Over the last decade, brands have made a real effort to ‘go green’ – and they expect a positive response. But a study by Yale suggests that people are actually less likely to buy if the environmental benefit seems intentional. So how should a brand demonstrate its green credentials?

The Chinese urban population is set to increase by 13 million every year between now and 2030. But with 95% of China’s cities falling short of environmental standards, the government is urgently seeking greener models for urban living. Will eco-cities be China’s cities of the future?

Getting a manicure is a regular treat for many Australians, but are chemical-filled acrylics no longer cool? Since 2012, the number of organic beauty salons has increased 20%. Missy Lui is Australia’s first vegan certified nail salon. But when it comes to getting a mani and pedi, do people really care about the nasties hidden in their polish?

Gluten-free? Dairy-free? Vegan? Everyone seems to have a dietary requirement. And although only 1% of Americans are coeliac, sales of gluten-free foods have risen 68% since 2012. As more people convinced they are sensitive to gluten, beauty brands are launching gluten-free products too.

Jessica Alba's start-up The Honest Company captures a growing demand for socially-conscious baby brands. As competitors try to balance quality, affordability, convenience and safety, it delivers them all through an innovative e-commerce model.

Research by TNS has found four distinct groups of people with different views on eco-friendly products. While people are most commonly willing to pay a premium for eco-friendly, one in five believe environmental dangers are overstated.

From Just Giving Facebook updates to wearing H&M’s Conscious Collection, public displays of philanthropy have become a symbol of status. But does it really matter that these new do-gooders are motivated only by people seeing them do good if the outcome is still positive?

There are over one billion cars on the world’s roads today, but just 400,000 of them are electric. With issues surrounding recharging, driving range and aesthetics, they are simply not cool. All-electric racing series Formula E hopes to change perceptions. But will it work?