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Wallmakers turns unwanted toys into sustainable Toy Storey home

Toy Storey by Wallmakers, India

India – Architecture studio Wallmakers has constructed a house in North Kerala, India, repurposing some 6,200 unwanted toys.

Toy Storey House was designed to address the environmental concerns surrounding the amount of plastic used in children’s toy manufacturing and the high level of toy consumption in the Vatakara region where the house is located.

Designed to be somewhere local children can come to visit their old toys, as well as a functioning home, the house was designed in a circular shape to ensure accessibility from every side. Each curved wall features discarded toys placed between earth blocks and Mangalore tiles, allowing light penetration and cross-ventilation throughout the space.

Sustainability is integral to the house’s infrastructure. The central courtyard and composite wall are constructed from on-site compressed stabilised earth blocks (CSEBs) while a ferrocement shell domed roof conserves energy and materials by reducing reinforcement needs.

Eco-conscious architects are increasingly looking to innovative materials, local sourcing and community to design Regenerative Homes such as Toy Storey House, that embody the kind of creative imagination needed to build a more sustainable future.

Strategic opportunity

Collaborate with local communities to collect recyclable materials for construction projects, fostering involvement and inspiring deeper engagement with sustainable living practices

The Every Company and Landish Foods unveil protein coffee and matcha

Fermy, US

US – Functional protein specialist The Every Company and Landish Foods, a leader in nutritional wellness, have introduced Fermy, a new brand featuring protein coffee enhancer and protein matcha latte ready-to-mix powders.

‘So many of us with rushed mornings are not getting enough protein to start the day, especially quality protein,’ said Daniel Novak, CEO of Landish Foods, in a press release. These innovative products are powered by Every’s egg white protein, offering 8g of highly digestible protein per serving. Fermy also includes MCT – a type of healthy fat called medium-chain triglyceride – and lion’s mane mushroom, catering for consumers seeking easy, clean and sustainable protein with brain-boosting benefits.

This launch follows successful introductions of Every-powered functional beverages like pressed-juicery smoothies and Pulp Culture’s protein-boosted hard juices. As explored in our Functional Feasting macrotrend report, these products meet the demand for functional, protein-dense beverages that support health-first lifestyles with superior flavour and texture.

Strategic opportunity

Consider expanding your product line with functional ingredients – for instance, can you use functional mushrooms or adaptogens to stay ahead of the trend?

Asda introduces Nanzones for older football fans

UK – British supermarket chain Asda has launched in-store football fan zones for senior citizens to watch the Euro 2024 matches.

The Nanzones opened in Asda stores in Watford, Manchester and Liverpool at the end of June, providing a welcoming environment for older sports fans to socialise while enjoying the England games.

More than 1.9m seniors are expected to watch football alone this summer (source: Asda). Nanzones offer free, safe and welcoming spaces with snacks and drinks for people of all ages to come and watch the matches alongside older fans.

Asda has also called for people to check in on older relatives, friends and neighbours and offer those who can’t make it to a Nanzone some companionship during the Summer of Sport. The aim is to reduce loneliness and strengthen local community bonds.

In our Boomers Now and Next: From Ageing to Becoming macrotrend report, we explored how care networks, inter-generational mixing and regular socialisation are essential to combating loneliness in older citizens. Asda’s Nanzones provide fun and social community spaces to enjoy the upcoming sporting fixtures.

Nanzones by Asda, UK

Strategic opportunity

Court the silver pound by hosting or sponsoring community events such as coffee mornings or book clubs that foster familiarity with your brand while creating social spaces for older citizens

Stat: UK consumers are ready to use AI to buy fashion

T Phone by Deutsche Telekom, Germany

UK – Artificial intelligence is revolutionising fashion retail by refining purchasing functionality, ensuring seamless user experiences and optimising omnichannel strategies, according to Drapers’ new report, Connected Consumer 2024.

In a survey of 2,000 UK adult consumers aged 18–60, more than a third (34%) of shoppers said they are open to using AI for deals and promotions, and 27% for searching for fashion products. Satisfaction with AI chatbots is notably high; 35% of the shoppers who have used AI chatbot services say they are satisfied with them, compared with just 7% who say they are dissatisfied.

This trend is significant as 59% of shoppers purchase fashion online at least once a month. Retailers like Zalando are already using AI to enhance search capabilities, preparing for spikes in demand during major events such as the Paris 2024 Olympics.

For more insights and best-in-class examples of retailers using AI, head to our EQ-Commerce macrotrend report.

Strategic opportunity

Introduce AI to provide personalised recommendations and styling advice, using data on consumer preferences, past purchases and browsing behaviour to curate tailored shopping experiences