Five reasons why biodegradables and upcycling are becoming more meaningful in Southeast Asia

As consumers crave a more normalized year in 2021, will eco-friendly innovation continue to diversify? Are shoppers shifting inexorably away from brands that behave unethically and towards those that commit to preserving the planet’s precious resources?

Time will tell. However, 2020 provided some intriguing pointers. Firstly, consumers spent more time shopping from home and saw for themselves the mountains of packaging that smartphone shopping creates; and the challenges for disposing of it safely.

Secondly, the COVID-19 pandemic made everyone more aware not just of their human vulnerability. Given time to reflect during lockdowns, urban consumers also noticed how reduced traffic flows improved the quality of the air they breathe.

Thirdly, markets have stepped up their commitments to reducing plastic waste in recent months, Malaysia is a good example, where most supermarkets no longer provide plastic carrier bags to shoppers. These incremental factors could help move the dial towards sustainable consumption.

Takeaway

• The pandemic experience has impacted consumer mindsets and a stronger focus on sustainable living could be a trend to watch in 2021
• A backlash against “over-packaging” is something eCommerce and home-delivery brands must consider
• Food producers especially are picking up on greener vibes among younger consumers

Whether or not COVID-19 has forced businesses to rethink their sustainable relationships with consumers remains to be seen. What was evident was that 2020 witnessed pockets of the organic invention.

In Vietnam, two students created biodegradable grocery bags by blending banana tree bark with paper and soap, while a Mekong Delta firm developed biodegradable drinking straws from wild grass stems. A Thai cafe is now packing its freshly cooked takeaway rice into boxes made from rice husk.

Packing extra novelty flavor is Singapore’s Crunch Cutlery, which sells edible spoons made from nutrient-rich matcha fiber, buckwheat and butterfly pea. The firm says its twin objectives are to tackle both plastic waste and poor urban nutrition with a single product.

Takeaway

• Enterprising start-ups are scouring natural environments for organic, non-processed materials that quickly regenerate
• Consumers may respond to sustainable solutions with an appealing novelty factor
• Promoting earth-aware packaging as a positive lifestyle choice helps generate interest, particularly among Gen Z consumers

Innovation in fashion materials sourcing could be a differentiating element for upcoming designers and labels producing high-value lines in sustainable ways. In Indonesia, Hirka is a small shoemaker that targets discerning clients. It has begun substituting snake and crocodile skins with surplus chicken feet sourced from local restaurants to fashion unique footwear.

In Vietnam, rare lotus silk is a coveted material. A handweaving collective harvests discarded lotus roots, extracts the fragile stem fibers and weaves luxurious silk scarves using traditional looms. Indonesia’s Muslim Fashion Festival urged modest wear makers to create sustainable fashions that drive behavioral change. It asked designers to rethink winter and summer collections and style clothes from upcycled fabrics that can be worn year-round.

Takeaway

• Bespoke producers of clothing and footwear are proving that natural materials can create fashionable fabrics and desirable textures
• Replacing rare animal products with alternative materials is a trend to watch
• Modest wear designers may play a prominent role in the “slow” fashion movement

Seaweed harvesting is transforming from a traditional coastal industry into a global source of organic commerce. Red seaweed is widely used in a host of products, ranging from luxury skincare treatments in Ireland to toothpaste in the US to gourmet delicacies in Japan. This year, the productive properties of seaweed gained greater attention.

The Indonesian island of Nusa Lembongan, for example, is expanding its seaweed harvesting sector. Small collectives are being encouraged to harvest bigger sea crop volumes, as seaweed extract is increasingly in demand for making bioplastics. This creates a renewable alternative material for manufacturing daily-use plastic items.

Takeaway

• New research by India’s National Institute of Ocean Technology shows that bioplastics made from seaweed polysaccharides boast a high tensile strength
• Nurturing aquaculture will help reduce the use of non-degradable plastics
• Cheap, plentiful and eco-friendly seaweed is likely to be incorporated in a much broader range of foods, skin and beauty products and bioplastic accessories

Despite the above initiatives, biodynamic development in Southeast Asia requires strong governmental support and financial resources, plus stimulating education and awareness initiatives.

The opportunities to pioneer new forms of sustainable living are considerable. Southeast Asia with ten markets and a combined population of more than 650 million, has an enviable diversity of eco-systems and alternative resources.

Bain & Company recently argued that developing Southeast Asia’s green economy could create over USD 1 trillion in new economic opportunities by 2030. Generating these benefits will require circular economy practices with models that reduce, restore and regenerate resources. It identified four key areas of focus: sustainable and healthy food systems, efficient industries and logistics, green and connected cities, and green financing.

Perhaps 2020 can be considered a base year. Despite myriad challenges, forward-thinking has created a platform upon which start-ups, brands and science and technology researchers can create life-changing biodegradable and upcycled solutions.

Takeaway

• Southeast Asia faces stern challenges related to plastic pollution, waste management and low recycling rates
• Brands that demonstrate a commitment to green innovation will benefit from strong engagement and advocacy among consumers
• Investment into the practical applications of sustainable scientific research will increase significantly over the next decade