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ANIMAL lovers have something to cheer about in 2010, as Datamonitor predicts a banner year for products sporting the "free range" moniker. Along with the growing number of food companies deliberately turning to humanely raised protein sources for their products. The market research firm forecast that 2010 is also expected to be a big year for a new generation of biodegradable plastics that may succeed in greening the image of plastic water bottles. These were two of ten emerging trends in packaged goods from Datamonitor, which also said new generation of superfruits like baobab (Adansonia digitata) and borojo (Borojoa patinoi Cuatrec) are expected to blossom. They also see growth in the use of sustainable ingredients like bamboo, and a renewed "back to basics" approach when it comes to product ingredients. A more humane world Forget about human rights (for a moment). Animal rights have emerged as a growing worldwide concern as consumers want to know more about how the foods they eat were raised and prepared. For example, the "free range" product claim commonly used identify how poultry are raised has nearly doubled in frequency for new food products launched worldwide since 2006 per Datamonitor's Product Launch Analytics.
Look for this trend to accelerate in 2010 as foodservice chains follow the trail blazed by leading-edge CPG companies into humanely raised products. Meat ?the new boss With all apologies to The Who, meat is definitely making a play to be the "new boss" in 2010 and meat is nothing like the "old boss." Meat's burgeoning popularity on the flavour front helps to explain some of the more bizarre product launches over the past few months including meat-flavoured lollipops (Das Lolli Man Bait), potato chips (Mackie's of Scotland Haggis and Cracked Black Pepper Potato Chips), chocolate candy (Mo's Dark Bacon Bar) and even vodka (Bakon Premium Bacon Flavoured Vodka). Can meat-flavoured ice cream, yoghurt or fruit juice be far behind?
Diamonds are forever, plastic isn't One of the great attributes of plastic is that it lasts ? for what seems like forever. But that's also one of its greatest drawbacks. Plastic that is not recycled often ends up in landfills where it can persist for centuries. But that is changing. New types of degradable packaging enable plastic to biodegrade in years, not centuries. The key is additives like EcoPure or Reverte that help plastic biodegrade more quickly and safely than it ordinarily would. The bottled water market has been ground zero for this trend with entries like Aquamantra natural spring water in Enso bottles and State of Mind bottled water in Reverte Back to Nature bottles. Look for this trend to accelerate in 2010 and move beyond the bottled water market to other categories. Skin care you wear What if the clothes you wear every day could enhance the health of your skin and improve your appearance? Sound far-fetched? Maybe not, as innovations like skin-enhancing bedding from London Luxury show that wearable skincare could be a breakout hit in 2010 and beyond.
These products utilise breakthroughs in nanotechnology to incorporate ultra fine particles like copper or aloe vera into clothing or bedding. SkinGlow brand bedding uses Cupron Copper Technology that professes to smooth or reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and more in just a few weeks of use. Skin care makers looking for a new wrinkle (no pun intended) and clothing makers looking for something new to ramp up sales could both be in luck. More muscular functional drinks A decade ago, a brand called Red Bull toNike