So microplastics are in clouds now. Yes, clouds. We’re not sure of what the long-term impact of those tiny particles will be, but we do know the Pope has entered the chat on climate change. If government leaders can’t speed up sustainability, maybe the Vatican can.
Scroll down to read about bed bugs, chocolate nails, and Ozempic’s potential impact on food prices.
Stats to power your week
👟 If you’ve got into running in the last few years, you might have picked up a pair of Hokas. Their distinctive design and performance have won many fans on TikTok, and the brand recently opened its first EMEA store. Its recent success in the US has been eye-catching: the number who own one of the brand’s products has grown 100% since 2020. GWI USA
🎉 There’s always a reason to celebrate, according to Gen Z. They’re more likely to celebrate friendships than they are religious or cultural events. Give it a few decades, and Galentine’s Day might just overtake February 14th. GWI Zeitgeist
🪲 Je m’appelle bedbug. France is struggling with the tiny bloodsuckers, raising concerns for next year’s Olympics, and the anticipated surge of tourists. And the organizers should be concerned – for people traveling to France, cleanliness and hygiene is number one when it comes to choosing accommodation. Check the mattress, folks. GWI Travel
🍺 Helped by some effective marketing and changing demographics, Americans are getting a taste for Mexican drinks. A good sign of how much the American palate is changing – more people currently say tequila is their favorite alcohol than craft or lite beer. GWI USA
👧🏽 Marked by the UN since 2012, today is the International Day of the Girl. Some good news: over half of girls aged 12-15 believe they can pursue any career they want to – a 12% increase since 2022, and strongest among girls in South Africa. GWI Kids
What’s on our radar
Netflix has shipped its final DVD, so could the now-scarcer discs become the next vinyl? Whether it’s the menus, special features, anguished wait for the logo to hit the corner of the screen, or just general feel, we’re seeing some hints of DVD revivalism.
Ozempic has made headlines for its success as a weight-loss treatment, but we’re now seeing its second-order effects. What happens to food prices when people don’t want as much of it, and what side effects might the drug have?
We’re also seeing an abundance of second-order effects with generative AI. Now you don’t have to be an architect to design your own utopia, and barriers to becoming a musician are being pulled down.
Unisex fashion is one of those trends that never really goes away, but it seems to be enjoying the spotlight right now with Malia Obama rocking pleated pants and Devandra Banhart recording his new album in a blue dress.
Brace for impact: streaming prices are set to rise as the writers’ and actors' strikes conclude. Our chart this week tracks the steady growth in the number of people in the US who believe that subscription services have become too expensive. Since Q2 2020, there’s been a 66% increase in the number who think this – one of the strongest trends in our research, and a strong signal of the growing concern over how affordable TV streaming really is.
Local lowdown
Türkiye’s coffee cravings
Lots of countries boast a strong coffee culture, but Turkish consumers just beat out the Greeks, Italians, and Brazilians to the top of the leaderboard, with 92% of consumers in the country drinking it at least once a month (only 3% never drink it). The word “coffee” actually comes from the Ottoman Turkish word “kahve” (itself borrowed from Arabic).
Coffee culture is so ingrained in the country that in 2013 UNESCO added it to its list of intangible cultural assets. One aspect of Turkish coffee drinking is predicting the future – a service offered digitally by a popular app, Faladdin.
The future of coffee drinking, though, may be more of a cultural hybrid. 35% of consumers in Türkiye visit Starbucks, way ahead of the next European country (Ireland, at 19%).
