate of sustainable fashion and the outbreak of the virus only reinforces this idea. Comparatively speaking, luxury brands like Louis Vuitton that keep pushing out pop-up stores are rather superficial; this strategy doesnt create much meaning beyond showcasing quality-made products.

Where were you when you heard the outbreak of the virus, how did you feel?

I first spotted news about the virus from the Financial Times and then gradually read about it from Chinese media. You could see more and more people wearing masks on the street which spread a sense of hysteria and paranoia. Home-quarantine was recommended around the celebration of Chinese New Year dampening the holiday mood. However, beyond the heavy-hit Wuhan province in China, I could never have foreseen how the virus would impact global activities as it is now.

Have you ventured outside since the outbreak of the virus? What changes have you noticed?

I have been taking walks outside lately, about twice a week now. The Shanghai government has done an amazing job of controlling the situation. We have to carry a pass when leaving and entering our homes. People are keeping a safe distance from one another and trying not to get the same elevator together. Delivery guys are leaving our online orders downstairs. But, masks are scarce and becoming a luxury only a limited amount is given by the pharmacist to each person.

What are you shopping during the crisis?

Mostly necessities like groceries, but fashion-wise I am not in the mood to splurge at all besides beauty products. During the outbreak, one of my favorite brands from the Shiseido group, IPSA, has been holding frequent online discussions amongst loyal customers. I was invited to the WeChat group by my beauty associate from the store and I found the activities there brought a sense of ritual to my life. They organize all kinds of events throughout the day: sharing beauty tips in the morning, make-up competitions in the afternoon, and showing off products around nighttime. As everyone is battling against the negative news, the associates online are being sensitive and upbeat so its not a lot of hard-selling but more entertainment. Besides, its a lot of fun just being part of a group at this time of isolation.

Did any brand campaigns leave a strong impression on you amid the virus?

I noticed many foreign brands acted quickly and supported the situation in Wuhan with donations whereas homegrown brands in China actually devised many purposeful campaigns. Chinese brands are more digitally savvy and have been seen to react to trends faster than global brands. It could also have to do with luxury brands positioning, going online diminishes their privileged identity. But marketing-wise, I think more brands will thrive by being more tailored to individual needs, diving deeper into content commerce, and serving customers values on a deeper level than simply products in-store.

What would you like to buy once the situation recovers? When I went to the mall the other day to exchange a shopping voucher, the sales associate recommended a facial mask made by a Chinese brand Inoherb. It was high quality but pretty cheap, about $29 (200 yuan). My friend also recommended another Chinese beauty brand, Perfect Diary. I bought a $6 (45 yuan) lipstick, and the quality was better than I expected. I may want to try more from Chinese local brands in the future.

The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Read this article:
From Consumers to Creators, a Manifesto of Young Chinese Shopper Today - Jing Daily

The beauty market has never looked better. Just ask those keeping track.

Market researcher Euromonitor reported last year that the global skincare market grew 6% in 2019.1 Euromonitor in fact notes global skincares upward climb from as far back as 2004without stopping since. Dietary supplement customers are also flocking to beauty products. Market researcher IRI reported late last year that the beauty segment of the U.S. supplements market saw 18% growth in the 52 weeks ending August 11, 2019.

With so many customers flocking to the beauty space, its not surprising that some of the most innovative movement in the natural and healthy products market is happening over in the beauty aisle. Ahead, we talked to the experts who gave us a quick tour of what will drive the beauty market in the future.

Clean and Green

Naturally derived, clean-label, and environmentally friendly ingredients are de rigueur in beauty these days. Clean beauty, which consumers associate with health, wellness, and social responsibility, is no longer necessarily a differentiator but rather a feature that todays beauty consumers expect.

According to market researcher Mintel in a press release last November, Mintel research indicates that clean beauty mentions on online platforms have doubled between 2017 (0.6 million) and 2018 (1.2 million). Consumers are now seeking assurance that their skincare products will not harm them, their family, or animals. At the In-Cosmetics Formulation Summit for R&D professionals last November, Mintel reported that nearly half (49%) of U.S. adults (aged 18-24) are seeking clean beauty products, while 51% of U.S. adults would pay more for a product made by a socially responsible company.

During the In-Cosmetics Formulation Summit, summit chairperson Barbara Brockway, PhD, director of personal care at AppliedDNA Sciences, said: We are seeing consumers increasingly seeking out cosmetics that have less ingredients and avoiding products made with ingredients, such as palm oil, that are associated with damage to the environment. Today, the conscious consumer is also attracted to products with a positive message, such as improving health and mental wellbeing. As a result, beauty products with minimal impact on the planet, and those delivering a strong feel-good factor, are going to be hugely important to the future success of our industry.

With clean and green claims so prevalent in the beauty market today, it can be difficult to know whats real. At the In-Cosmetics Formulation Summit, one speaker estimated that up to 82% of companies that launched products in the past year made green claims. Those walking the talk are not only setting an example of where the beauty industry needs to go but also shedding light on how far some companies are from truly meeting that goal.

Many times, its small brands leading the way. Take a brand called LOLI Beauty, who stakes its existence on zero waste and ethical sourcing/manufacturing. Tina Hedges, LOLIs founder, explains the challenge of being an independent brand making sustainability part of its core identitywhile trying to stand out among a sea of greenwashing claims.

At LOLI, our goal was to be zero wastefrom upcycling organic food-grade ingredients and developing waterless products to packaging in recycled, recyclable, reusable, and garden-compostable materialsbut thats just not achievable for most big beauty brands, says Hedges. For them, their goal is what small changes they can make by 2025, and it tends to be a greenwashed effort outweighed by their larger, non-sustainable footprint. By contrast, LOLI has been publicly recognized for its authentically meaningful practices. Among other awards its received, in 2019 the company received the Cosmetic Executive Womens esteemed Sustainability Excellence Award.

Says Hedges: Sustainable greenwashing is so prevalent and truly an issue, as we all need to stand together to stir up a meaningful shift in the industry. You just cant have all the overpackaged, highly decorated jars and tubes, and all these fancy textured lotions or gels, and still be good for the planet. We need to shift how we consume beauty and start to pare down to the essentials that are multipurpose and powerful. Do you really need a regimen of 15 skincare products?

More consumers need to be able to cut through the greenwashing, she says. Its truly heartbreaking for smaller indie brands whove done the hard work upfront and built their business on an authentic and meaningful platform of sustainabilitylike LOLI Beautywhen these larger brands market misinformation and greenwashed claims about being sustainable. A great example of this surrounds the misunderstandings perpetuated by some of these companies with huge marketing budgets on the claims of biodegradable versus compostable packaging. Most of the biodegradable packaging in the beauty industry is made with plastic resins and glues, which will degrade over time, releasing microplastics into our food sourcesfrom soil to water. But the consumer is convinced that the pretty pink tube with gold lettering Made from sugarcane is a sustainable, earth-friendly package.

We all need to become more aware of the need for more sustainable ways to source and develop beauty and personal care products, Hedges says; doing so is no longer a luxury given the state of the world. I wish the consumer was completely aware of whats real and whats a marketing ploy, but there is still a lot of work to do to get there, she says. It will also take commitment from consumers themselves, as sustainable is not gimmicky or cheap, she points out. Whether more consumers are willing to pay up for a truly sustainable ethos could be the biggest question of all.

The Microbiome

Microbiome is a term casually tossed around these days, but to really drill into how microbiome research is impacting the beauty industry, one should start with the ingredients.

The human microbiome is each persons unique makeup of microbes. Researchers are increasingly discovering that a persons microbiome plays a commanding role in his or her health and wellnessincluding that of the skin. The skins microbiome is made up of microbiotayeast, bacteria, etc.that colonize the skin that and, among other things, help protect against infection, aid in wound healing, limit exposure to allergens and UV radiation, minimize oxidative damage, and help keep the skin barrier intact and well hydrated, explained Euromonitor in its April 2019 report1, The Role of Microbiome in the Evolution of Skin Care.

Beauty brands are increasingly exploring how the ingredients that tip the scale toward a healthy, balanced microbiomeprebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and other biome-friendly ingredientscan benefit the wellbeing of the skin. Euromonitor points out that, increasingly, these products are making their way to the beauty market, with consumers in regions such as Europe and Asia among the earliest adopters.

Further possible growth of probiotic beauty products, for instance, will also depend on regulatory developments in terms of claims and labeling, points out Paula Simpson, an integrated health and beauty expert. Simpson is the founder of consulting firm Nutribloom Consulting and the author of a new book, Good Bacteria for Healthy Skin: Nurturing Your Skin Microbiome for Clear & Luminous Skin. The ambiguity and regulatory inconsistencies around probiotics have challenged the market both for industry and the consumer, Simpson says. As labeling, claims, and regulations become more cohesive, probiotic-based skincare will evolve as a viable market in the beauty space.

Furthermore, as microbiome research becomes more sophisticated, so do the resulting products. Past probiotic skincare formulations were general in the bacterial species used and claims made for skin health, Simpson says. Based on evolving research and market expectation, formulations are moving towards synbiotic blends that include appropriate bacterial species/subspecies/strains that support the specific skin-health claims.

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What's driving the future of beauty? The microbiome, neurocosmetics, personalization, and more. - Nutritional Outlook