As the new post-pandemic normal settles in and people adapt to a context of uncertainty, constant adversities, and 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.

After McDonald’s swapped its notoriously environmentally-unfriendly plastic straws for paper ones, disgruntled Britons took to the internet to protest. The pro-plastic petition is an example of how people’s ethical resolve can often crumble under the weight of inconvenience.

Plastic is getting a lot of airtime right now: suddenly, what was once an invisible problem is at the front of people’s minds. Consumers are primed for change, so how can brands take the first by creating alternatives, educating customers and helping them form new habits?

As more plastic, paper and cardboard ends up in our rivers, oceans and landfill, people are looking at ways that they can cut back on packaging. How can shoppers achieve this and what is the grocery industry doing about it?

The effects of climate change won’t discriminate between genders, but research suggests that men may not be doing as much as women to limit their impact on the planet. What stops men from buying eco-friendly goods, and how can brands shift perceptions to ensure sustainability appeals to all?