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Ikea’s cookbook transforms food waste into culinary creations

ScrapBook Cookbook by Ikea, Canada

Canada – Ikea has launched a collection of recipes that turns leftover food into gourmet dishes, intending to reduce food waste in Canada.

The ScrapBook Cookbook features a series of unique recipes created in collaboration with trained chefs across North America. Creative solutions include recipes that turn coffee grounds into 'French press toast' and old fruit into a 'wilted smoothie'. The cookbook is available to download online for free as a digital e-book and via smartphone app for easy access. The retailer will be posting Instagram livestreams showcasing the chefs cooking with leftover food in a series dubbed #ScrapcookingSundays.

‘In Canada, research tells us that almost two thirds of food scraps that end up as kitchen waste could have been eaten,’ says Johanna Andren, head of marketing at Ikea Canada. ‘Seeing how much waste is created in one of the most important rooms in the home, we set out to inspire Canadians by giving food scraps another look and offering new, creative ways to reduce food waste at home,’ she continues.

Uncover more creative solutions that tackle food waste in our Food Waste Innovation market.

Somerset House deprogrammes Black art history

Decentralise at Somerset House, London

London – The arts centre is inviting people to engage in an interactive online exhibition exploring the history of Black art.

An initiative by Somerset House’s Young Producers Collective – in collaboration with design studio Comuzi – the exhibition allows users to interact virtually with over 16 objects relating to Afro-nowism, Afrofuturism, political arts and disobedient objects. Given the title Decentralise, the digital space draws on materials from Somerset House’s exhibition archive and encourages visitors to create their own artistic creations within the site.

Its aim is to challenge and expand existing ideas around what it means to be Black and British, opening fresh perspectives from people’s personal and collective experiences of this history. Creations designed as part of the programme will also be featured as part of the Decentralise archive – contributing to ongoing research and education within Somerset House’s Anti-Racism Pledge.

Through this collaborative medium, the project is catering to a new generation of Deprogrammers who are using digital tools to liberate themselves from traditional education.

Beiersdorf’s hyper-personal DTC skincare venture

Only What’s Needed O.W.N. by Beiersdorf

Hamburg – Skincare manufacturer Beiersdorf is moving into the personalised beauty market with its new direct-to-consumer brand.

The brand, called Only What’s Needed (O.W.N) employs artificial intelligence (AI) and Beiersdorf’s algorithmic capabilities to create bespoke product formulations. Consumers can access the brand through its dedicated platform and complete a questionnaire to obtain one of 380,000 formula combinations. Launching with products for a simple skincare routine – including facial cleansing and care for both day night – O.W.N aims to support its customers according to their changing needs.

‘Our point of difference is that the products evolve automatically with every new order – including criteria such as lifestyle, people’s personal circumstances, or seasonal changes,’ explains Stefan De Loecker, CEO of Beiersdorf. ‘With this holistic approach, we not only maintain a direct digital connection with consumers, but we also enhance our knowledge regarding consumers and their skin.’

Beauty consumers are increasingly seeking personalised products and routines that cater to their lifestyle circumstances. In a similar vein, we previously spoke to Atolla Skin Labs to identify the potential for data-driven skincare formulations.

Stat: Spending on household cleaning products soars

Bounding Spaces by Anna Dienermann

A survey by insights firm NCSolutions reveals pandemic-related changes in behaviour among US consumers.

The research found that some behaviours had increased due to Covid-19. In total, 96% of respondents said they are cleaning and disinfecting their homes as much (55%) or more than (41%) they were pre-pandemic. Looking to the future, almost a third (32%) said they have no plans to go back to their pre-pandemic rates of cleaning. As a result, spending on homecare cleaning products has risen by 36% since the pandemic began.

With Covid-19 pushing consumers’ hygiene concerns to the fore, perhaps the awareness of personal hygiene has manifested into an upswing in household cleaning. In order to stop the spread of Covid-19, US consumers have made cleaning a priority.

As consumers are at home more than ever before, the act of cleaning has never been more relevant. Discover more about the mindful act of cleaning in our Home Cleaning Market.