Five ways 2021 reached new heights (even amid the lows)

Ok 2021 wasn’t a record year in terms of our social lives, business (especially the arts and hospitality), UK politics or public health, but science, technology and the arts have continued to create and innovate with just as much passion, and 2021 has heralded some brilliant new concepts. Here are a few of the new ideas that blossomed during 2021.

WFH culture

The pandemic has necessitated most people staying at home and staying safe, so office teams have scattered. While working from home had its initial teething issues (“You’re muted, Nigel!”) and of course it isn’t ideal as a permanent solution, significant progress has been made. Bosses and boards have had to rethink the way their companies work, with a general shift towards making WFH when convenient more of a norm – which can only be a good thing. A reduction in people on the roads and using transport will have a definite impact on wildlife and the environment in general, stress levels can drop and families with children can make more time for them. Just as long as teams can still maintain relationships and people don’t become too isolated, a culture of being able to work from home is a positive development.

Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin and all of its cryptocurrency brothers have been an increasingly popular side hustle for a number of years, but for a long time the lack of regulation and a certain amount of confusion made investing in the industry a bit of a risk without some serious know-how. In 2021 governing bodies all over the world are getting on top of the sprawling new concept since the FATF (the intergovernmental Financial Action Task Force) created detailed guidance on the virtual markets in 2020. With the right research and recent bitcoin evolution, it’s now largely safe to embark on a crypto journey.

Biodegradable coffee pods

Coffee is enormously popular the world over, and a top-quality brew made at home is a necessity for many. Unfortunately when leading coffee companies started manufacturing machines that made individual cups using plastic pods, coffee drinking at home suddenly became a whole lot less green. Since then, many have opted for recyclable pods, but of course recycling takes time, effort and energy. That’s where Nexe Pod come in – the eco consumables company have created a plant-based coffee pod that breaks down in the environment, revolutionising pod coffee machines.

Organic wine

Speaking of the environment, organic wine is staging something of a revolution at the moment, with UK sales rising by nearly 50% in the past few years. Organic wines contain zero genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and no added sulfites, with a winemaking process that’s great for promoting biodiversity and sustainable farming methods. And if that’s not enough to convince wine drinkers, the generally lower alcohol and sugar content in organic wines makes for a much less oppressive hangover too.

Online theatre, music and art

Nobody can deny that the arts industry has taken a massive hit during the pandemic, but we’ve also seen an impressive drive for innovation to make theatre, music and art accessible, even when many are stuck at home. Live theatre, concerts and exhibitions ground to a halt in 2020, but necessity is the mother of invention, and as the year went on it was clear that creators were going to keep creating one way or another. Online offerings have really come into their own in 2021, with immersive theatre experiences, high-quality streamed concerts and remote access to art galleries becoming more and more available.

All in all, while the “pandemic era” hasn’t been a highlight in history, it’s clear that people continue to innovate, and progress is there to be had. It’s not all doom and gloom!

The editorial unit