Forecasts for 2022

In a recent WSJ article titled "Ten Forecasts for 2022", there were some very encouraging trends forecast for 2022. Here are a few of Euromonitor's predictions:

1. "Environmental impact: People are looking to cut back on food waste, reduce their plastic use and recycle more. About 67% of consumers surveyed by Euromonitor stated that they tried to do something every day to have a beneficial impact on the environment" Wow! 67% of consumers are trying to do something daily and one of the things is reducing their plastic use. That is a win.

2. "Fresh look of secondhand: Buying items secondhand is no longer stigmatized. It has become a sought-after option for consumers who want to have unique items or are shopping on a budget". Buying second hand reduces our carbon footprint, keeps trash out of the landfills, and also results in less plastic packaging. Win, Win, Win.

3. "Cementing Priorities: 34% of people...preferred to spend money on experiences as opposed to products in 2021, compared with 27% in 2015". It would seem that services would require less plastic than buying product so sounds like another win.

Relative to plastic usage, these are all hopeful predictions. Hello, 2022!