Smelly. Useless. Truck. Bin Man. Trash. Annoying. These are all words that popped into people’s heads when asked what they first thought upon hearing the word "waste." A quick Google search reveals other phrases like “worthless,” “no purpose,” “no longer useful or required,” “the unusable remains.” While I don't deny the legitimacy of the definition, it is striking to me how many items and pr…
Yesterday, Green Initiatives sponsored a Zero Waste forum featuring Collective Responsibility’s Research Manager, William Morris. Alizée Buysschaert, Will Morris, and Antoine Moussali encouraged participants to embrace a zero waste lifestyle and look at innovative trends in waste reduction. Green Initiatives Director and event host Nitin Dani opened the event with two simple questions: “How ma…
"As China’s 'graying population' grows exponentially, the elderly population will be a major economic target for growing markets and services. While both the public and private sectors have made efforts in addressing this issue, current policies and services have been insufficient in addressing elderly demands, and many economic, social, and political challenges facing these systems still persist.…
What is the best design? How do you create the perfect product? How do you engage your audience and generate user uptake? These are questions that all entrepreneurs, companies, and organizations ask themselves when conceptualizing new products or services. It is the ability to tap into the fundamental motivation of consumers that dictates whether or not a product “works”, and for some it remain…
“A critical time is soon approaching, as the number of elderly is predicted to overtake the number of youths by around 2020... The urgency towards action is illustrated by the recent repeal of the OneChild Policy in China’s 13th Five-Year Plan, which states that “the change of policy is intended to balance population development and address the challenge of an aging population”. With this challe…
Technology is central to daily life across China and, in recent years, the smartphone has become the king amongst the tech savvy across the country and smartphone connections in China are predicted to reach one billion by 2020. Mobile technology and smartphones are not only becoming vital to personal communication, but are becoming integral in producer and consumer engagement. Individuals perform…
Consumer-based companies have long predicted that the future of consumerism rests in the wants and needs of the next generation. China, however, is presenting an entirely different story. The Chinese market suggests that the elderly are the next big source of consumers, and are spending in new and unique ways. Not only are the elderly in need of community center clinics and nursing homes, but are…
Dormant - People who do not possess a smartphone or smartphone-like technology (e.g. iPad) and have no interest and/or ability to acquire. There are many reasons why elderly do not adopt new technologies, or in other words, are "dormant." However, the voices of the elderly in China often go unheard on the topic of technology. With this in mind, over the last few weeks, Collective has bee…
None can deny the critical importance of China’s market to global corporations and their leadership. With a population of over 1 billion consumers, China has become a proving ground for CEOs, an integral influencer in the international stock market, and the country where corporations learn to prototype innovate products for a massive, diverse base of customers and clients. Above all, China's hi…
In continuation of our consumer waste series, we examine the challenges faced in the area of plastic waste production and management. China has a big history with plastic. Throughout its rise to economic prominence, China has manufactured and exported a huge amount of plastic products to eventually become the world’s largest plastic producer in 2013. More recently, China's domestic consumption…
The impact from the sheer level of food waste in China is felt economically, environmentally, and politically: Economically, because farmers and consumers in effect pay for the waste as middlemen, processors, brands, and retailers are able to protect their margins more effectively. Environmentally, as, for every unit of food wasted, China’s precious water resources are wasted while at the…
On Monday, we addressed the rise of China’s consumer waste industry. One stream outlined was packaging, an area of waste that is facing challenges along its supply chain. Here we delve deeper into the topic outlining the challenges and opportunities. Synonymous with consumer goods, packaging represents a particular waste stream that, given greater affluence and purchasing power, will grow. Pack…
A good brand still trumps good companies with consumers. I just scanned the GlobeScan paper RE: Thinking Consumption and came across this chart. It is a chart that struck me because it is supposed to show "How do consumers rate the environmental and social leadership of companies within their respective sectors." Yet, Interface (one of the recognized leaders) still comes after Shell and…
As firms look to recalibrate the mission of a firm, many believe that it will be external stakeholder that is the primary barrier. That suppliers won't be willing to adhere to new expectations, or that consumers won't pay the premium that may be required. It is a belief that in many cases turns out to be secondary to the fact that internal stakeholders may actually provide the greatest barrier.…
One of the key stakeholders and primary drivers of a firm are its consumers, and regardless of the issue that is being discussed, the role of the consumer has been almost always seen as the change agent. Once "consumers" wisen up, change will happen. Over the last few months, this conversation has taken on a particular interest with representatives from consumer brands that I have been s…
