As we head into the end of the year and we look back at 2022, we are reminded of all the amazing trends and brands we saw at Natural Products Expo East this past September in Philadelphia, and how they are sure to shape 2023. We saw a lot of evolution in existing trends, and many new trends on the horizon. 

Hands down, the overarching trend of the show was sustainability. It is no longer enough for brands to just be sustainable; they need to be doing more, showing the consumers exactly how they are doing it, and being transparent and traceable.

With sustainability as the key focus, there were many trends within sustainability that shined through.

Reducing Waste

Matriark Foods is on a mission to reduce greenhouse gases, expand access to healthy food, and increase deliciousness with the world's first carbon neutral, upcycled tomato sauce. The company is accelerating the transformation of the food system by empowering consumers through the purchase of delicious, everyday staples. They are upcycling vegetable surplus into healthy products to advance the health of people and the environment.

Water is water. But GEN Z brings the flavorless transparent liquid in sustainable full aluminum bottles that can be resealed, refilled, and recycled, awakening generations to the problem with single-use plastic on planet Earth. Founded and led by industry veterans, real life boomers and millennials, and advised by a unique council board of Gen Z-ers, using humor and sarcasm, GEN Z breaks through zoomers’ high BS meter by balancing serious purpose and value with hilarious branding.

Nest Baby Diapers are eco-friendly diapers made with hand-selected sustainable materials that are free of harmful chemicals, lotions, perfume, and known allergens. Nest offers a soft, absorbent design that you and your baby will love. They are on a mission to reduce the long-term impact associated with disposable diapering. They have partnered with select diaper compost providers who can properly manage the disposal.

Viv for you V is revolutionizing period care with sustainable bamboo-based period care delivered to your door through a monthly subscription box. Each traditional pad takes roughly 800 years to break down, a startling fact that sprung the Viv founders into action. Created by eco-conscious menstruators who knew the way the world approached eco-conscious period care needed an overhaul, they made it their mission to place earth-friendly and toxin-free products into the hands of every menstruator.

Related: The Eco-Friendly Solution to “The Great Tampon Shortage of 2022”

Brewer's Foods is an upcycled food company driven to reduce food waste in the craft brewing industry. Upcycled grains are a valuable by-product from the beer making process. When making beer, brewers steep super high-quality grains, like barley, in water. They then strain this mixture, keeping the liquid to make beer and discard the "spent" grains. Turns out, these grains are still incredibly flavorful, and the steeping process actually unlocks valuable nutrients.

Regenerative & Transparent Farming

Fourth-generation family farmers, Painterland Sisters, Stephanie and Hayley, are on a mission to sustain their family’s farm for future generations. They aim to connect you directly with the source of your food: American farmers, uplifting other farmers and honoring Mother Nature through organic Icelandic Skyr yogurt that is lactose free, high in protein and full of probiotics. They want to change the perception of dairy farming in the U.S. through their healthy and delicious Skyr.

Nichols Farms, a fourth-generation family farm, takes pride in providing consumers with high-quality pistachios and almonds that feed both heart and soul. They understand the importance of staying true to their roots. A passion for farming runs deep in the family, and they take pride in their hands-on, transparent farming practices. They respect their community and land, and weigh integrity above all else. With more than 60 years of knowledge and experience, you can taste the difference in their nuts.

Smootch is on a mission to scale regenerative agriculture and promote well-being by partnering with independent farmers in Northern Maine to create a plant-powered sports drink with electrolytes and immune support made with whole grain regenerative oats. By creating beverages made from regenerative ingredients, Smootch is formulated to hydrate and replenish with the highest quality ingredients. It has less sugar and more nutrients, with whole grains and gut-friendly prebiotic fiber.

Grown right and prepared clean, Big Picture Foods’ small batch craft foods offer mouthwatering fermented flavors and restore the health of people and the planet. They are disrupting industrial agriculture to bring nutrient-dense, regenerative organic foods that will restore consumers and our planet. Regeneratively grown, sun ripened, and handpicked at the peak of perfection, the impact of Big Picture Foods extends far beyond delicious and nutritious.

Precision Fermentation

Tomorrow Farms is bringing the future of food right to your front door by leading the industry in innovation with Bored Cow. Bored Cow is an animal-free dairy milk made through fermentation so you can enjoy your childhood favorites without harmful and artificial ingredients while harnessing all the benefits of cow’s milk in a more sustainable way. Bored Cow is high in calcium, vitamin D & B12, and protein, yet is animal free, lactose free and sustainable for the environment.

The Urgent Company is changing the way things are made, starting with food. They’re discovering new applications for science and technology that make better, more sustainable products. Their portfolio of brands, which you probably recognize, makes it easy for consumers to take direct action on the climate crisis, whether they know it or not. And if the consumers don’t know it? That’s fine because The Urgent Company is thinking about it for them.

Plant Forward

From your favorite side dishes to flours from the world's four corners, count on Sideaway Foods for your next culinary adventure. Sideaway brings convenience, quality, and inspiration to your table. Sideaway Foods believes in the power of small changes. This is especially true when it comes to your health and the health of the environment. The good news is what’s good for people is also good for the planet. That’s why they are proud to offer products that make it easier to eat more plants.

Fall in love with veggies with I Eat My Greens chef-crafted, mouthwatering, plant-powered soups. Using fresh, simple, wholesome ingredients and leaving out the highly processed junk, you are able to eat more healthy, nutrient dense foods and get the veggie power. They carefully select, cook, and blend fresh veggies in small batches, creating a delicious mix of vitamins, minerals and fiber for you.

Eat the Change was created because the founders knew that there’s a more delicious and planet-friendly way to eat. The foods we choose represent our single biggest environmental impact. Created by activist entrepreneur, Seth Goldman, and celebrity chef, Spike Mendelsohn, they are on a mission to create chef-crafted and nutrient dense snacks that are kind to the planet. Snack to the Future!

Related: Chef Spike Mendelsohn, Plant-Based World Expo Keynote, Dishes on His Plant-Based Shift

High in nutrients and low in carbs, Munchrooms are a rich source of fiber, vitamin D, vitamins B2 & B3, potassium, copper, and the powerful antioxidant, selenium, which helps to strengthen the immune system and prevents damage to cells and tissues. Munchrooms are a 100% sustainable plant-based mushroom jerky that is crazy healthy, naturally filling and magically delicious.

Elevated Dairy Alternatives

Committed to sustainably sourcing ingredients and making a positive impact on the planet, Bettermoo(d) is cultivating a community that embodies a balanced plant-based lifestyle. Using a blend of herbs and vegetables that cows ate before the time of mass livestock production, and mixing it with organic oats, they created the “Moodrink.” To make it creamy, like rich dairy products, they added healthy plant fats and vitamins, so you don’t miss out on any of the flavor.

Plant-based, vegan, keto and flexitarian, Milkadamia’s buttery spreads, beverages, creamers and latte da are created and crafted so you can indulge in delicious recipes. Good for the birds, the bees, the trees, the soil, people, and the planet. They choose to farm, cook and live in a way that supports the earth and all that share it. When Milkadamia declares Moo is Moot, they are voicing the opinion of the millions who have switched out dairy foods from their diets.

When Culina founder, Erin, found out she had to remove dairy, sugar, and gluten (basically everything delicious) from her diet, she wanted clean non-dairy yogurt options—what's life without yogurt? Luckily, being obsessed with cooking helped her, and after many fails (a few epic ones), she created Culina, a coconut-based yogurt that was so good, family and friends kept stealing it from her fridge.

Plant-Based Indulgences

Mojave Mallows has cracked the code on plant-based marshmallows. They have created delicious, gourmet vegan marshmallows using kelp and soy protein. They are fluffier than the traditional marshmallow and use agave and dates for flavor, only using real, non-refined ingredients. Handmade in California, these marshmallows are available to be delivered straight to your door.

DEUX has taken the bad stuff out of cookie dough and added in good-for-you, functional ingredients that feel as good as they taste. Their recipes are vegan and gluten-free so you can eat them raw or bake it into warm, gooey cookies (if they even last that long). They believe in efficiency so that is why they keep all their products simple with high-quality ingredients and a boost of your essential vitamins and supplements. So, you no longer need to choose between taste and health.

Abby’s Better knows healthy snacking these days is hard. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice taste for health. That’s why they created their clean-label, snack brand. Founder Abby started Abby’s Better when she was just 15 years old. As a food lover and health enthusiast, she was constantly on the search for the perfect healthy alternative to sweet snacks. So, one summer day she started making her own nut butters and the rest is history!

Free-from foods

CLO-CLO Vegan Foods products are plant-based foods that are high in quality with exceptional taste. They are made without artificial ingredients, are gluten, soy, egg, diary, tree nut, shellfish, peanut, and fish free. So, no matter your allergen, you can enjoy these delicious products. Consumers are demanding a plant-based diet that tastes great and is good for the environment. CLO-CLO Vegan Foods is making a difference in the world for people with allergies that doesn’t skimp on taste or quality.

Related: The Scoop on the Free-From Food Category

Beyond sustainability and plant-based, there were many other interesting trends on the show floor. And don't miss more of the trends spotted at Expo East 2022! 

For more trends, read the latest from trendspotter Nancy Trent.