The ‘Father of Modern Marketing,’ Philip Kotler, as soon as stated that an incredible model have to be full of goodwill, with its final aim being to create not solely enterprise worth but in addition societal worth. Against the backdrop of the widespread consensus on inexperienced, low-carbon, and sustainable improvement, emphasizing the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) features of sustainable improvement has turn out to be a world development, even evolving into the second monetary report for firms, as firms attempt to create each environmental and social worth.As ESG turns into a brand new development throughout numerous industries in China, an growing variety of firms are placing the ESG rules into follow. Specifically within the magnificence and cosmetics business, there’s a pure alignment with ESG traits corresponding to low air pollution, low power consumption, a give attention to advertising and marketing, and a dedication to analysis and improvement.In latest years, as the wonder and cosmetics business has shifted from amount to high quality, “sustainable magnificence” and “pure magnificence” have emerged as new sizzling matters. With the wonder business coming into a interval of uncooked materials dividends and the shift in analysis and improvement in direction of tendencies like biotechnology, the ESG-driven drive within the magnificence and cosmetics business has turn out to be notably evident. Green magnificence and sustainable improvement have additionally turn out to be main matters, drawing consideration and discussions from main firms within the international magnificence and cosmetics business.The overarching framework of JALA Group’s ESG sustainable improvement philosophy is centered round inexperienced magnificence. Sustainable improvement is a theme launched by JALA at this 12 months’s International Cosmetics Conference. While advancing its enterprise, JALA is devoted to benefiting humanity by means of philanthropic endeavors, committing to the safety, inheritance, and innovation of conventional Chinese tradition, in addition to selling schooling and environmental conservation. Ensuring the sustainable improvement of our mission is the whole lot of our sustainable improvement philosophy, Dr. Jenny CHEN, General Manager of Public Affairs of JALA Group, shared.JALA Group, established in 2001, is a digitally-driven biotech magnificence enterprise that has efficiently incubated and nurtured well-known home magnificence manufacturers corresponding to MAYSU, CHANDO, Botanical Wisdom, SpringSummer, and BIORRIER. Its new manufacturers embody the fragrance model ASSASSINA and the maternity model imine.As a number one consultant of Chinese magnificence enterprises, what efforts has JALA made in ESG improvement? What experiences can JALA share with the business by way of ESG improvement? How ought to home magnificence manufacturers navigate the trail of inexperienced and sustainable improvement? As a participant within the worldwide market, how can Chinese magnificence enterprises current their “inexperienced enterprise card” of ESG to the worldwide market? Below is an excerpt from EqualOcean’s dialog with Dr. Jenny CHEN, General Manager of Public Affairs of JALA Group.The Next Trend within the Beauty Industry: Green BeautyEqualOcean: As somebody with a few years of expertise within the magnificence business, what new adjustments and tendencies do you see within the magnificence business now?Dr. Jenny CHEN: There are roughly two tendencies. The first development is that persons are paying increasingly consideration to sustainable improvement, envisioning a sustainable future for magnificence by means of ESG.This 12 months, now we have put ahead a vital core idea: “Green Beauty for a Sustainable Future.” I can even see your complete business thriving. Beauty is an business centered round aesthetics and well being, and it’s a giant industrial cluster. From worldwide manufacturers to main magnificence enterprises in China, everyone seems to be speaking a couple of widespread theme, which is ESG. The three letters of ESG signify: Environmental features – inexperienced packaging, inexperienced uncooked supplies, inexperienced manufacturing; Social accountability – take care of folks, together with workers and customers, advocating for gender equality; Corporate governance – digital transformation and mental property safety. We consider that your complete magnificence business is shifting upwards and in direction of magnificence.The second development is constantly offering customers with higher services by means of technological innovation.Compared to the Japanese, Korean, and Western markets, there’s nonetheless a number of room for progress in per capita consumption within the Chinese market. Taking skincare for example, from the unique three-step skincare routine to the present eleven-step skincare routine, customers nonetheless have a number of room for enchancment on this discipline alone, not to point out the gradual transition from skincare to make-up and perfume. We constantly create worth for customers from the attitude of the model. Of course, there’s presently dialogue about matters associated to consumption upgrades and downgrades, however so long as we are able to present higher services, I do not assume there’s a distinction between consumption upgrading or downgrading. Therefore, we’ll see that your complete market nonetheless has very robust progress potential for the wonder business.ESG just isn’t solely a philosophy but in addition a practiceEqualOcean: What would be the focus of ESG improvement sooner or later for the wonder business?Dr. Jenny CHEN: I believe the ESG improvement within the magnificence business first wants to have business consensus or requirements, based mostly on a particular framework for the wonder business.JALA’s ESG reporting framework is predicated on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and a few core points to give attention to throughout the three areas of ESG. We share a number of the efforts and practices JALA has made by way of environmental sustainability, social accountability, and company governance.EqualOcean: What are the traits or ache factors of the wonder business by way of ESG, and what challenges has JALA Group confronted in setting ESG objectives and advancing them?Dr. Jenny CHEN: For Chinese cosmetics, I believe there are three core competencies: product energy, technological energy, and model energy, that are essential and all associated to innovation.The first is product energy. How can merchandise change with the digital age and client calls for, creating customized merchandise? There is a excessive demand for product innovation. Novel merchandise and applied sciences have at all times been a problem for all cosmetics. For instance, the setting spray that has been common on Xiaohongshu just lately is significantly better than setting powder. Through this instance, we discover that client calls for are continuously altering. When the cognitive boundaries of every client proceed to rise, we’ll discover that client calls for have gotten extra customized, and product innovation is essential.The second is technological innovation, corresponding to elements. Some within the business name us the “Huawei of the cosmetics business” as a result of we’re continuously innovating. In phrases of elements, now we have launched a unprecedented Chinese ingredient known as HiMuchaSin (喜默因), which can also be the core element of cosmetics. It can remedy the bottleneck downside. Since yeast is generally imported from overseas, our self-developed yeast, HiMuchaSin(喜默因), has decreased the price of buying cosmetics uncooked supplies from Europe by 90%. However, its effectiveness is far increased than the earlier ratio.The third is the model energy. Many manufacturers, whether or not it is Shiseido or L’Oréal, have a historical past of over 100 years, however in truth, Chinese manufacturers are all comparatively new, with 20 years and even shorter.The DNA of the Himalayas is firmly held byCHANDO. We will discover that many manufacturers initially used Himalayan elements, however when it comes to the Himalayas, it’s related to CHANDO. So, this can be a manifestation of brand name energy.We consider that whether or not it is in product energy, technological energy, or model energy, it is a ache level or problem for a lot of within the magnificence business. But we predict it isn’t only a problem, however extra of a possibility. For JALA, the alternatives far outweigh the challenges.EqualOcean: Can you discuss in regards to the achievements JALA Group has made in ESG thus far?Dr. Jenny CHEN: JALA Group has gone by means of 22 years of improvement, and since 2011, now we have began publishing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) studies. Apart from constructing model, expertise, and product energy, our philanthropic philosophy is named “Take from Nature, Give Back to Nature” as a result of all our ingredient inspirations come from the Himalayas. For occasion, now we have a philanthropic venture known as “Planting Grass within the Himalayas,” which we began in 2016 in collaboration with the China Environmental Protection Foundation. We established the CHANDO Himalaya Environmental Protection Philanthropic Fund.Starting from 2017, we selected Shigatse, the sister metropolis of Shanghai, as our ecological and environmental safety venture. Every 12 months, we plant a million sq. meters of inexperienced barley grass in Shigatse to shield the native setting. As of 2023, CHANDO has been planting 5.66 million sq. meters of inexperienced barley grass within the Shigatse area of Tibet for seven consecutive years.This venture has three vital meanings. First is ecological safety. Green barley grass is a plant developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences for the plateau. Its roots are very developed, and it could actually deeply root within the barren soil, enhancing soil construction. In two to three years, after planting inexperienced barley grass, the soil can be utilized to plant potatoes. So we are saying its ecological worth lies in remodeling barren land into arable land.The second is financial worth. We rent native Tibetans. Starting from late April to early May, they assist us sow a million sq. meters of inexperienced barley grass, adopted by upkeep. By the top of October, we harvest, and your complete course of incurs labor prices. After harvesting, the barley grass is first given to native herdsmen for his or her cattle and sheep as fodder, so they do not have to purchase grass individually. The second is to promote the barley grass to extra distant areas in northern Tibet to receive extra different earnings. In only one 12 months, greater than 600 villagers within the Sicheng Township of Shigatse County in Tibet have an earnings exceeding 50% of the earlier 12 months.Finally, social significance. Because of this venture, from May to the top of October, which is comparatively the most effective season in Tibet, villagers should not have to exit to work. Through the venture, extra help will be offered for rural revitalization. We proceed to work on the Planting Grass within the Himalayas venture, and each day, we’re continuously innovating. So, now we have obtained many awards, together with the UN Biodiversity 100+ Typical Cases award, with practically 50 awards.EqualOcean: The subject of girls has at all times been a hotspot for us to talk about. It’s additionally a vital facet of ESG. How do you view the function of “Her Power” in financial improvement?Dr. Jenny CHEN: “Her Power” is an excellent time period. For JALA, we begin with workers, and “Her Power” accounts for over 70% of our workforce as a result of greater than 70% of our workers are ladies. We are within the magnificence business, and over 70% of our customers are additionally ladies. From the core workers to the most important client group, “Her Power” is essential. For JALA, the feminine demographic is a gaggle we pay shut consideration to, and we accompany them in numerous methods of their progress.On the buyer facet, we create a number of impactful ads yearly, deciphering the model spirit of CHANDO, known as “You are naturally lovely.” For instance, these embody Mother’s Day “Unique, You are already lovely,” International Women’s Day “No man handed the interview,” onboarding season “Charge! Kids,” subculture “Be a tributary, not a mainstream,” and different related ads. Through consumer-side content material and creation, we join with customers.Returning to the worker sector, from the attitude of feminine worker advantages, there are month-to-month advantages, quarterly actions, together with devoted lactation rooms for moms throughout the breastfeeding interval. Holidays will not be to be talked about. We present extra take care of them. We consider that is one thing a accountable firm ought to do.On the societal entrance, I particularly need to point out “Her Power.” As a number one Chinese cosmetics enterprise, we must always create a greater life for extra ladies. In addition to environmental safety, we additionally assist native Tibetan feminine college college students. We have an exercise with the China Children and Teenagers’ Fund known as the Natural Beauty Chunlei Scholarship Action.We have been cooperating for 12 years, ranging from caring for ladies to offering adolescent sexual well being schooling, to this 12 months’s Chunlei Scholarship Action. In May 2023, CHANDO, in partnership with the China Children and Teenagers’ Fund and the Women’s Federation of the Tibet Autonomous Region, initiated the ” CHANDO Chunlei Scholarship Action,” offering scholarships to 251 excellent and financially deprived Tibetan women from the Tibet Agriculture and Animal Husbandry College, Tibet University, and the primary and second excessive faculties in Linzhi City. The aim is to assist them full their research and conduct coaching on scientific literacy, making them ladies who’re form, unbiased, assured, and accountable.Next 12 months, in early spring, we’ll go to Lhasa, Tibet University, to proceed related initiatives. We hope that “Her Power” can attain extra feminine customers by means of model communication and affect. We hope to use empathy to assist them perceive the true goodness and great thing about the world. We additionally hope to not solely present increased high quality cosmetics however extra importantly, to attain their interior world, acquire recognition and belief, and develop collectively. These are some small actions we take for “Her Power.”EqualOcean: JALA Group has carried out many measures in ESG. What is probably the most vital affect on the corporate’s operations?Dr. Jenny CHEN: The first affect on the corporate is definitely an affect from the within out, from close to to far. It lets everybody know that your complete long-term technique of JALA is predicated on sustainable improvement. Because if even your workers and companions do not know what you might be doing, how are you going to persuade customers to establish together with your model?The second is to do effectively in ourselves after which drive upstream and downstream firms within the business to take part. In this manner, it should cowl your complete health and beauty business.The third is definitely to broaden social affect, not solely to broaden social affect but in addition worldwide visibility. Because we’ll discover, as I simply got here again from Oxford, that ESG is a very essential worldwide subject. People could not concentrate to the tendencies of China’s financial improvement, however they are going to positively concentrate to China’s commitments and actions on local weather change. Because it’s associated to the worldwide and the Earth, so I believe ESG will turn out to be more and more essential sooner or later as a result of it’s a true neighborhood of future for all humanity.Success in embracing ESG depends on steady innovation in technologyEqualOcean: For inexperienced magnificence, it is simple to change the inexperienced packaging. Does CHANDO have any new initiatives in ESG?Dr. Jenny CHEN: Firstly, for a cosmetics firm, inexperienced packaging is key.Speaking of inexperienced packaging, now we have a star product known as CHANDO. It begins with a drop of water from the 5,128-meter-high Himalayan glacier. Glacier water, being a small molecule water, supplies thorough hydration.But other than this inexperienced ingredient, we have additionally used superior manufacturing processes and energy-saving environmental safety expertise. For packaging, we have upgraded our expertise, calling it a one-time plastic multi-layer gradient method. This expertise can substitute conventional paint spraying. So, every bottle can cut back carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90%. This product has bought over 80 million bottles in 12 years, and for each 10 million bottles, it could actually save 9.97 million tons of sodium dioxide emissions. Just this product alone can cut back carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90%.Additionally, we additionally use PCR packing containers for inside and trunk transportation to cut back using cardboard packing containers. Over 5 years, we have saved 60,000 timber from being lower down.Besides these inexperienced packaging efforts, JALA has three renewable biotechnologies. JALA is a digitally-driven biotech magnificence firm. Biotech magnificence firms begin from analysis and improvement, and we extensively use renewable biotechnology. One of the applied sciences is plant cell tissue tradition. China has many wild vegetation with an extended historical past of medicinal use and noteworthy skincare, haircare, and well being advantages. For instance, CHANDO’s scalp essence comes from an historical Tibetan method known as Five Flavors Ganlu. Our inspiration comes from skincare and haircare strategies of varied native ethnic minorities. For occasion, the Yi ethnic group’s daughter honey, the place they brew rose flowers in honey for 28 days, forming a novel element known as Daughter Honey, used for skincare.However, a lot of this stuff are very uncommon and can’t be commercially utilized. So, CHANDO’s strategy just isn’t to destroy or exploit however to use “cell farmers,” our scientists. They use biotechnology and plant cell tissue tradition strategies to full large-scale breeding of plant tissue cells inside cell farms. They then add these cell-level uncooked supplies to merchandise.JALA has been utilizing cell main tradition expertise to develop uncooked supplies since 2014, and in February 2018, reached a strategic cooperation with the Nyingchi Municipal Government.In June 2019, we established the Himalayan uncooked materials manufacturing facility and R&D heart in Nyingchi, Tibet, the place now we have a plant cell tissue tradition workshop known as the Plant Cell Tissue Culture Workshop. It is metaphorically referred to as a cell farm. It just isn’t a conventional farm however a picture metaphor. Our scientists, like farmers, use biotechnology and plant cell tissue tradition strategies to receive seeds from cell nodule intestines. In the cell farm, the tissue tradition of our plant cells is used to plant cells, domesticate cells, harvest cells on the proper time, and produce cells in a cyclical manufacturing to produce high-efficiency plant cell uncooked supplies for skincare and hair care merchandise. This is our cell farmer and cell farm.Currently, now we have developed two cell-level uncooked supplies for uncommon vegetation. One is Snow Lotus, recognized for its preciousness within the Himalayas, with very particular efficacy. However, it can’t be exploited, so we’re creating uncooked supplies by means of cell tissue tradition expertise, and this improvement is coming into an important stage.The second is microbial fermentation expertise, as talked about earlier, HiMuchaSin. It is a renewable useful resource. We began creating microbial fermentation uncooked supplies in 2013. Starting in 2022, we started utilizing the fifth technology of fermentation expertise to produce polar yeast HiMuchaSin. It comes from the hinterland of the Himalayas, extracted from 558 strains of yeast, and is excellent by way of mechanism of motion, anti-aging efficacy, and security and mildness. This yeast is extensively utilized in merchandise corresponding to Himalayan Essence, Time Frozen Essence Fifth Generation, and CHANDO Scalp Care Series. In October of this 12 months, China’s high dermatology consultants and microbial fermentation consultants collectively compiled a fermentation expertise white paper – “Application and Prospects of Fermentation Technology within the Skincare Industry,” affirming the anti-aging efficacy of HiMuchaSin.The third is stay flower perfume assortment expertise. Because we all know that nature has many distinctive vegetation, and these vegetation have many fragrances. I’ve been to Tibet 27 instances, and I typically go deep into alpine pastures. We discover that some vegetation can’t be picked. So, with out destroying the unique plant ecology, we gather distinctive fragrances from pure vegetation. A glass cowl is used to cowl the plant, and by analyzing the elements of those fragrances, successive molecular buildings are obtained. Then, utilizing molecular replication expertise, the perfume is remade by means of expertise to receive the identical style or a extra concentrated purity of the perfume. This achieves the sustainable improvement of Himalayan pure sources.Green packaging is one thing each firm is doing. However, improvements in main supplies expertise, like this, are solely executed by JALA.ESG is a key facet of company long-termismEqualOcean: How does JALA take into account ESG within the rigidity between enterprise income and social worth? In the face of some firms’ greenwashing and inexperienced advertising and marketing, how do you view this subject?Dr. Jenny CHEN: I believe greenwashing or utilizing ESG as a gimmick is a big downside that exists in actuality. However, we genuinely perceive and follow inexperienced magnificence. This is what we do. In the business, we could affect others by means of optimistic and constructive habits, however first, we’d like to do effectively ourselves.Firstly, we consider ESG is a collaborative and win-win habits, particularly for the upstream and downstream of JALA. This is the primary subject we’d like to concentrate to. For instance, from workers to clients, together with channel brokers, distributors, suppliers, after which to our neighborhood, authorities, media, and customers, this whole worth chain is ESG stakeholders.We discover that buyers are more and more involved about environmentally pleasant manufacturers. In the CHANDO Himalayan Afforestation Project, we launched a public welfare mechanism for customers. For each bottle of CHANDO bought, we donate 5 yuan to the China Environmental Protection Foundation. For each bottle of CHANDO Time Frozen Essence Fifth Generation bought, we donate 10 yuan to the China Environmental Protection Foundation for inexperienced barley planting within the Shigatse area of Tibet, defending the ecological setting of the Himalayas. So, crucial factor is to have a dialogue and cooperation with stakeholders, which is a vital premise.The second level is that JALA sees ESG as a company technique. JALA believes that for an organization to be sustainable, it should put money into key ESG points. But as you talked about, there’s definitely rigidity between income and worth. Because ESG will need to have threat administration, however there’s threat in all the pieces we do, not simply solely ESG.For instance, ESG has so many indicators, and it’s unimaginable for each firm to excel in every one. Regarding the JALA, we spotlight what we are able to do effectively and, in areas the place we fall brief, like lowering carbon, the place we presently lack a digitized quantifiable indicator, it is okay. I acknowledge it; that is my shortcoming. Next, I could make investments extra effort and time to enhance it. So, in evaluating and managing ESG dangers, we’d like to acknowledge our shortcomings and take small, fast steps to fill the gaps. This is what I believe wants to be thought-about.In addition, enterprise income is split into the long run and the brief time period. JALA is a model that achieves long-termism. So, generally we could sacrifice some short-term advantages as a result of we wish to create a world-class model for the Chinese folks. ESG is about long-termism, and in lots of respects, we’ll make corresponding trade-offs.EqualOcean: How does JALA Group additional improve client schooling and affect within the sustainable environmental safety course of?Dr. Jenny CHEN: I’ll illustrate how JALA Group communicates extra with customers about ESG by means of two instances.Firstly, let’s discuss in regards to the CHANDO originating from the Himalayas, Firstly, within the steady 7-year ” Planting Grass within the Himalayas ” venture, now we have proposed a public welfare mechanism for customers. In latest years, now we have cooperated with platforms corresponding to JD, Tmall, and Douyin to promote ecological and environmental safety initiatives within the Tibetan space. Many customers can take part within the identification of sowing, and customers can even receive a certificates of public welfare companions, giving them a way of participation.In addition to this, now we have just lately launched a bottle recycling plan. We have arrange bottle recycling factors in malls throughout the nation. Many magnificence manufacturers are doing this, and it is usually an excellent factor. Empty bottles will be exchanged for factors, and these factors can be utilized to offset or change for money vouchers.In the longer term, extra merchandise will likely be invested within the empty bottle recycling plan. We will frequently gather, kind, and environmentally course of the collected empty bottles, and use our regeneration artwork venture to give the bottles a second life. Moreover, we are able to proceed to use our bottles as packaging. We may also flip them into artwork installations to interpret the model picture of sustainable improvement.Accelerating the tempo of going international within the subsequent stepEqualOcean: CHANDO entered Australia and Southeast Asia by means of cross-border e-commerce in 2016. Can you share with us the present scenario of JALA Group’s abroad enlargement and its future plans for going international?Dr. Jenny CHEN: Currently, the CHANDO has already lined Southeast Asia, North America, and elements of Europe. We primarily attain customers by means of cross-border e-commerce, and on the similar time, we customise merchandise based mostly on the totally different wants of native customers. For instance, CHANDO ranks first amongst Chinese manufacturers and home manufacturers on the Lazada e-commerce platform. We have additionally achieved good leads to Singapore and North America. Starting from subsequent 12 months, we’ll enter international locations alongside the Belt and Road Initiative, accelerating our tempo of going international.EqualOcean: What are the important thing improvement key phrases for JALA Group in 2024?Dr. Jenny CHEN: Green magnificence, ESG sustainable improvement, and internationalization are presently the three key phrases for the event of JALA Group.
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