People are increasingly aware of the origin of their products and services. Being environmentally friendly and having a positive social impact has shifted from being an added value to a necessity. But what do people value most in 2024? Keep reading to discover some of the trends to look out for in the year ahead.
The first trend is the strengthening of the circular economy. People are now placing a greater focus on reducing their waste and making the most of the resources available to them by reusing, repairing and recycling them. For this reason, they value companies that save them money, reduce their carbon footprint and support local communities. Product exchange or rental platforms, home repair services and second-hand shops are just three examples of the above.
The second trend that is expected to grow in the coming year is a commitment to transparency and traceability. People are now asking themselves “where do my products come from?”, “what are my products made of?” and “what is their impact on society and the environment?.” They are increasingly demanding accurate and accessible information on companies’ social and environmental practices and the quality and safety of their products. Ecolabels, QR codes and mobile applications that allow products to be scanned and relevant data to be obtained are practices that companies are now implementing in light of these demands.
The third trend that is expected to be prominent in 2024 is personalisation and co-creation. This consists of offering customers the chance to adapt their products and services to their tastes, needs and preferences, and even participate in the design or production phase. This trend will allow them to express their identity, meet their expectations and feel part of a community. Some examples of personalisation and co-creation include tailor-made products, on-demand services and micro-financing and crowdsourcing platforms.
Circular logistics: a key ally in improving sustainability.
Logistics plays a key role in bringing products from manufacturing facilities to points of sale and into the home. For this reason, companies in the sector are already incorporating sustainable practices that allow them to optimise the use of resources, minimise waste and maximise the value of their products. Logifruit has been doing this practically since our very inception.
This is why the term “circular logistics”—a model that seeks to reduce, reuse and recycle the materials and resources involved in the supply chain, from extraction to the moment of consumption—is heard with increasing regularity in this sector.
Circular logistics entails designing products that are durable, repairable and recyclable; optimising transportation and storage processes to avoid losses and waste; and using waste as raw material in new products or as a source of renewable energy. At Logifruit, this is accounted for in the ‘6 Rs System’: Rationalise, Reduce, Re-design, Re-use, Repair and Recycle.
Some examples that illustrate this logistical model include:
– The use of returnable or reusable packaging, which reduces packaging-related costs and waste.
– The use of empty spaces in vehicles, which improves energy efficiency and reduces emissions.
– The creation of collaborative platforms, which enable the sharing of resources and information between different actors in the supply chain.
– The incorporation of eco-design criteria, which take into account the full life cycle of products and their components.
In this way, circular logistics helps to create a more efficient and resilient system which brings social, environmental and economic benefits that are increasingly appreciated by users and customers.