Skip to Navigation Skip to Posts Skip to Content
Protein XYZ Protein XYZ
  • Home
  • - Membership
  • Become a Member
  • Book a Demo
  • Sign-in
  • - Sections
  • Seeds
  • Supplement
  • Forums
  • Reports
  • Briefings
  • - Network
  • Agency
  • Studios
  • Store
  • - XYZ
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
Socials
Become a MEMBER
Protein XYZ Protein XYZ
  • Home
  • Tags
A Compost Theory of Culture
Briefings

A Compost Theory of Culture

Protein Protein May 06, 2025 4 min read
  • Share on X/Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Email

Our inaugural BRAND BRIEFING last Thursday explored six months of SEEDS and distilled them into three key themes, five cultural shifts – and a rich heap of cultural compost.

A Compost Theory of Culture

In the process of reaping what we’ve sown, we started to notice that culture is beginning to look a lot like compost. Because amid the muck, slop, brain rot and enshittification, something else is taking root: a recalibration and rewilding of the past, and the fertilisation of more hopeful futures.

We call this A Compost Theory of Culture.

It’s a way of understanding this moment as one of both cultural atrophy and regeneration. It challenges the idea that innovation is always about progress. Instead, it suggests that sometimes innovation is about decomposition – breaking things down to make space for something new to grow.

To access the full presentation — which covers what's changing in culture, who's still relevant and what all this means for brands — as well as watch the recording and benefit from the additional research resources, you'll need a BRAND MEMBERSHIP:

TELL ME MORE

To give you a little taste, here are the four seasonal observations that underpin our theory:


This post is for MEMBERS only

Become a MEMBER to enjoy full access to all SEEDS, FORUMS, REPORTS and BRIEFINGS.

Become a MEMBER

Already have an account? Sign in

Want to go deeper?

Get a consultation session with a Protein AGENCY strategist who will help you to interpret what this SEED means for your brand or category:

Become a MEMBER
Protein XYZ Protein XYZ

A cultural intelligence platform powered by a decentralised research community of 400+ global experts.

  • Home
  • - Membership
  • Become a Member
  • Book a Demo
  • Sign-in
  • - Sections
  • Seeds
  • Supplement
  • Forums
  • Reports
  • Briefings
  • - Network
  • Agency
  • Studios
  • Store
  • - XYZ
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute

© 2026 Protein XYZ Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Protein® is a registered trademark of Protein Holdings Ltd.
Feed
Seeds

Reset To Real

Jan 29, 2026 5 min read
Seeds

Protein in Print

Jan 27, 2026 2 min read
Seeds

Built By Accident

Jan 22, 2026 5 min read
Featured Post Seeds

Dystopia Bait

Jan 20, 2026 4 min read
Seeds

What Makes a Good Collab?

Jan 15, 2026 4 min read
Seeds

Let Me Explain

Jan 13, 2026 4 min read
Seeds

2025 Reflections

Dec 19, 2025 6 min read
Seeds

Brand Britain Evolved

Dec 16, 2025 8 min read
Seeds

Centreless Culture

Dec 11, 2025 6 min read
Featured Post Paid Post Forums

Have We Reached Peak Merch?

Dec 9, 2025 10 min read
Load More You've reached the end of the list
  • Home
  • Become a Member
  • Book a Demo
  • Sign-in
  • Seeds
  • Supplement
  • Forums
  • Reports
  • Home
  • - Membership
  • Become a Member
  • Book a Demo
  • Sign-in
  • - Sections
  • Seeds
  • Supplement
  • Forums
  • Reports
  • Briefings
  • - Network
  • Agency
  • Studios
  • Store
  • - XYZ
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
Socials
Seeds

Reset To Real

Jan 29, 2026 5 min read
Seeds

Protein in Print

Jan 27, 2026 2 min read
Seeds

Built By Accident

Jan 22, 2026 5 min read
Featured Post Seeds

Dystopia Bait

Jan 20, 2026 4 min read
Seeds

What Makes a Good Collab?

Jan 15, 2026 4 min read
Seeds

Let Me Explain

Jan 13, 2026 4 min read
Seeds

2025 Reflections

Dec 19, 2025 6 min read
Seeds

Brand Britain Evolved

Dec 16, 2025 8 min read
Seeds

Centreless Culture

Dec 11, 2025 6 min read
Featured Post Paid Post Forums

Have We Reached Peak Merch?

Dec 9, 2025 10 min read
Load More You've reached the end of the list
Become a MEMBER