Beyond Resilience - product design & sourcing. Take your lead from materials innovation & development within the marine industry, as you look to answer the consumer desire for more climate resilient outdoor solutions. In the face of accelerating climate change and more extreme weather patterns, with forecasts predicting hotter and wetter UK seasons, Manufacturers of outdoor products are under growing pressure to develop more RESILIENT MATERIALS, enabling people to enjoy their outdoor spaces across more of the year, if not ALL year. Look to marine-grade materials for inspiration could provide a strong starting place for R+D. Key considerations should include: • Water resistant - thinking also about mould + mildew • Heat resistance, cooling properties, temperature regulating • Protection against fading • Easy to clean • Durable - high quality + long-lasting In designing products that support Outdoor Living throughout the year, brands and retailers can extend their sales cycles into autumn + winter, opening new REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES and a more sustainable business model. With 60% of people in the UK agreeing that climate change is the biggest threat to civilisation, there is a growing commitment across society to adopt more sustainable consumption habits + eco-friendly practices. Highlighted here are the environmental + sustainability issues that are most important to consumers. WHAT CONSUMERS CARE ABOUT Consumers care most about durability 58% value durability when considering a purchase with 42% saying they have paid more for longer-lasting products. (Value for money does not mean cheap) Does your messaging highlight the quality & longevity of a product. Sustainable packaging + products are valued 53% would welcome better initiatives to remove plastic + packaging. Transparency, allowing consumers to make more informed choices about sustainability. This will drive higher levels of loyalty. Reducing waste + recycling are of interest 46% make a conscious effort to return products that have reached their end of life to a recycling programme and 32% check if a product is made from recycled materials. Make it easy for customers providing clear guidance. Circularity is a growing consideration 76% would consider using a repair service and 34% are buying more second-hand products compared to 2023. Where and how can you advocate Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle? More consumers are making purchases with sustainability in mind 56% would like sustainable alternatives to be more affordable and 30% stopped buying a brand or product because of sustainability- related concerns.