Marieke van Gasteren, owner of Plan M Concept, speaks to two producers of innovative materials and discusses sustainable product design and its possible application in pet products.
Responsible consumers
Nature is still strongly represented in this year’s trends. Cities keep growing; people live in smaller homes and closer together. We spend more and more time on screens. As a result, our longing for nature is growing and if we do not have nature within reach, we bring it inside. We know that we cannot continue to deplete the earth’s resources forever and we increasingly believe in reusing products – vintage clothing and furniture, for example – and in up-cycling. There is also more possible in the area of recycling. Technological progress has led to materials being made from alternative sources such as seaweed or compost. What’s more, waste such as plastic from the ocean, bottles or textiles can now be recycled into even better materials.
Responsible consumers want to know the origin of the products they buy. This is reflected in the fashion and design worlds, in which honesty and transparency are reflected in the use of raw, imperfect materials in which we can recognize the original source. We are also seeing a lot of transparent packaging, which allows us to see the contents. The individual history of products is gaining in value and there is a higher demand for personalized products.
The latest articles
AgroBiothers makes second acquisition in European pet care space
The addition of Denmark’s leading pet care business, KW, marks a strategic move to strengthen the French pet care company’s position in Northern Europe.
Growing demand for vegetarian pet food in India encourages new options
Industry insiders note that pet owners in the South Asian country are increasingly seeking vegetarian options and are willing to pay more for this alternative.
Australia: New South Wales to grant more rights to pet-owning tenants
The reform in the Australian state will ban no-ground evictions and limit landlords' ability to refuse tenants with pets.
Weekly newsletter to stay up-to-date
Discover what’s happening in the pet industry. Get the must-read stories and insights in your inbox.