Kao Corporation senior managing executive officer Toru Nishiguchi checking out an exhibition booth at Kao’s Together for Tomorrow roadshow at IPC Shopping Centre in Selangor.
AS Kao celebrates its 50th anniversary since putting down roots in Malaysia, there are milestones to look back on and more importantly, new goals to look forward to over the next 50 years.
Kao which has been offering a wide range of beauty, home and sanitary care products reaffirms its commitment to the Malaysian market with exciting upcoming initiatives revolving around its Kirei Lifestyle Plan – the backbone of its environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) strategy.
The Kirei Lifestyle employs continuous innovation and imagination to meet the growing desires of living more sustainably, to help Malaysians “live a beautiful life inside and out,” according to Kao Corporation president and CEO Yoshihiro Hasebe.
This initiative was showcased at IPC Shopping Centre in Selangor from July 4 to 9 in conjunction with Kao’s Together for Tomorrow golden anniversary roadshow.
Environment care
Kao’s new revised slogan – Making Life Beautiful – also encapsulates an extended importance on the global environment in addition to enriching the lives of people, positioning to make Kao necessary to the world as well as providing for society.
Kao states that the company’s efforts in introducing product innovations to quantify the environmental impact of the company and its products are being considered through a lens of sustainability.
For its efforts, Kao has prosperously maintained its recognition as one of the most ethical companies in the world. It is the only Asian company to have made it on the list every year – 17 years consecutively – by leading US think-tank Ethisphere Institute.
Demonstrating its seriousness in reducing its carbon footprint, Kao has embarked on a long-term collaboration with CSR event management company Impactlution to reduce its products’ environmental footprint throughout the entirety of the product life cycle. This process is known as life cycle assessment and it is a standard of measuring how much impact a product would have on the environment – from material selection to waste disposal.
With an established ESG strategy and actionable plan in place, Kao aims to achieve 100% of its products attaining a low environmental footprint by this year.
Aside from focusing on achieving zero waste as part of the Kirei Lifestyle ESG strategy, the company also champions female empowerment, according to Kao Malaysia president Nishimaki Akira.
Female empowerment
Aside from focusing on achieving zero waste as part of the Kirei Lifestyle ESG strategy, the company also champions female empowerment, according to Kao Malaysia president Nishimaki Akira.
Internally, Kao Corporation is incorporating initiatives that provide support to female staff to readjust and find suitable balance between work and childcare, adds Hasebe.
Kao has established rapport with the community in empowering women through its Yakinlah Menjadi Remaja workshops that educate young girls on menstrual hygiene to gain themselves confidence and self-esteem.
This programme has expanded to include a collaboration with Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) called the Laurier School of Confidence, in which eligible students are rewarded RM1,500 in a National Education Savings Scheme (Simpan SSPN) account.
Kao has future plans to continue championing female empowerment across Malaysia through the enrichment programme Kao School of Confidence with their brands Biore, Liese and Laurier.
City clean-up
As part of its commitment to achieve the Kirei Lifestyle, Kao Malaysia is also collaborating with Impactlution to hold its first city clean-up for its employees to reduce street waste.
Dengue awareness
In line with its commitment to “protecting future lives,” Kao will soon introduce a regional health initiative called #Guard Our Future.
This initiative combines dengue fever awareness and making a positive impact on communities most at risk from dengue-borne diseases in a multi-faceted campaign.
