There’s a paradigm shift happening in regard to what people expect from brands. As the new post-pandemic normal settles in and people adapt to a context of uncertainty, constant adversities, and lingering pessimism, we are moving away from a moment in which consumers expected brands to rise up to society's challenges and into one when they’re demanding genuine allyship from businesses. However, the concept of ‘shared values’ is no longer embodied by the idea of globalised aspirations and ideals. The current landscape is one where multicultural, liberal, and democratic ideals are being deeply questioned, and belief systems are shifting inwards and becoming more individualised. Entrenched value sets of smaller social collectives now jostle among each other for dominance in a destabilised cultural and political order. With people spending more time navigating echo chambers, which reproduce the same perspectives, the increasing cognitive biases of those groups turn the notion of a polarised world into a self-fulfilling prophecy. The stakes are high for brands. People are more vocal than ever about shopping based on their values, rejecting associations with companies that don't share their world-view and political ideals. For instance, 90% of Britons say brand loyalty is a matter of shared values, and the numbers increase if we look at young people – 96% are more likely to be loyal to brands that share their values. Unsurprisingly, people are becoming acutely aware of virtue-signalling and tokenistic communications, leaving no room for neutral brands with universal appeal – and if the potential of Web3 comes to fruition, we might even see a new era of accountability. With expectations rising for businesses to share and advocate for people’s belief systems, brands will need to demonstrate the mission-driven nature of their activities. However, they must also be conscious of a polarised landscape in which taking a stand will almost certainly be politicised. People now want sincere, genuine allyship, but without a consensus on a moral framework, what that means to individuals differs vastly at a global, national, and local level.

With nearly three-quarters of Gen Yers and 51% of Boomers willing to pay more for sustainable products, eco-friendly living is no longer a niche pursuit. Yet many people are downplaying their eco credentials with inconspicuous purchases. Why aren’t consumers keen to appear ‘green’?

Shoppers in the US are becoming more interested in a brand’s eco and ethical credentials, but only if the price is right. With many reluctant to pay a higher price for a sustainable product, many Americans believe it's the brand's responsibility to provide socially conscious items at more affordable prices.

As people realise the impact of waste packaging on the planet, they’re making small lifestyle changes through independent brand innovations. But with convenience still high on people’s priority list, how is reusable, recyclable shopping platform Loop taking the circular economy mainstream?