CBD Trends for 2023
The close of 2022 is an ideal time to reflect on the past year and an exciting chance to predict how the CBD world will evolve in 2023.
Since CBD first entered our lives, it started taking over an ever-increasing segment of the wellness market. Nowadays, UK consumers who choose CBD, commonly do so to help their body deal with pain and inflammation as well as stress and anxiety.
The past years have been brimming with stressful situations. Increasing numbers of consumers have trusted CBD to deal with what life throws at them, including Covid-19.
The global CBD market reached $3bn in 2021 and is expected to increase tenfold by 2031. People are getting more informed about CBD’s potential benefits and the prospects for the cannabidiol market in 2023 and the coming years look exciting.
As we look ahead, it is important for consumers and industry professionals alike to understand what the future of CBD looks like. Here’s an overview of some of the biggest trends set to impact the industry in 2023.
What should we expect in the CBD world in 2023?
The expansion of the CBD market
More CBD products hit the market every year, and this trend is expected to continue in 2023. Novel ideas about CBD consumption show up every day. While CBD edibles are the largest consumption category, there is space for improvement and creativity.
Consumers want to be sure about the product they are consuming. Because until a few decades ago CBD was bundled with cannabis as an illegal substance, many consumers are still hesitant about trying CBD. More and better information helps the public understand CBD better and give it a try.
2023, CBD novices will appreciate lower dosages, smaller packages, and clear labelling, including simple instructions about how to take CBD.
CBD brands have to cater to very different market segments—something that creates opportunities for new products with very diverse audience targets.
CBD beverages
Just like in 2022, the CBD beverage market is expected to remain strong.
With the end of the acute phase of the pandemic, people are going out again to celebrate and socialize. Cocktails, premium spirits, beers, and wines are seeing their sales increase. It’s inevitable that CBD beverages will follow this trend.
Alcohol-free beverages with CBD show an upward trend. Moderate alcohol consumption is becoming part of people’s wellness routines and self-care. Alcohol-free beverages with CBD offer the pleasure of a beverage with the botanical potential of CBD. This combination appeals greatly to people who are looking for a healthier way of living.
CBD is fat-soluble but doesn’t mix well with water. To maximize bioavailability, CBD drink manufacturers are expanding into CBD emulsions. An emulsion combines two components that don’t normally mix, such as oil and water. In the case of CBD, the emulsion’s centre is made of CBD dissolved in fat, which is then encapsulated in water. The human body recognizes the outer shell because it’s made of water and absorbs CBD better.
The drinks industry is perfecting emulsions to make better use of CBD and help incorporate CBD in drinks in a more stable and consistent way.
CBD for wellness
There is a lot of talk about physical and mental wellness. Stressful events can be quite challenging and there is a general tendency towards natural solutions to wellness problems.
CBD ticks the boxes for all these demands. It is a botanical product and industrial hemp can deliver CBD and other cannabinoids of great value, especially when CBD farming is done under careful guidance from experts.
The wellness market is expanding because people need to feel better about themselves. The wellness industry in the UK is estimated to be more than $6 billion with healthy prospects for further growth.
Spas, body care, and mental relaxation are the areas where consumers and brands are focusing the most. Healthy eating, exercise, and natural living are becoming mainstream and CBD is taking a chunk of this immense market segment, with products ranging from CBD bath bombs to CBD topical creams.
An important aspect is that consumers need to have valuable and accurate information about CBD consumption and its potential benefits. As people become more empowered with better knowledge, they start accessing the world of CBD.
CBD for pets
There are more than 35 million pets in the UK and 62% of British households have pets. Dogs are the most popular pets with cats coming second. Many people take in pets to help them with their mental health. The pet industry in the UK is estimated to be £4.5 billion; a trend that is expected to increase in the next years.
Pet owners are becoming increasingly aware of CBD as a potential help with pets’ behavioural problems. Dogs who get separation anxiety or are too hyperactive or cats who display nervous and stressful behaviours may benefit from CBD treats and other CBD-enriched foods.
CBD has entered the human world and is slowly making its way into the pet industry. Reputable brands with solid CBD products offer pet owners the possibility to assist their four-legged friends in leading healthier, happier lives. Since pet ownership is expected to increase, it is safe to assume that CBD for pets will follow suit.
Better ways to use hemp byproducts
As a world, we are better aware of the need to leave a smaller footprint on our environment.
CBD is produced from the flowers and leaves of industrial hemp, which is where CBD, cannabinoids, and terpenes reside. The problem is that the rest of the plant is discarded and there is growing concern about the need to use more efficiently such by-products.
As more fields are dedicated to industrial hemp, these byproducts will obviously increase in quantity. Hence the search to find better uses for what is left behind.
Hemp textiles
One possibility concerns cotton. Climate change is making cotton growing difficult. Because cotton requires large quantities of water to grow, there is increasing concern about its long-term prospects.
Hemp fibres have long been used for sails, textiles, and rope, so textiles manufacturers are looking into hemp by-products to produce clothes, towels, and other garments that up until now were made of cotton. Hemp displays similar—if not better—qualities to cotton and hemp fibres are a great way to use hemp by-products after the flowers and leaves have been harvested.
Hemp fuel
The past year has shown us that we need to think ahead and move away from fossil fuels and other polluting substances. Research in 2023 will focus on how to leave a smaller footprint after CBD production and how to use industrial hemp in novel and helpful ways.
Hemp may help the move to a world with lesser use of fossil fuels. Researchers are interested in ways to make hemp a durable construction material so that we use less concrete and other polluting oil-based materials.
The emergence of other cannabinoids
As consumers learn more about CBD, they get to know that hemp is more than just CBD. While CBD is the most abundant cannabinoid, there are over a hundred minor cannabinoids, each with its own unique properties.
Consumers who have already tried CBD are looking for ways to optimize their wellness routine. Full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD products are expected to gain further recognition because they contain all the benefits of hemp cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Minor cannabinoids such as CBN, CBC, CBG, and CBDA carry their own health potential and consumers may wish to explore them besides full-spectrum CBD products.
CBD cafés
After first appearing in the United States and Hong Kong, CBD cafés could be the next big trend across the world.
CBD cafés focus on CBD-infused drinks and foods. They aim at enhancing people’s wellness through the consumption of CBD along with healthy and wholesome foods. Consumers can either enjoy their CBD-infused food as takeaway or consume it on-site.
CBD cafés are a great way for people to share their common passion in a dedicated location. They typically offer teas, coffees, drinks, energy drinks, chocolates, pies, and other delicacies that have been infused with CBD.
CBD cafés matter because they are a sign that CBD is becoming more mainstream and people are comfortable displaying their CBD lifestyle in public.
A move towards marijuana legalisation
A lot of attention has been paid lately to marijuana, which still remains illegal in the UK. According to a recent poll, the British public is split when it comes to cannabis legalisation: 38% of respondents were against while 35% were in favour.
At the same time, research and clinical trials are trying to assess the potential health benefits of cannabis. In addition, as more countries are moving towards legalising the medicinal and/or recreational use of marijuana, the public is increasingly viewing cannabis in a more positive light.
The shifting attitudes towards marijuana are exemplified by the fact that cannabis is the most common illegal drug used in the UK. According to statistics, 43% of Britons aged 25 to 49 have already tried marijuana. Unsurprisingly, 36% of Britons aged 25 to 49 support the legalization of marijuana, with older people being more reluctant about such a decision.
While cannabis legalization will probably not happen in the UK in 2023, the trend is towards a more open attitude towards marijuana consumption and a more accepting view.
CBD trends
CBD-infused products can be found everywhere from health food stores and pharmacies to coffee shops and wellness centers. From oils and tinctures to edibles, CBD products are being hailed as natural remedies for everything from anxiety to insomnia.
The use of CBD will only continue to grow, with some estimates expecting the CBD market to almost quadruple by 2023. If you wish to join those trying CBD for the first time, make sure that you choose the right CBD product for you!
Nicholas Rossis, PhD is a specialized, NSF-trained writer who has written hundreds of posts on CBD and nutritional supplements. His work combines critical acclaim with the analysis of the latest news, studies, research, and legal developments in the world of CBD, providing readers with valuable data and insights.
