Looking Ahead and Looking Back: 2018 Topics Set to Evolve in 2019

As 2019 begins, we’re looking back at some of influential topics from 2018 to see how they panned out and how they might continue to evolve in the year ahead.

Plastics Pollution

Plastics pollution was the focus of Earth Day 2018, and the topic saw increased attention from brands and shoppers alike throughout the year. From plastic straw bans to product lines made from recycled plastic (think: #AdidasParley), efforts to reduce plastic consumption and waste made waves in 2018.

With the most recent UN climate report stating that the world has just over a decade to bring climate change under control and the European Parliament’s decision to ban many single-use plastics by 2021, the focus on plastics doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. Trend reports predict that 2019 will see everything from an increase no-waste travel guides to a rise in the use of reusable beeswax wrap in place of plastic wrap.

Brands Take a Stand