New York, Singapore and Mumbai. It specializes in addressing
critical global challenges by catalyzing change in key systems.
Turbulent times lie ahead, pushing global systems to the brink.
Potential crises include a global plastics kick-back. Consumers and
businesses are waking up to the consequences of plastic pollution
with unprecedented levels of concern and activity. However, only
a small amount of the current activity has truly transformative
potential. Some efforts could even be reinforcing the status quo
by suggesting that it’s possible to “clean up” the problem without
addressing the structural drivers of the problem—namely linear,
high-growth, low-responsibility business models and the regulations,
lack of distribution innovation, consumer behavior and
mindset of disposability that enable them.
Another trend is climate migration. Blamed on war, poverty is
growing, but a closer look reveals climate drivers are factors too,
fueling drought, chronic agricultural failure and food and water
shortages, said Pathak.
Additionally, Nationalist movements are gaining ground.
People are also living their lives increasingly online, and our “onlives”
are rewiring our brains, politics, social interaction and even
the climate as the large amount of energy and materials required
are set to exceed 14% of global emissions by 2040. Another trend
is the rise of participatory democracy, which refers to a system that
tries to maximize the involvement of citizens in decision-making.
Changing consumerism in Asia is a further trend. Millennials
in Asia typically have shallower pockets than the previous
generation and are more discerning consumers and closer to the
environmental consequences of modern lifestyles, such as air
pollution and plastic waste. Many are exploring new patterns of
consumption, valuing quality over quantity, access over ownership
and experience over possession. The key question is where the
trajectory will go.
Biodiversity is in freefall as scientists warn that we’re in the
midst of a sixth mass extinction, with extinctions occurring 1,000
times more frequently now than in the 60 million years before
humans came along.
Pathak stated that we can move to a “carbon positive” economy
and limit global warming to avoid climate breakdown. Solutions
to urgent, complex, interconnected challenges will only come
from building collaborations across sectors and issues, going faster
and further than we could alone.
Each Forum for the Future Challenge Lab incubates collaborative
projects that bring together people representing parts of the
same system. It helps diagnose the system, identify key intervention
points and helps people work together to deliver shared goals.
Challenge Labs partner with corporate leaders, non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), government agencies and foundations
to create strategies designed to deliver sustainability and coach
participants on creating systemic change. The School of System
Change equips aspiring change-makers
through flexible learning experiences,
well-curated tools and case studies from
the field of system change. The goal is
to create a global community of changemakers
prepared to shift the systems
around them.
Andrew Robertson, Technical Service
Chemist, Nouryon presented Dry Shampoos:
Evolution, Revolution & Regulation.
The origins of dry shampoo can be traced back to 15thC. Asia
when clay powder was used. Powder shampoo re-emerged in
18thC. Europe as a means to refresh wigs. The first commercially
recognized brands were Mini-Poo in 1941, with the launch of
aerosol brands—such as Pssssst!—in the 1970s.
Aerosol dry shampoos were introduced at a niche time when
salon styling was much more commonly accepted, life was slowerpaced
and the impact of frequent washes was not of concern.
Aerosol dry shampoo popularity re-emerged at the turn of the century
due to an increased awareness of the format. It was helped by
ease-of-use and environmental benefits.
Growth has been dynamic and enhanced by product claims
such as odor neutralization, color touch ups and heavy cleansing.
Consumers have started to skip washes and use dry shampoo in
between days to minimize hair damage and cost and save time.
Traditional aerosol dry shampoos are becoming commonplace
and brands are launching multiple versions within product lines.
Shelves are becoming saturated with options and consumers are
becoming bored with dry shampoo. New consumers are driven by
experiences and like feeling unique. There are plenty of opportunities
for marketers to be creative with new product formats,
such as texture sprays, hybridizations of dry shampoo and light
hold hairspray, as well as aerosol foam, gel, mousse and paste dry
shampoos with styling properties, Robertson said.
However, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is looking
to add categories in the near future in order to regulate VOCs.
All products are being evaluated, with categories of interest including
no-rinse shampoo, spray sunscreens and hair sprays. CARB
will be holding additional workshops to consider the further
analysis of VOCs in categories of focus; a summation of findings
and a release of any proposed changes is expected in late 2020.
Consumers shop the hair care aisle with their individual needs
in mind while also considering their impact on the world around
them. While dry shampoo is becoming much more mainstream
and is also present in several sub-segments, there is still room for
continued growth while also anticipating future regulations in the
category.
Satty Sahota, Key Account Manager,
Manufacturing Technology
Centre (MTC), presented Innovation
in the Fast Moving Consumer
Goods (FMCG) Sector. The MTC
is an independent research and
technology center that opened in
2011. It provides manufacturing
ideas and solutions, as well as
Small & Medium-sized Enterprises
(SME) REACH support and
training. Industry challenges include U.S. statewide reduction in
resource consumption, reducing reliance on manual and contract
labor and effective use of data. MTC offers factory simulation and
modeling to improve production, reduce bottlenecks and identify
efficiencies.
For example, if a company has a multitude of manual, repetitive
tasks onsite and wants to use automation, it may not have the
space for large, dedicated robot cells. MTC has trialed collaborative
robotics at end-of-line production for packaging as well as
manual handling tasks. It has also made business links to collaborative
robot manufacturers and is currently investigating how to
make a whole facility safe while utilizing high-speed robotics.
Additionally, MTC has a project called Factory in a Box,
designed to help FMCG manufacturing businesses improve manufacturing
costs, capacity and fast/flexible deployment while reducing
contamination. It offers a rapid route to market for products,
faster return on investment for manufacturing and innovation.
It helps provide new business models for supply chains, development
of new product ranges, flexible production facilities, reductions
in cost, global positioning and contained/focused products,
such as those that are highly flammable or allergen-free.
January 2020 SPRAY 25
Robertson
Sahota