Inhabitants of the future

What is it

Inhabitants of the Future is an initiative of BBK Kuna created to give voice to citizens in debates about the future. In a context where experts and institutions make predictions about how the future will be, this project seeks to incorporate the real opinions, expectations and concerns of the people who will experience it.

Through studies, representative surveys and participatory experiences, we explore how key aspects of the future are perceived and desired in topics such as work, food, fashion or cities. Because only from a shared and committed vision can we build a sustainable, inclusive and just tomorrow.

Why it is important

• Because today’s decisions shape tomorrow.
• Because citizens must be an active part of change processes.
• Because we need to understand and anticipate how we want to live, produce and care for ourselves.
• This is the only way to make development truly sustainable and humane.

The future of work

The life project of most people is marked by work. However, we are facing a scenario of profound transformation: digitalization, sustainability, aging, new production models… In this context, BBK Kuna has promoted a collective reflection to place the voice of citizens at the centre of the debate.

Work and time
80% of the population reject the idea of working beyond the age of 70.
The ideal age for retirement, according to the majority, is 63.
We are expected to work fewer hours in the future.
59% support introducing an unconditional universal income.

Work and space
Teleworking will be common, according to 58%.
80% believe that digital nomads will be standardized.
Companies could invade our private digital space.

Towards a greener future of work
63% support the European Green Deal as a means to sustainable jobs.
The boom of social impact startups is expected.
80% believe that merit will outweigh contacts.
Most believe that the gender pay gap will disappear by 2050.

Digitalisation and robotisation
Robots are seen as allies in eliminating heavy tasks.
88% would not accept that their faith was an AI.
46% believe that technology will not create new jobs.

What professions await us?
There is a great lack of knowledge about the jobs of the future.
Over 70% have not heard of professions such as:

Waste detector

• Carbon Footprint Specialist
• Data detective
• Walker/Talker

The future of food

What will we eat in 2050?
The second edition of Inhabitants of the Future focuses on food as a key axis for sustainability, health and social welfare. Through a survey of 1,000 people in the Basque Country, the study gathers the expectations, desires and concerns of citizens about how our eating habits will change in the coming decades.

From what we eat to how we cook, share or buy: food says a lot about us and our way of life. This edition seeks to put citizens at the center of the debate on a fairer, healthier and more planet-friendly food system.

Alliances with impact: Bisubi Foundation
This edition has had the collaboration of the Bisubi Foundation, which brings together more than 150 chefs from Bizkaia committed to transforming the territory through gastronomy. Through their work they promote a more sustainable food from a social, economic and environmental point of view, getting involved in projects with an impact on the environment.

An experience that connects data and emotions
To bring the results of the study to life, BBK Kuna and Bisubi organized an innovative experience, “Dining BBKData of the Future with Bisubi”.
21 citizens selected by lottery participated in a dinner of the future at the Artxanda Hotel and Catering School. Dishes prepared by Michelin Star chefs and neighborhood restaurateurs with the same purpose: to inspire a change in eating habits through taste, environment and reflection.

The Future of Fashion

Citizens reflect on sustainability, conscious consumption and new ways of relating to clothing.
The third edition of Inhabitants of the Future focuses on a key industry for the planet and identity: fashion. Through a survey of 1,000 people from the Basque Country, we explore expectations and wishes for the future around textile sustainability, circularity and transparency in the production and consumption of clothing.

More than 70% of the population recognize fashion as an essential part of their identity, but are also concerned about its environmental and social impact. This edition analyzes how future textile consumption habits are projected and what role citizens, brands and public policies play in this transformation.

Textile industry of the future
A large majority is in favour of more ethical and green production:
72% want clothing made under decent working conditions.
54% expect clothing to be completely biodegradable.
73% want fewer collections and more durability.

The store of tomorrow
Citizens project more conscious spaces:
53% dream of clothing repair shops.
50% ask for more local clothing brands.
46% of young people imagine a fashion without gender and including more sizes.
More than 50% want labels that help identify the environmental impact of each garment.
Industria textil del futuro

Circular fashion and second life
The demand for textile re-use and recycling is increasing:
60% request more containers for clothing collection.
58% want to be able to sell, exchange or leave clothes in stores.
43% advocate labels that indicate how to recycle each garment at the end of its useful life.

Role of the state and regulation
Citizens also require institutional commitment:
67% want polluting clothing to pay more taxes.
75% support banning animal farms for the textile industry.
More than 50% believe that brands should warn about the environmental impact of their products.

New trends
The fashion of the future points to a profound transformation:
1 out of 4 people approve of the rental of clothes.
37% claim for carbon footprint labels.
69% want a fairer distribution of profits in the industry.
35% rely on local production from Basque textile workshops.

The Future of Cities

Technology, sustainability and well-being will mark the transformation of our urban spaces.
The fourth edition of Inhabitants of the Future places us in a constantly evolving urban horizon. Technological, environmental and social changes are reshaping the priorities of our cities, and citizens are beginning to imagine how they want to live that future.

The study reflects on the main challenges of cities: mobility, digitalization, housing, public spaces, sustainability and governance. Through a participatory perspective, the values, expectations and tensions that will mark the urban design of the coming decades are analyzed.

Smart and connected cities
Digitisation becomes a structural pillar of the urban environment:
Connectivity and data analysis will improve services such as transport, energy or waste management.
More efficient cities are emerging, but dilemmas such as privacy or digital control of public life arise.

Healthy and sustainable spaces
The pandemic has transformed the perception of urban space:
Growing demand for green spaces, open-air spaces and well-being-oriented urban planning.
Sustainable mobility and clean energy are seen as key to reducing the ecological footprint of cities.

Active and resilient citizens
The urban future will not only be technological, but also humane:
Resilience is an essential value in the face of climate, social or health crises.
Citizen participation in decision-making, openness to diversity and the design of more inclusive cities is promoted.

Emerging challenges
The report raises key questions for imagining tomorrow’s city:
Are we willing to give up privacy for security?
What elements should be part of our streets?