Kao Malaysia Employees Lead the Way in City Clean-up to Promote Kao Kirei Lifestyle

At the end of July, the non-governmental organization Impactlution released a comprehensive impact report detailing the outcomes of Kao Malaysia city clean-up event. This event took place on the morning of the 9th of June, 2023, in conjunction with Kao's 50th Anniversary under the theme "50 Years of Care." Joined by 110 employees from both Kao Malaysia, Kanebo Malaysia and agency, the event embodied the core ESG message of "Wastefulness - Mottainai. Never today, nor tomorrow," as employees went to the streets to eliminate waste and promote a sustainable future. This was program was facilitated by NGO Impaclution team and supported by Duta PJ Bersih (Local community volunteers) and Puan Mimi B40 Women from Tama Dato Harun.

The city clean-up program focusses on 2 key components:
1. City Clean Up Program
• No. of General Waster or Non-Plastic Waste Collected
• No. of Recyclable Waste Collected
• Waste Audit to educate and create awareness
• Maximizing diversion of waste from landfill with Recycling Program and Waste to Energy (WTE)

2. Sustainable Event Management
• Instil behavioural change to practice waste separation at the source
• Reduction of Food Waste
• Environmental Education and Recycling

The impact report shows that the city clean-up was a successful event, with all employees collectively gathering 275.2kg of waste. This included 201.7kg of non-recyclable waste and 73.5kg of recyclable waste. The recyclable plastic waste was sent to recycling partners, while non-recyclable but combustible waste was redirected to Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facilities. Additional recyclable waste was given new purpose through the Community Upcycling Program, organized by Impactlution.

After the city clean up, environmental education and recycling initiatives were provided to employees to foster environmental consciousness and awareness of responsible resource management. The combined efforts showcased Kao Malaysia's unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the environment, encouraging all employees to embrace sustainable practices in their daily lives.

While plastic waste was the focus during the Kao Malaysia City Cleanup, the efficient management of collected waste had the most profound environmental impact. The event successfully raised awareness about plastic pollution and littering, closely aligning with Kao's core message of "Wastefulness - Mottainai. Never today, nor tomorrow."

Kao Malaysia extends heartfelt gratitude to employees for their active involvement in this city cleanup initiative. The exercise has effectively raised awareness among Kao Malaysia and Kanebo Malaysia employees on waste management, driving the promotion of the Kirei Lifestyle. With the aspiration of fostering a more sustainable and responsible future, we envision the city clean-up becoming an annual event for the company. This event stands as an inspiring testament to corporate responsibility, igniting a collective effort to preserve the environment for generations to come.