2020 Visions

words by: HANNAH PENWRIGHT design by: JOSH ONG

Food and drink trends are constantly changing, and every year companies such as Whole Foods Market and Waitrose release reports which predict what’s likely to be popular for the coming year. This year, predictions include a focus on reducing waste, alternatives to alcohol, and changes to snacking habits, but only time will tell as to how popular these trends really become…

Zero-waste shops have been appearing all over the UK recently, with Cardiff being blessed with the incredible, recently expanded, Ripple - found on Albany road. But 2020 is bringing a new weapon to the battle against excess packaging - edible packaging. The idea might be hard to imagine, but it might not be as far in the future as we think. Believe it or not, edible packaging is already being used at large events such as The London Marathon. The 2019 marathon replaced thousands of water bottles with Ooho! capsules made from seaweed extract, by the UK based company Skipping Rocks Lab. Hopefully, this year will bring with it even more innovative and sustainable packaging alternatives to fight the war against waste. E d i b l e P a c k a g i n g

Snacking has been increasing in popularity for years now, with more and more people fuelling themselves with onthe-go snacks in place of three meals a day. The 2019 Mintel Consumer Snacking UK report claims that 37% of 25-34-year olds eat snacks to replace a meal at least once a week and two thirds of adults choose to snack at least once a day. But the days of reaching for the biscuit tin are crumbling. More consumers are choosing snacks that not only satisfy their hunger but are nutritionally beneficial too. Popular choices include energy balls and fruit ‘shots’, which include mix-ins such as nuts and dark chocolate. 2020 is likely to introduce even more healthy snack options, with a specific focus on fresh snacks. Protein is predicted to dominate the snack sector in order to meet consumer demands following last year’s 32% increase in the number of online searches for ‘high-protein snacks’. Keep your eyes peeled for these protein-pumped snacks such as jerky and roasted chickpeas as they begin filling up supermarket shelves this year. R i s e o f S n a c k i n g

Recent consumer buying habits suggest that another food trend on the rise this year is an increase in low and no alcohol alternatives. Research shows that in 2019, alcohol free beer sales increased by 58% on the previous year, and lower strength beer rose by 16%. Many still assume that university life revolves around excessive drinking, but the rise of consumer preferences for flavour over ABV (Alcohol By Volume) will potentially encourage students to opt out of alcohol in exchange for a flavoursome and hangover-free life. L o w / N o A l c o h o l

Over the past few years, sugar has become the number one enemy in terms of healthy eating as diets high in added sugar have been linked to conditions such as heart disease. As well acting as a catalyst for changes, such as the sugar tax on drinks in April 2018, many brands are reducing or replacing the sugar in their products. Just last year, Cadbury released a version of their ‘Dairy Milk’ chocolate bar which contains 30% less sugar than the original. Also, Nestlé are planning to release a chocolate bar that uses the white pulp around cocoa beans to replace the refined sugar. The fact that major companies are making changes means that other companies will hopefully follow in their footsteps. There are also predictions that syrups from natural sources will rise in popularity, using fruits such as pomegranates and dates. Although syrups are still very high in sugar, fruit syrups are a good source of antioxidants which refined white sugar is lacking in. S u g a r S h i f s

Around 1.3 billion tonnes of edible food are thrown away every year across the globe. The good news is that 2020 is predicted to develop new ways to utilise food that otherwise goes to waste. Many great initiatives are already underway, for instance, Lidl introduced the ‘Too Good To Waste Boxes’ last year in order to combat the large proportion of fruit and veg waste. These are filled with 5kg of fruit and veg that are slightly damaged, but still perfectly edible. Any boxes that don’t get sold are given to local causes, so nothing goes to waste. Expect to see more schemes like this as the year progresses. We can all get on board with this trend by rethinking what we’re throwing in the bin. I’m sure we can save some of the brain power that university sucks out of us to use towards reducing our waste. W a s t e R e d u c t i o n

WILD THING

Wild Thing are a plant based cafe who serve local, organic food and aim to bring the community together in a healthy way! Keep an eye out for our next issue to learn a bit more about Wild Thing and read our exclusive interview with the owner. In the meantime, head on down to their Cathays or Grangetown cafes for some plant-powered goodness.

Wild Thing Cathays Location: Embassy Cafe, Cathays Community Centre, 36-38 Cathays Terrace.

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30AM-3:30PM

Instagram: @wildthingcathays

words by: KATIE DUFFIN photography by: LUISA DE LA CONCHA MONTES design by: ELAINE TANG

words by: HANNAH PENWRIGHT design by: DEVIKA SUNAND

Climate change is a hot topic at the moment, but hot is the last thing we want our planet to become. Often, the focus in the media is about how climate change will affect our planet in the future, but in places such as Kiribati, Italy and even right here in the UK, the damage is already being done. Environmental activists such as Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion are demanding governments around the world take action to combat the severe effects of climate change before it is too late. Although many governments are beginning to promise changes, more needs to be done to fight climate change and preserve our planet.

The Great Barrier Reef

located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, The Great Barrier Reef is classed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world and is the only living thing on the planet visible from space. These facts and the sheer beauty of the reef make the popularity of it for travellers unsurprising, who get to experience firsthand the coral gardens made up of over 400 different types of coral, as well as the huge variety of species that live there. However, this natural wonder is seriously under threat. In 2016 and 2017, mass coral bleaching occurred in The Great Barrier Reef, affecting around 50% of the reef. Coral bleaching is when changes to the ocean’s temperature upsets and stresses the corals, which causes them to expel the algae that gives corals their bright colours. The only way the coral can recover is if the water temperatures quickly return to normal. However, if the coral does not survive it’s very unlikely to come back, meaning that damage caused by coral bleaching is often irreversible. As well as losing the beautiful coral reefs themselves, coral reef collapse also puts thousands of species at danger of extinction. Marine animals such as sea turtles and starfish rely on coral reefs for shelter, protection and as a source of food.

Kiribati

with only around 5,800 visitors a year, Kiribati is not as common a tourist destination as The Great Barrier Reef, but is no less beautiful. Located in the centre of the Pacific Ocean, Kiribati is made up of 32 atolls (ring-shaped coral reefs which encircle a lagoon) and one coral island. Considering Kiribati is filled with beautiful sandy beaches surrounded by crystal clear waters, it’s not difficult to understand why activities such as fishing and diving are common for travellers. But Kiribati is one of the three most threatened nations by climate change. Its low altitude makes it especially vulnerable to climate change as rising sea levels and storm surges are slowly causing the atolls and island to disappear. In 2009, two of the islands disappeared completely. The islands are only six feet above sea level and every year, the sea rises by around half an inch. Also, rising sea levels causes issues such as contaminating the freshwater and soil, which affects crop growing. Coral bleaching is happening in Kiribati too, and this along with factors such as reef structure damage are causing marine life to move away. The fishing industry is a big part of Kiribati’s economy which means that climate change is causing both economic and environmental issues.

The Places We May Lose

Norfolk, UK

It’s easy to assume that the damaging effects of climate change aren’t affecting us directly here in the UK, but changes are happening here too. Many towns in the coastal county of Norfolk is suffering from coastal erosion, which will only get worse as sea levels continue to rise. Over the past 20 years, 35 homes have been lost in Happisburgh and in 2018 alone, seven homes had to be demolished in Hemsby. And it’s not just Norfolk that is suffering from coastal erosion. It’s a frightening and upsetting issue for homeowners in coastal towns all around the country, and a lack of government funding to help re-home those who have lost their homes is making the situation even worse. The UK Committee on Climate Change’s 2019 progress report claims that sea levels around Britain could rise by over a meter by 2100, which shows that unless we take serious action, residents in coastal towns all around the UK are going to lose their homes. The Environment Agency for the UK predict that unless we increase preventative measures against rising sea levels, around 5,000 homes are likely to become uninhabitable over the next 20 years.

Venice, Italy

The stunning city of Venice, filled with incredible architecture, seafood and gondola trips, has long been nicknamed ‘the floating city’. Before the early settlers arrived in Venice, there was just a collection of islands found in a lagoon. The solid foundations on which the buildings still stand on today are made of wood and because it is underwater, it doesn’t rot due to the lack of oxygen. However, the weight of the city squeezes water out of and compacts the soil, slowly but surely causing the north-eastern Italian city to sink. Therefore, although climate change isn’t the only factor that causes floods in Venice every year, an increase in the severity of the floods over recent years is being linked to climate change. A storm in November 2019 caused particularly severe flooding, with some of the city being as deep as 6ft under water (the second highest levels in recorded history). More than 80% of the city was flooded, including tourist attractions such as St Mark’s Square, Venice’s major public plaza. Following this, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro declared a state of emergency and said that the governments had to listen now. During the next century, it’s predicted that the Mediterranean Sea will rise by up to 140 centimetres. This would leave Venice underwater by 2100, unless significant action is taken to combat climate change. The places we may lose are already disappearing. Unless changes are made to prevent further damage to the planet, these places of natural wonder and those that millions call home, will only be found in our memories.

words by: JAMES BARKER design by: ORLAGH TURNER & JAMES BARKER

Do you hate the term tourist, and like to be called a traveller? Do you prefer to “do it yourself ”? Do you shiver at a package deal, or bolt from a travel agent?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, you’ve probably used Airbnb. Its reputation as the way to stay both cheap and authentic has led to properties of all shapes and sizes, marketing themselves as your next destination. Why book into a tired three-star hotel when you could rent a characterful apartment for half the price?

But as more Airbnbs pop up across the globe, more unfortunate truths pop up with them. Airbnb loves its image as the traveller’s edgy alternative, but behind that façade is a giant commercial engine worth more than $30 billion. In 2018, it was reported that Airbnb had 5 million listings in 81,000 cities across the world. Whilst hotels and guesthouses are subject to strict governmental rules, Airbnb is far more difficult to regulate – a scary prospect given the huge scale of its business. There’s a reality to your fantasy of living like a local, and your uninformed ideals might be doing more harm than good.

It’s the issue of the moment: are you an ethical tourist? Whether you’re scaling down sky-high air miles or choosing to sample vegan treats at your destination, students in particular are trying to find more sustainable ways to travel.

On the surface, Airbnb may seem like the ethical choice for travellers. Staying in someone’s home means rejecting an ugly purpose-built skyscraper hotel, right? Rather than feeding large hotel chains and paying hefty government taxes, you’re handing your money straight to the locals. But again, the reality is far more complex.

Here comes the first shocking fact: many Airbnb listings are actually illegal. Most cities have tough regulations on shortterm lets but the company’s USP of ‘anyone can Airbnb’ means that illegal listings go largely unchecked. You may question: “If no-one will notice, why should I worry? My host is breaking the law, not me.” But it is the responsibility of the ethical tourist to consider why these regulations are in place in the first place.

Take the Big Apple – everyone wants a bite of it. We’ve all fallen in love with the idea of renting a quirky Upper East Side apartment and living like a character from Friends. But in 2014, the New York state attorney general revealed that as many as 72% of listings in the city could be illegal. His report estimated that Airbnb skirts as much as $39 million in required NYC hotel taxes. Now, that might not seem like an issue for a wealthy Western government, but imagine this scenario playing out in developing parts of the world, such as Southeast Asia. The tourism industry (including the student’s beloved “gap yah” experience) is a desperately needed source of income for the government. “But my money’s going straight into my host’s pocket!” you cry. But whilst cutting out the government’s tax may seem noble, a similar cut –in the form of a commission– will fall into the hands of the giant commercial engine that is Airbnb.

It’s a common statement: “I want to experience [insert touristy place] like a local”. But how is that possible if there are no locals to live like?

A recent study in New York found that Airbnb listings can bring in two to three times more income than long-term tenancies. This hikes up rent prices for locals and would-be residents of the city, making these destinations even more unachievable for the people wanting to put down roots. It’s a similar scenario in the UK. Picturesque tourist destinations such as Bath or Edinburgh are favouring the short-term custom of holidays, hen parties and romantic minibreaks over long-term occupants.

So whilst staying in a hotel or guesthouse may feel less “authentic” (and look less good for your Insta shots), using Airbnb may destroy the real authenticity that made your destination so iconic in the first place. You can find an Airbnb in a matter of minutes, but it can just as easily be snatched away again. Cancellations can occur just a few days before your trip – or worse, you could turn up at your stay only to be let down on the doorstep. In the event of a cancellation, you’ll usually be refunded the full amount, but nobody wants to face an eleventh hour search for an expensive alternative.

This misfortune befell my housemate’s boyfriend during a recent trip to Australia. He turned up to find no sign of the host, no instructions of how to enter the property and no response to his texts and calls. He spent over an hour on their doorstep before giving up and seeking refuge in a nearby hostel. When you’re in a new place, bewildered and exhausted from travel, a no-show host is the last thing you need.

However, you can protect your experience to some degree by filtering your search to the best-rated, most experienced ‘superhosts’. Hosts only qualify for this badge of honour after 100 nights of impeccable hosting (with a rating of 4.8 or above!), so you can sleep easy in the knowledge that your booking is extremely unlikely to be cancelled. Of course, you’ll pay more for the premium.

Ultimately, it comes down to whether you want to risk it. More often than not your booking will be delivered faultlessly, but no Airbnb is completely protected and you could find yourself out in the cold at a moment’s notice.

Although there are risks to you as the consumer, Airbnb generally has a high satisfaction rating (90%, according to the BBC). But whilst our experience might be good, we must think of the potential consequences for the destination itself. What’s the point in staying in a cosy “locals” apartment if the block is only populated by travellers like you? How can the government preserve your chosen destination if you’re swerving its cut?

Tourism is a two-way street; as travellers, we get to experience a location, whilst its populace benefits from the business we bring. As ethical tourists, we must cut out Airbnb before it irreversibly alters the fabric of our destinations.