Attached to Hygiene Podcast
Episode 55:
The Consumer Trends Impacting Absorbent Hygiene pt. 2
with Liying Qian and Ali Angus
Learn more about their free sourcing directories at CottonWorks.com/Nonwovens-Sourcing.
For consumers, there is no universal acknowledgement of, for example, frequency. Sometimes there is a bit of irregularity. What about absorbency, right? The volume of discharge? Sometimes we see the droplets or other things like that.
So there's a lack of universal consensus of hygiene conditions. And therefore a lot of consumers still remain confused about what they're experiencing, how they're quantifying that, and translating that into the final purchase decision.
Host Jack Hughes continues his conversation with Euromonitor’s Ali Angus, Head of Innovation Practice, and Liying Qian, Head of Tissue and Disposable Hygiene. In recent episodes, they reviewed the market research firm’s Top 10 Global Consumer Trends of 2023 and began to explore those with the clearest impact on the absorbent hygiene industry. This episode looks at the final three trends with the biggest impact on hygiene.
‘She Rises’: Women bring their needs and expectations into the open
To combat years of stigma, the topic of menstruation and related issues are being discussed honestly. Companies are seeking better ways to speak about and meet the consumer’s needs. Another example: the ‘fem tech’ industry is partnering with absorbent hygiene manufacturers to incorporate technology that can perform health screenings and other functions into menstrual products that shoppers use regularly.
‘Authentic Automation’: Pairing smart machines with human needs
As the ability of computers to do more for us increases, so does their ability to drive a more personalised experience. The lack of universally-accepted terminology to describe flows, volumes, or even product capacity for menstruation and incontinence can make shopping difficult. Smart tools and quizzes can help consumers clarify their needs and narrow down product options. When these bots alone aren’t enough, manufacturers and retailers may also have consultants standing by to help.
‘Young and Disrupted’: Pushing companies into a new way of interacting
Gen Z, a highly vocal yet diverse generation, wants genuine connections to brands. They challenge manufacturers on both performance and social issues. Companies may find themselves in new and uncomfortable conversations in the most public of venues. (One example: menstruation for transgender users.) Moreover, these shoppers want sincere responses, and they expect to see them put into action.
Listen to episode 55, The Consumer Trends Impacting Absorbent Hygiene pt. 2 from your desktop using a platform below, or listen to the Attached to Hygiene Podcast on your favorite podcast app:
Listen on Desktop Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts
Outline of Episode 55
She Rises
- [03:10] The intersection of ‘fem tech’ and absorbent hygiene articles
- [05:10] Improving user experience with smart wearables
- [08:03] Using automation to help customise the shopping experience
- [10:15] Tools helping to shorten the consumer shopping journey
- [17:22] Gen Z challenges brands on both performance and social issues
- [19:50] Brands are pushed to participate in conversations that were uncomfortable not very long ago
- [23:40] Read and truly understand the trends, what drives them, and how they pertain to your absorbent hygiene consumers
- [25:05] Consider how facets of these trends are manifesting in other industries and consider how they can be adapted to your own
Connect with Our Guest
You can find Ali Angus and Liying Qian on LinkedIn or leave them a message through our email at hygiene@bostik.com.If you’d like to read Euromonitor’s full Top 10 Global Consumer Trends 2023 report, you can visit their website.
You can also follow Euromonitor on:
Connect with the Attached to Hygiene Podcast Team
- Connect with host, Jack Hughes and follow Disposable Hygiene Adhesives on LinkedIn.
- Email us with questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes at hygiene@bostik.com or take our listener survey.
- Sign up for the Attached to Hygiene newsletter to receive industry topics such as sustainability, absorbent core, period care and access to exclusive whitepapers, glossaries and other materials every two weeks.
Additional Resources About Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability in Absorbent Hygiene:
*Please note that access to Bostik Academy: Absorbent Hygiene is only available to Bostik Customers and Partners.Host: Jack Hughes
Music by: Jonathan Boyle
Produced and edited by: Jack Hughes with help from Paul Andrews, Michele Tonkovitz, Emory Churness, Nikki Ackerman, and Green Onion Creative. Post production for Attached to Hygiene is done by PodcastBoutique.com.
Legal Disclaimer
Return to Attached to Hygiene Podcast Homepage
Disover more episodes on Industry and Consumer Trends!
