Here they are! These 80 products stood out for their innovation, inspiration and integrity across 23 categories—plus two Consumer Choice categories—enough to be named finalists for this special Spark Change edition of the NEXTY Awards.

New Hope Network staff

August 26, 2020

25 Slides

Although the natural products industry wasn't able to convene at a traditional Natural Products Expo in 2020, product innovation has not slowed down a bit. And with more than 725 product nominations, the Spark Change NEXTY Awards are celebrating the best that the natural products industry has to offer this year. 

The New Hope Network preliminary round judging team had the monumental task of whittling down all those products to a select few finalists across 23 categories. Members of the New Hope Network content team, standards team and NEXT Data and Insights team met to safely and effectively determine the finalists (yes, with masks, gloves and social distancing to boot!). The competition was stiff and the judging process took an entire week, but in the end these 80 products rose to the top. Even during COVID-19 there is no stopping the innovation, inspiration and integrity that consistently blooms out of the natural products industry. Our teams were blown away by the incredible set of products and evolution we saw represented in this special edition of the NEXTY Awards. 

In addition to the finalists of our flagship branch of the NEXTY Awards, we're also recognizing six finalists for our NEXTY Consumer Choice Awards—an extension of this awards program that allows brands to have their product sampled by 1,000 targeted health consumers, and in turn receive valuable product ratings and feedback. Learn more about the new Consumer Choice Awards.

Related:The 6 guest NEXTY Awards judges for Spark Change

Be sure to head over to the Spark Change platform to check out the NEXTY Awards showcase page and meet with many of the brands in their Product Discovery Zones.

Next, we have invited a stellar panel of guest judges to help determine the single winning product in each category. The NEXTY winners will be announced live within the Spark Change platform on October 7, 2020. 

What are the NEXTY Awards? 

The NEXTY Awards recognize the pinnacle of excellence in the natural products industry, elevating impactful brands and products that inspire a healthy, sustainable future for people and planet. Twice a year, New Hope Network and industry judges gather to celebrate products coming from the brands that are driving the natural products industry forward.

How are the products judged? 

The judging for the NEXTY Awards is a two-tier process consisting of a preliminary judging and a final judging. In the preliminary judging round, the New Hope Network content, marketing, standards and NEXT Data and Insights teams sample and review each nominated product, narrowing the field down to a handful of finalists in each category. In the final judging round, the New Hope Network team is joined by a rotating panel of industry judges to select the winners. For both rounds of judging, the judges evaluate products using the following criteria: 

  • Innovation: The product or company shows truly creative thinking and execution (not a "me too" approach); uses a newly discovered or rediscovered ingredient, flavor profile, technique or process; fills a legitimate (though perhaps not yet recognized) natural products market need or niche; and/or is predicted to have long-term impact in the industry. 

  • Inspiration: The product or company adheres to an unusual or new mission targeting an issue or problem not yet widely addressed; its message/mission is clearly communicated, focused and effective, with real, wide-reaching potential or already proven positive social or environmental impact. 

  • Integrity: The product or company takes a creative, next-gen approach to clean ingredient(s), sustainability, transparency, traceability and safety/security.

How can I learn more about the NEXTY Awards?

For more information about the NEXTY Awards, head to the NEXTY Awards website. Nominations for the 2021 Expo West NEXTY Awards will open in December.  

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