02 Fight for Resources
Economic prosperity and a rising middle class in emerging
countries is increasing the pressure on the world’s ecosystem,
including the growing need for food and water security. In
addition, as global demand for resources like food, water and
energy rises, access becomes more competitive and prices
may increase. Factors such as ongoing climate change and
more severe natural disasters are also affecting the supply
of resources.
This megatrend has the potential to affect the consumer
goods and retail industry in a number of ways. Consumers will
increasingly expect companies to use the latest technology
for reducing waste of natural resources. And businesses will
need to consider new types of partnerships (for example,
public/private) to secure access to resources. In addition,
the industry will have the opportunity to play a vital role in
securing the nutrition supply in developing countries.
In this environment, how can the industry ensure that people
receive and maintain access to increasingly scarce resources
and that these resources are distributed fairly?
03 Sustainability
Awareness of the environmental and social impact of
consumption continues to rise, leading consumers to look
for greater transparency, more sustainable operations,
and sustainably produced and fair-trade products from
businesses. The importance of using reusable and
recyclable material to reduce waste is also increasing. An
additional aspect of this megatrend is the rising demand
for firms to contribute monetarily to society and to support
good-cause initiatives.
The industry impact may be substantial as consumers and
employees become more educated about environmental and
social issues and require credible transparency. In addition,
corporate social responsibility initiatives will be evaluated
more critically. The industry as a whole will need to be more
aware of its “social footprint” on both a global and regional
level, as instances of misconduct could have a significant
impact on businesses.
With this increased focus on sustainability, how can the
industry efficiently provide (and transparently communicate
about) long-term care for people and the environment?