Eco-Conscious Packaging
"Dozens of like-minded brands in the OSC2 Compostable Packaging Collaborative have pooled their efforts to make important advances in flexible product pouches. Some companies are making commitments to ban straws, while brands like Whole Foods Market are setting up regional pilots to test recyclable straw-less sipper lids made from PET, without increasing the plastic content of a lid/straw combination. Expect to see an emphasis on reusing, with more produce departments going BYOVB (bring your own vegetable bag) and traditionally single-use packages going multi-use, like multi-use (and compostable!) food wraps made from beeswax, as well as waxed canvas or silicone alternatives to the usual plastic storage bags that can be used for sandwiches and snacks." — Whole Foods Market
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Trailblazing Frozen Treats
"While there is something comforting and classic about a scoop of vanilla ice cream, some consumers are wanting something a little less, well, vanilla. The new pints on the block are adding a fresh take on a timeless treat with innovative bases like avocado, hummus, tahini and coconut water. Globally-inspired frozen desserts are also taking the stage — possibly sparked by 2018's mochi ice cream obsession and a Thai rolled ice cream craze — with icy indulgences like airy Taiwanese snow ice and Mexican nieves de garrafa, not to mention stretchy, chewy, Turkish ice creams that get their unique texture from mastic and other unique sources. Popsicles and gelatos won't be left out of the fun — they'll get some buzz with boozier infusions coming to market. Try the trend with these picks: Cado Avocado Non-Dairy Frozen Desserts, Jeni's Sorbet Frosé and Dolcezza Mascarpone and Berries Gelato." — Whole Foods Market
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Marine Munchies, Beyond Seaweed
"Think beyond seaweed snacks. Sea greens are showing up in dishes like seaweed butter and kelp noodles while consumers are exploring new depths of ocean flavors with superfood properties like unique varietals of algae and kelp. Puffed snacks made from water lily seeds, plant-based tuna alternatives with algae ingredients, crispy snackable salmon skins with omega-3s and kelp jerkies are just a few testing the waters." — Whole Foods Market
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Purchases that Empower
"Thoughtful consideration behind purchases moves beyond (but doesn't exclude) environmental stewardship and animal welfare and becomes more people-focused. For example, Kuli Kuli produces moringa powder which is often grown and processed by women and has provided more than $1.5 million in income to women-led farming cooperatives, nonprofits and family farmers around the world through their organic moringa supply chain. Whole Planet Foundation partners with suppliers such as Chobani, Frontier Co-op, Naked Juice, Wallaby Organic, Papyrus-Recycled Greetings and more to alleviate poverty through microcredit loans for the world's poorest people — mostly women — who become empowered microentrepreneurs lifting themselves and their families out of poverty." — Whole Foods Market
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