Comfort, care, and beauty. Since its inception in Malaysia, Kao Corporation has provided all of this and more to generations of families through its extensive line of premier beauty, home, and sanitary care products. In addition, to commemorate its 50th anniversary in Malaysia, Kao has today reinforced its commitment to Malaysians through a number of exciting activities aimed at bringing its Kirei Lifestyle Plan closer to its consumers. The Together for Tomorrow Roadshow will start off these efforts at IPC from July 4th to July 9th.
“In the face of global challenges like climate change, aging societies, resource scarcity and the management of materials such as plastics, consumers around the world – including here in Malaysia – have expressed the growing desire for a gentler and more sustainable way of living. This is what we at Kao have named the Kirei Lifestyle, which is the backbone of our environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy,” said Mr. Toru Nishiguchi, Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer President, Consumer Products of Global Kao Corporation. “Through continuous innovation and imagination, we are hence committed to helping consumers in Malaysia and everywhere else in the world to live a beautiful life inside and out.”
Making Life Beautiful on the Inside and Outside
Kao’s business attitude has always been influenced by its corporate philosophy—The Kao Way, which incorporates values such as ‘We act with boldness.’ The Kirei Lifestyle Plan updates this attitude with a clear vision of the future and the role that Kao Corporation must play for its customers, communities, and the world at large. These goals are further boosted through initiatives aligned with various sustainability goals such as decarbonization, achieving zero waste, conserving water, and preventing air and water pollution.
The Ethisphere Institute, a major US think-tank, has recognized Kao as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for 17 straight years, making it the only Asian firm to make the list every year. KAO’s Kirei Lifestyle concept goes far beyond environmental issues, including efforts to meet health and social needs.
In support of its commitment to ‘Protecting Future Lives,’ a recent public health initiative involves the introduction of the Bioré Guard Mos Block Serum mosquito repellent in Thailand alongside its #Guard Our Future project, a multi-faceted campaign that combines dengue fever awareness campaigns as well as field testing and research. By safeguarding people’s skin, Kao hopes to save future lives and make a meaningful contribution to areas most at danger from mosquito-borne illnesses. #GuardOurFuture is set to spread across much of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, in the near future.
Empowering Young Malaysian Women
On social problems, Kao has long been known for its efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion – notably the role of women not just inside the firm, its subsidiaries, and affiliates, but also around the world.
“Based on our core value of walking the right path, and building upon the foundation of respecting human rights, Kao has created a diversity, equity and inclusion policy with the aim of allowing individual values and talents to shine brighter,” added Mr. Nishiguchi . “In particular, Kao believes that women’s empowerment is essential for the company to grow, given that diversity is one of the most crucial aspects of human capital. Based on this idea, we are committed to leading the way in this area with initiatives that include the development of potential future leaders and providing support for balancing work and childcare.”
Kao’s initiatives to promote and encourage women have long taken root among its Malaysian community operations. Kao, for example, has been a friend to young Malaysian girls since 1994, with efforts focused to helping and teaching young girls through their period hygiene seminars Yakinlah Menjadi Remaja.
Recently, the program has been expanded in conjunction with Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) as a major delivery partner, in keeping with Kao’s commitment to promoting confidence as a crucial aspect in a woman’s growth and success. The ‘Laurier School of Confidence’ project intends to not only build confidence in young women but also to award qualifying students with RM1,500 in the form of a National Education Savings Scheme (Simpan SSPN) account.
Celebrating 50 Years of Caring for Malaysians
As Kao Malaysia hits the road to commemorate its 50th year of giving care to Malaysians, it has a plethora of interesting activities planned to bring its Kirei Lifestyle plan closer to consumers.
In addition to the roadshow, Kao Malaysia will work with NGOs such as the Biji-Biji Initiative and Impaclution to achieve the Kirei Lifestyle. Among these collaborations is its first city clean-up engagement, in which Kao Malaysia employees clean up the streets.
Long-term, Kao will work with Impaclution to reduce the environmental footprint of its products throughout the product life cycle using a process known as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) – a standard for objectively measuring how much impact products have on the environment, from material selection to waste disposal, and everything in between.
“The coming months will shape up to be very substantive for us at Kao Malaysia as we take further steps in incorporating action points in our Kirei Lifestyle ESG strategy – chief achievements among which includes achieving Zero Waste and championing girls’ and womens’ empowerment in particular with the ongoing KAO School of Confidence empowered by BIORE, LIESE and LAURIER” added Mr. Nishimaki. “With the guidance of our Kirei Lifestyle Plan, we aim to develop our business, provide better products and services for consumers and society so that we may together create a beautiful life, today and beyond.”
For more information on Kao’s Kirei Lifestyle Plan, please visit :
https://www.kao.com/global/en/sustainability/klp/