According to a survey in the UK market, British families are throwing away 1.4 million bananas that are perfectly good to eat every day.

Supermarket Sainsbury’s has found that one in three British people throw away bananas if there is a single bruise (擦伤) or mark on the skin. More than one in ten customers also admit throwing away the fruit if there is any green on the skin. The supermarket is making efforts to reduce food waste. It’s pushing British shoppers to make bread and desserts (甜点) out of bruised and blackened bananas.

Starting from this week, Sainsbury’s will launch hundreds of “banana rescue” stations to encourage shoppers to give bruised bananas a chance. The stations will provide tips and ideas on how to bake with bananas or use them in drinks, and the stations are already set up in 500 stores nationwide.

The supermarket’s boss, Paul Crewe, said Sainsbury’s wants to encourage customers to use the fruit in different ways. “We are determined to help shoppers reduce the number of bananas going to waste at home too,” he said. “61% of Britons admit they never use the bruised bananas in baking, so we also want to encourage customers to use their fruit in different ways,” he added.

According to a new survey, most children are now working longer hours than their parents for over 46 hours a week. The research shows that parents are creating crazy schedules for their children with after school activities in addition to school tasks. This means children are actually working harder than the average parents who only work for 37.5 hours a week.

The average child already completes 30 hours and 50 minutes a week at school from Monday to Friday, as well as seven hours and 51 minutes of clubs and homework. Actively reading with parents daily takes a further five hours and 49 minutes a week. The Center Parcs study of 2,000 parents also found the average child also helps with housework for up to an hour and 37 minutes each week.

Colin Whaley, marketing director from Center Pares, said, “We made this report to further understand family life and what challenges parents and children are facing and overcoming, so we can always make sure we're offering what they need. What has undoubtedly come out of this is the need for families — parents and children alike — to take time out to relax.”

In response to the findings, Center Parcs let child psychologist (心理学家) Dr. Sam Wass to develop a Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for free time which needs three hours and 51 minutes every day. The RDA provides a variety of free-time activities, which will allow children to use their imagination and develop creative thinking. The RDA really creates the best environment to relax and the best short break possible for children.

Data shows that Chinese brands are winning increasingly more consumers in recent years, especially among the younger generation. The trend is usually called “guochao”, or “Chinese fashion trend”, which has driven demand for domestic brands and products that often include Chinese traditional culture and style.

Its main followers are millennial born between 1980-1995 and Generation Z born between 19 2010. Unlike the older generations who could have attachment to Western culture and brands, Chinese youth were born and raised when the country’s economy and wealth were taking off. The younger generation tends to have strong and genuine confidence in their national identity and traditional culture.

To woo young customers, these domestic names are making products with high quality and appeal by strengthening research and marketing efforts. An often-cited case is Li-Ning, China’s homegrown sportswear brand that is named after one of the nation’s most famous athletes. The company almost broke up after a failed rebranding in 2011 when it went through three years of losses after losing older customers while failing to attract younger buyers. It was not until the 2018 New York Fashion Week that the brand made its huge comeback. Its trendy look, bold use of color and traditional Chinese culture elements were showcased on the stage so that it immediately grabbed attention at home and abroad.

The trend to embrace domestic brands has spread rapidly to various sectors and products as well, from food and drinks to clothing and electronic vehicles. While many Chinese brands have been gaining significant market share at home in recent years, Others are posting an increasingly stronger global presence. In 2020, China’s tech giant Xiaomi reported its most profitable year on the back of expanded sales and global market share. Revenues (零售) from Haier Smart Home’s overseas business last year also marked an all-time high, ranking top list in global market share for major home appliance. Although some brands still face plenty of challenges ahead to meet the sophisticated needs of customers and regulations in overseas markets, most domestic products are still quite competitive in the international market.