Health and Beauty

Today we are speaking with Dr. Nick Walters, B.S., M.D. (USA), DTM&H (London), FAAFP, ABFP (Diplomate). He is one of the world’s leading experts in family medicine, tropical and preventative medicine. He works at Bangkok Adventist or Mission Hospital, a non-profit medical facility here In Bangkok. Dr. Walters is also one of the editors of the SEAMEO SE Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health (SEATROPH). The magazine is published by the SEAMEO Regional Tropical Medicine and Public Health Network (SEAMEO TROPMED Network). One annual volume comprises of six bi-monthly issues (January, March, May, July, September, and November). 

When did you first come here to Thailand?

I first came to Thailand in December 2002.

What has changed here the most?

The cost of things has gone up but as is present everywhere in the world, Thailand has become more digitally connected and so many people seem to have a cellphone to access social media.

What has changed here the least?

People still like to go out with families or friends to eat together.

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Can you tell us about your job at Mission Hospital?

I am a medical doctor at Mission Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. I am also an editor of a medical journal published by SEAMEO (SE Asian Ministers of Education Organisation) Regional Tropical Medicine and Public Health Network (TROPMED), called the SE Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health.

Where do you like to go when you are off work?

I like to go out to eat dinner with my wife. We try to have a date night once a week. Being a doctor keeps me out of the house for many hours each week, so I do not mind being at home when I am off work; in fact I enjoy it. There is always something that needs to be done in the house and if my wife and I are both doing it together, it is a joy. Another thing we do that I really enjoy is having free medical clinics for poor people in various parts of Thailand. Mission Hospital is under the Christian Medical Foundation, so we do free clinics in various parts of Thailand from as far South as Songkhla, as far North as Chiang Mai. From Tak in the West to Nan in the East. We usually go into villages where there is a need and provide medical care. This allows me an interaction with people that most visitors to Thailand would not see and it is very fulfilling.

What are your favourite places to eat?

Any place vegetarian.

Can you tell us about your family?

I am married and we have two children. My oldest son just finished dentistry in California last year and works as a dentist there. My youngest son is in medical school in California. My wife is here with me in Thailand.

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What do you do for fun?

Redecorating around the house little by little and am an avid reader of history.

What advice do you have for any expatriate who wants to move to Thailand and live here?

Learn the language. Do not wait until you can speak Thai perfectly before trying to speak Thai, because it will never happen. Thai people are very forgiving of us foreigners when we try to speak Thai. Mix with Thai people. Enjoy the interaction.

You are an American medical doctor with a Thai medical licence here in Thailand. That is completely unheard of, it is extremely rare. Can you please tell us more about how you managed to do that?  

I came to Thailand and went to a formal language school to learn Thai. I did this for 9 months, 20 hours a week, 4 hours each morning, 5 days a week, in a language school. I then volunteered in the afternoons at the Mahidol University Hospital for Tropical Diseases immersing myself in the medical language. I then studied medical Thai for another 9 months with a tutor and continued to volunteer at the hospital. After this 18 month period I took my medical boards in the Thai language and passed all 3 parts on the first time in what I consider a miracle from God. The effort was worth it because living in Thailand is much smoother if a person can understand Thai. I do not use a translator at work, and I see both Thai and foreign patients for general medicine as well as tropical diseases, for which I also have a specialty.

When life is full of confusion, gratitude unlocks the fullness of life

Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more 

Gratitude turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity

Gratitude can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend

As we reach the end of what most of us have found to be a turbulent year, I am grateful for my time spent at Kamalaya. This was my second visit and I brought a friend. Over 50% of Kamalaya guests return, I was one them, drawn to return by the lure of what we sojourners describe as the ‘Kamalaya magic’. 

John Stewart, cofounder of Kamalaya, Koh Samui is the calm face of the place. He clearly delights in engaging with any guests interested in his spiritual philosophies.

John spent 16 years living a simple yogic existence, some of which in a Himalayan cave, before developing Kamalaya as a world leading wellness and holistic spa along with his wife Karina. As someone who has spent most of this year wishing I could crawl under a rock to ride this pandemic out, I’m happy to receive any of his wisdom.

Visitors seek the serene holistic wellness of Kamalaya for a number of reasons. On offer is a synergy of healing therapies from East and West to help guests recharge who are disillusioned, dissatisfied, disconnected, unwell or unhappy to recharge. 

Of course that was before we all bore the brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic for most of 2020. I returned to Kamalaya on a girl’s trip away for some much needed relaxation, restoration and time away from it all in a beautiful setting. Oh and the Flash Sale bargain prices helped.

My friend who I believe said it more eloquently: 

‘Since Covid-19 cruelly arrived in the world, it made me stop. I had no choice! I have gone through so many emotions during this time and without realising, slowly became a shadow of myself, almost burning out. When my Bangkok bestie suggested we go on a girly trip, and after the nod from my husband, my case was packed!’

It is hard to explain but there is definitely something healing about this tropical jungle terrain with its ancient granite boulders. Or perhaps, I have just found my big rock to hide under?

From the ‘Embrace Life’s Potential’ cloth bag given on arrival, I search for my  Kamalaya journal where I have penned questions for John. After all, if there are any secrets to help us all live an authentic, joyful and fulfilling life particularly in Covid-19 times I want to know. 

If necessary, I’ll even take a good dose of yucky turmeric, or whatever elixirs are on offer here! Here are the secrets I discovered.

Don’t try to work out the Covid whys

I asked John for his explanation of what happened in the world and why he thinks Covid-19 occurred in the way it did? He tells me he made a conscious decision early on in the pandemic to turn his investigative mind off. 

‘It was not for me to micro examine how or why Covid-19 occurred. Was it a man-made virus? Was it political? This type of questioning did not interest me in this moment. Rather like confronting any tsunami in the world, where you would not stop to investigate whilst it is happening, a full investigation could follow at a later date. I turned my mind to my responsibility for my in house guests, my staff and to the land’.

I liked this advice. I have certainly been guilty of following each and every Covid-19 news release, statistic, while chasing glimmers of hope for vaccinations.

Don’t hold onto the old thought patterns or behaviours

I asked John what he suggested for how we could cope now – it seems to me that many of us got through the initial stages of lockdown reasonably well but this has continued long term, the ongoing uncertainty has been tougher.

His advice was clear, don’t hang onto your old ways of doing things. This will only frustrate in a world where life has changed forever. Create a new version of calm and stability in your daily life.

Create your own new normal

John also suggests we create a new normal for ourselves. Kamalaya offered me a habitat away from digital distractions, demands and deadlines so I can gently reflect on my life. Could there be a Zen Wren inside me somewhere? 

I am trying to ensure that each day I nourish my mind, body and soul. I have continued to start each day drinking hot water with freshly squeezed lime to get my metabolism going and a few minutes contemplative thought, I am trying to eat better and have time off from my digital distractions.

Connect with yourself

John proposes that a little introspection and contemplative thought is all it takes to make a big difference. He does not want to call it meditation, a word that he suggests can sometimes turn people off. Instead he recommends: 

‘Fifteen minutes a day of breathing exercise will create the pause in your life to start to build a connection with yourself’.

My friend again:’The more I engaged with the staff and guests; the more I walked through the beautiful tranquil spiritual grounds, where the cave used for meditation by Buddhist monks for 300 years sat, and walked amongst the stunning estate plantation and lotus ponds surrounded by the boulders incorporated into the architecture, the more I understood their philosophy… it’s all about “reconnecting, living gently and becoming more aware of yourself and your surroundings”.’ 

Create space for a pause

Before World War II, John reminds me there were national and spiritual holidays that people respected. These were a chance to return to family, to stop and to take a pause in our lives. This does not happen in the same way now. With constant connections to everything through technology, people need to find a way to hit the pause button.

I absolutely loved my time at Kamalaya Wellness and I can already tell I will be one of those frequenters who returns again and again.

These nurturing Koh Samui environs, offer over forty therapy and treatment rooms, wellness classes and talks. The real enticement for me lies in finding the answer lies very simply within and by building the connection with self. The magic of Kamalaya is that it offers guests the space to pause and reconnect with themselves. 

My friends and I left feeling more at peace with the world. I am more inclined to come out from under the rock and embrace the boulders of life. 

Thank you, Kamalaya through the healing power of nature, you gave me the space to find order in my world. You turned strangers into friends, and all our meals were definitely feasts! I have come to accept the impermanence of life and I am ready to accept whatever the next months throw at me.

More can be found at: www.kamalaya.com

Little Wandering Wren – Jenny is the content creator and chief explorer at Little Wandering Wren. She is both a Brit and an Aussie with her nest in Bangkok. She is constantly travelling and brings us her lighthearted, birds eye view of the world. Little Wandering Wren was a winner of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s International Blogger competition 2019.

 

Let’s talk about plastic in the menstrual products we have been buying for so many years. You might be thinking that you read that wrong, we knew plastic is in our clothes and food but now we are learning that plastic is in our menstrual products. Gosh!! Why would anybody knowingly sell products that are damaging to our personal hygiene and to the planet. The answer to that will require another article on what corporate greed is doing to humanity and why we need to become more mindful consumers and start ensuring that there is traceability in the products we buy.

Coming back to our monthly red flow visits, did you know that most commercial pads available in the market have synthetic materials including plastics, adhesives, artificial fragrances, toxic chemicals like phthalates, dioxins and petrochemical additives. Some pads also contain chloroform which  is a carcinogen and acetone. Yuk!! When I started understanding how damaging commercial pads are to personal hygiene and the thought of millions of non biodegradable pads lying in landfills on Gods green earth literally made me have a meltdown. I was under the assumption that all pads are biodegradable. Furthermore, the average woman will use 15,000 disposable menstrual pads in her lifetime and it apparently takes more than 100 years for these pads to biodegrade. Luckily, there are various options available for eco conscious consumers today to ditch the synthetic pads and move towards plastic free menstruation.

When exploring safer plastic free alternatives, here are some things to consider.

Are the materials used biodegradable and safe

Is the packaging eco friendly

In my opinion as a writer who focuses on climate change issues, I constantly meet brands working towards creating products which mitigate climate change. I have learnt a few important things that I would like to share. The healthiest option for you and the planet will be pads made from organic and toxin free materials which have minimal packaging and are not single use. The use and throw culture has got to change so the best option is a menstrual cup, reusable pads and reusable underwear. All of these options prevent tons of plastic waste. Reusable pads and underwear are usually made from organic cotton and they are so much softer than the plastic pads. They also come in various sizes depending on your need. Menstrual cups made from silicone or rubber are gaining traction as an eco alternative to conventional tampons and I personally recommend this option because I find it extremely convenient. I made the switch more than a year back and it is one of the best decisions I have made towards a more conscious and mindful lifestyle.

These options might not suit everyone, if you are someone who chooses to use disposable pads, the best option is to find brands which are making non plastic biodegradable pads. Fortunately, there are a few companies making pads from coconut fibre, banana fibre, bamboo fibre etc. which are 100% biodegradable. I have not personally come across any in Thailand but there are a few in India. I worked on a small project with an organisation in India which is educating women on the importance of plastic free menstruation. I learnt about a few different biodegradable pads which are safe for human use from them. I was very impressed to see the work the organisation is doing at the grass root level to educate women and to eradicate plastic from menstrual products.

Have you already started your journey towards plastic free menstruation? What are the issues which are holding you back? I would love to hear from you and answer your questions. For more queries, kindly get in touch with me @[email protected] and I will answer all your questions and hopefully we can all collectively ensure that we can eradicate plastic from menstrual products and move towards a plastic free menstruation.

1. Skip breakfast

Most people skip their breakfast because they don’t have time to prepare their meals. They might even say I’m “fasting” just another excuse of I don’t have time to eat in the morning so I start eating my first meal at lunch which might lead to sluggish metabolism over time. I don’t have anything against fasting, I used to do fasting. But most people only have 2 meals a day (not having enough nutrients) and call it fasting.

We’re all busy I get it but if your goal is weight loss and fat loss then you better start having breakfast! What’s more, eating one piece of fruit or processed fare like packaged muffins won’t keep you full until lunch, which has a ripple effect on how well you function. “When my clients eat a more satisfying breakfast, they’re more energetic, less irritable and more productive.” Aim for 20-30 grams of protein by including options like cottage cheese or hard boiled eggs.

2. Lacking magnesium

Weight loss isn’t just about diet and exercise, and you’ve likely heard about how sleep is essential for a healthy weight. Skimping on sleep increases your hunger hormones, and you may find you reach for a sugary snack as a pick-me-up more often. 

Of course stopping the pre-bed social media scroll is important, but you probably also haven’t considered how your magnesium levels play a role in shut eye. “Most people do not consume an adequate amount of the mineral, and this can interfere with proper sleep,” Try adding almonds, tofu and leafy greens to your diet. Or you might consider taking magnesium supplements. When I was training hard and I found myself having trouble sleeping I took Magnesium Glycinate it helped me fall asleep better.

3. Having a “bad food” mentality

What if I told you there’s no “good” or “bad” food? Food gives you energy, different food gives you different nutrients therefore you should get a variety of food. Having a piece of Oreo cookie dipped in milk isn’t the end of the world. If you’re being good 80% of the time (have a balanced diet) then you can leave the 20% for some fun (enjoy your chocolate cake guilt free).

4. Exercising only to burn calories

Some girls I’ve talked with confess that they use exercise as a punishment. When they eat a lot the next day, they kill themselves at the gym, was hoping to burn those calories they consumed. You need to shift your mindset and think of exercise as part of your healthy lifestyle. You eat, shower, sleep and exercise. 

5. Eat the same food every day

Going on a diet shouldn’t be boring and you shouldn’t have to eat the same food every day, obviously not chicken and broccoli if you want to lose weight! There are many varieties of food out there. You can steam, grill, or bake the chicken or fish. You can add different spices to enhance the flavour. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be plain and tasteless. You should be happy when you eat or have food.

6. Not eating enough

I can say if you’ve been going on a diet for a while trying to lose weight but you haven’t seen any result, I bet you don’t eat enough! That’s right you heard me, most girls are not eating enough because they’re scared to gain fat. If there’s not enough food or water in our body, the metabolism slows down.

Our body is so smart, it has been designed to survive in any circumstances. However they don’t have a clue that you only eat little because you want to lose weight. They think I don’t have enough resources for me to function well so I’m going to slow down or might even shut down. So now it doesn’t matter what you eat it’s not going to burn that calorie because it gets used to the very little food in the system.

7. Not tracking your intake

“Making sure you’re eating in a slight caloric deficit is important for weight loss,”. While you don’t need to button up so much that you’re eating too little, you’re also going to want to reduce the excess fluff. To find what that might be, you should track your food, at least in the beginning. “It can be easy to forget about what we ate previously and make it harder to pinpoint what’s preventing you from reaching your goals,”. My favourite free app is MyFitnessPal.

8. Setting unrealistic goals

While what you’re eating matters, it’s not the only piece of the equation. “Other factors can affect how our body utilises, burns and stores calories or energy,”. Those include metabolism, age, genetics, stress and hormones, and “can also play a role in being able to get past a certain point on the scale.” Meaning: Just because you choose a certain number does not mean it’s a goal weight that may be attainable, comfortable or sustaining for you. While that may seem like a downer at the outset, it’s actually incredibly freeing. A realistic goal is achievable, makes you feel good and is one you can maintain for the long term.

Do you really want a six pack abs? Or you just want to look good in a swimming suit? Because having six pack abs require hard work; strict dieting and exercise and if you’re a busy woman (not a fitness model) it might not suit your lifestyle.

9. Ignoring your stress level

For many of us, responding to stress means reaching for comfort foods while watching Netflix. While doing so is perfectly fine on occasion, it’s important to have healthy, non-food-related outlets for reducing stress. “Stress can negatively affect metabolism and get in the way of reaching weight or fitness goals,”. Helpful ways to mitigate stress include meditation, taking a walk outdoors, or reading a good book.

10. Gut health

Happy gut, happy you. Gut health refers to the balance of microorganisms that live in your digestive tract. Looking after the health of the gut and maintaining the right balance of these microorganisms is vital for physical and mental health, immunity, and more.

These bacteria, yeasts, and viruses – of which there are around 100 trillion – are also called the “gut microbiome” or “gut flora.” One way to look after your gut is to take probiotics and eat fermented foods. 

STDs can affect people from all ethnicities, races and ages, but adolescents and young people are the most impacted. Estimates suggest that even though youth make up only 25t% of the sexually active population, nearly half of all STD cases occur in people aged 15 to 24.

It is important that people in this age group receive comprehensive preventative care to ensure that they are well educated on the transmission of these diseases, how to prevent them, testing and treatment. However, there are factors like stigma and lack of access to information or services that can prevent young adults from getting the help and information they need to make sure that they have good sexual health. Providers and services need to be open about talking about these subjects and initiating the conversation about having healthy sexual interactions. 

Getting tested for STDs and STIs are one of the most important tools for prevention and treatment. Early detection is a key aspect of being tested as many STDs have no early symptoms, yet they can cause major problems in the future such as infertility and early treatment. Getting treatment early on can help minimise those effects. 

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Sexually transmitted diseases/infections can be spread through contact with any body fluids: blood, semen, saliva (only for herpes). They can also spread through contact with infected skin, like sores in the mouth. The exposure to infected skin and body fluids is increased when sexually active. Illicit drug use can also spread STIs, due to sharing needles. 

Unprotected sex, multiple sex partners and illicit drug use as well as poor awareness on sexual health increase the risk of STDs. However, STDs are treatable and curable. Being conscious of the 5 Ps and awareness on sexual health can prevent these diseases, leading to a happier and healthier life. 

Hormonal imbalances lie at the root of a host of common health concerns that affect many, if not most, women at various stages of life. Whether it is teenage (or adult) acne, PMS, fertility issues, fibroids, weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, blood sugar imbalances, osteoporosis, premature ageing, insomnia, loss of libido, most women have experienced at least one or more of these symptoms of hormonal imbalance. 

Fortunately there are many ways to support hormonal balance naturally and take back control of your health, your life and your sanity. There is no quick fix and neither will you ever be “done”: as your body, the environment and your circumstances keep changing, so does your need to adjust and course -correct.

But despite these caveats, achieving hormonal balance is within reach. If you are ready to do what it takes, make targeted diet and lifestyle changes, use some good quality natural supplements, work on optimising your digestive health, you can be well on your way to feeling better and resolving many of your hormone -related health concerns. 

In this article I will discuss some common root causes that contribute to hormonal imbalance and share some essential nutrition and lifestyle tips that can help restore balance and resolve symptoms. 

The wondrous world of hormones

Hormones are chemical messengers, secreted by the endocrine glands that govern most bodily functions. The role of the endocrine system is ultimately to maintain balance and to regulate important processes such as growth, reproduction and development.

The way this system works is truly amazing. It depends on an intricately complex communication and feedback system and can be compared to an orchestra with a conductor and many musicians, who need to be finely tuned into one another in order to create that perfect symphony.

Many things influence that delicate balance but there are 4 areas that can be considered of prime importance when it comes to building a strong foundation for hormonal health.

1. Adrenal function

Our adrenal glands are the tiny glands atop our kidneys responsible for regulating the stress response in our bodies through the synthesis of a number of different hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol. The adrenal glands are, in a way, the fuel tank of our bodies. Designed to respond to a sudden stressful situation they release (amongst other things) adrenalin and cortisol, which get the body ready with increased levels of energy and focus so you can “fight” or “flight” from the stressor you encountered. When the situation has resolved, you adapt and your body recovers so that you can go on with non-emergency functions such as digestion, repair, reproduction etc.

However, sometimes life is an ongoing chain of stressful events. You might be facing deadlines at work, eating a not-so-healthy diet, entertaining often with alcohol and late nights, dealing with relationship issues or worrying about the health of a relative.  Maybe you live in a big city and have to deal with traffic, pollution or a long commute to work.

There are so many different things that cause us stress and when there is no time for the body to recover and adapt the adrenals pump out high levels of cortisol continuously thereby not only affecting essential functions in the body but also disrupting hormonal balance. Thyroid issues, and steroid hormone imbalance often happen as a result of continuously elevated cortisol levels.

As you can see it is very important to address the stress in your life: mental/emotional stress but also the “internal” stress caused by a poor diet, nutrient deficiencies, infections, or toxicity.

2. Blood sugar balance

When we eat carbohydrates they get broken down into simple sugars, which are then absorbed into the blood stream causing blood sugar levels to rise. This triggers the release of the hormone insulin by the pancreas, which signals cells to pull glucose out of the blood stream and into storage. This mechanism helps to keep blood sugar levels in a normal range.

When we are continuously flooding our system with high sugar foods it can eventually cause that system to falter leading to blood sugar highs and lows, insulin resistance, and eventually continuously high blood sugar levels.

This in turn can affect the body and brain in several negative ways. Blood sugar imbalances become an additional “stressor” on the already taxed adrenal glands contributing to the whole cascade of hormonal imbalances.

A first step to better blood sugar balance is to modify your diet and reduce carbohydrate consumption, most importantly refined sugar and high sugar foods. Eating healthy whole foods and including healthy fats, fibre and protein in every meal further helps to regulate blood sugar levels.

3. Gut health

All (hormonal) health begins in the gut. For every hormone that is created or detoxified in our body we need certain minerals or vitamins. A healthy and well functioning digestive system results in the efficient breakdown and absorption of these vital nutrients. Additionally, our gut microbiome (the trillions of micro-organisms that reside in our gut) is directly involved in the regulation of many hormones, including estrogen, thyroid hormones, melatonin and hormones involved in metabolic processes. 

Diet is critical in supporting gut health and a healthy gut microbiome. Removing foods that contribute to intestinal inflammation, and including foods that support digestive function are vital. Make sure to include fermented foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, yoghurt, kefir in your diet as well as a variety of colourful fibre -rich plant -based foods that help feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut. This will all help build a strong and healthy gut and support hormonal health. 

4. Liver function

We know the liver as the body’s main detox organ, responsible for breaking down and eliminating harmful toxins but some of its other important functions include the detoxification of excess hormones, conversion of thyroid hormones into their free and usable forms, the production of serum proteins that act as hormone carriers and the regulation of sex hormones.

You can see how a compromised liver function can have a ripple effect on your hormonal balance and how important it is to support your liver function. Eating a clean diet, restricting alcohol, sugar, nicotine, reducing your environmental toxic load, and supporting toxin elimination with adequate hydration, a fibre rich diet, and exercise can enhance the body’s natural detoxification pathways. Vitamin -C rich foods, turmeric, beetroot and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, onion, kale and radish are wonderful to help support liver function. 

5. Diet first

When it comes to building good health there is not just one thing that is going to do the trick. Finding the right diet for your unique body and circumstances is essential but so is movement, sleep, eliminating toxins, enjoying good relationships, spiritual wellbeing, stress management and having a purpose.

Even though all these areas need to be addressed, adjusting your diet helps to build a strong foundation. Eating a healthy whole -food diet that is right for you will ensure that your body and mind are getting the right building blocks in the form of macro and micronutrients.

Everybody is unique and I work with my clients to identify their root core imbalances as well as their unique requirements in terms of nutrition but there are a few principles that apply to everyone, no matter what the circumstances are:

1. Eat real food: unrefined, unprocessed, traditional and wholesome, preferably seasonal and local.
2. Bump up your rainbow coloured vegetable intake to increase the nutrients and fibre in your diet.
3. Eliminate inflammatory foods such as sugar, GMO foods and unhealthy fats such as trans fats and refined vegetable seed oils. 
4. Avoid overeating and unlimited snacking and eat with awareness, chewing properly to support your digestion.

These principles, even though very simple and straightforward, can be very powerful in building a strong foundation for health in general and hormonal health in particular.

If you focus on supporting the four areas I covered in this article and you apply these four diet principles in your life, you will start seeing a difference in the way you feel and in the symptoms that are related to your hormonal balance. If you feel you need more help, get in touch with me on my website to set up a free Nutrition Breakthrough session!

Be Well.

Monique

Monique Jhingon is a Functional Nutrition & Lifestyle Practitioner who offers select private coaching to expats whose health and digestion has been compromised as a result of transitioning into new environments, cultures, climates and foods. 

You can read more on her website and sign up for a free Nutrition Breakthrough Session here: www.moniquejhingon.com

by Ines Caldiera CEO Thailand

L’Oréal Group has been in the forefront of sustainability and its efforts have been recognised at the global level by well–respected institutions such as the United Nations and CDP. The company’s firm commitment to sustainability started in 2013 with a programme called “Sharing beauty with all”, whose aim is to engage the whole value chain – from product design to distribution, including production processes and the sourcing of raw materials – to address its impact. The group’s sustainability work seek to address four pillars of sustainability: innovation, production, consumption and community.

The “Sharing beauty with all” programme has clear targets set for 2020. Some significant progress has been made from 2013 onward – including the reduction of environmental footprint across its plants and distribution centres. The company already exceeded its goal by reducing CO2 emissions by 77% in 2018 as production rose by 38%. 

On the target to improve the environmental or social profile of 100% of its products by 2020, the company achieved 85% of its goal last year. The focus is on reducing the environmental footprint of its product formulas by sourcing raw materials in a responsible, sustainable way with respect for biodiversity. The optimisation of product packaging is also a high priority: by 2025, 50% of its products’ plastic components will be recycled or bio–sourced and 100% of the group’s plastic packaging will be refillable, reusable, recyclable or compostable. With the group’s commitment to innovate and develop more sustainable products worldwide, L’Oréal Thailand is able offer to consumers in Thailand more sustainable choices for consumption. 

Some examples of products with improved environmental footprint available for Thai consumers include the L’Oréal Paris Botanicals haircare range and Kerastase Aura Botanica, all of which come in eco–friendly packaging. The bottle is 100% composed of recycled plastic (except for the cap and pump) and can in turn be sorted and recycled after use. Some packaging is also designed to be both desirable and sustainable. For example, the jar used for the luxury–range facial care product Lancôme Absolue L’Extrait delivers elegant visual appeal while also being refillable. With the new design being 39% lighter than before, using this refillable Lancôme jar and two refills represents a packaging weight reduction of 58% compared to using three conventional products.

L’Oréal Group is also collaborating with partners on many innovations to ensure it has access to the best technologies to improve packaging. The Sustainable Packaging Initiative for CosmEtics, for instance, seeks to introduce a common methodology in cosmetics product packaging to reduce environmental footprint. The company also collaborates with partners to adopt innovations in the form of bio–based and recyclable paper bottles, and even co-creates a consortium to promote the industrialisation of enzymatic bio-recycling technology with an aim to create a more sustainable world based on circular economy principles.

In terms of sustainability and safety of ingredients, L’Oreal is transparent about information on our products and ingredients. The company have a website, inside-our-products.loreal.com, that is made for consumers to give answers to questions about its products and ingredients. The website contains informative contents on key ingredients such as sun filers and palm oil. 

L’Oréal’s endeavour is to go beyond the regulations and answer to its consumers’ expectations and the trends it observes. The company often anticipates the regulatory evolutions by removing, several years in advance, some ingredients from its formulas, forbidden later on. For example, in January 2014, L’Oreal committed to eliminate all plastic micro-beads from its rinse-off products before the end of 2017. This commitment was achieved in January 2017, almost one year before the regulation required our industry to do so.

Supporting the community is also a key aspect of this programme, and L’Oréal Thailand is contributing actively to this global target. By 2020, the company expects 100,000 people to discover new job opportunities through programmes such as Solidarity Sourcing or Beauty For a Better Life. In Thailand, over 200 underprivileged people have received support from the two programmes, enabling them to generate steady income. L’Oreal Thailand is ambitious to support more beneficiaries in the coming years. 

L’Oréal has embarked on a fundamental transformation towards a more sustainable model and we are proud of the progress we have been making. In Thailand, we contribute to the group’s sustainability targets – particularly in reducing environmental footprint from our LEED–certified distribution centre and helping underprivileged people have access to work. We collaborate with our suppliers through the Solidarity Sourcing programme to hire people excluded from the workforce, such as the elderly and the disabled. We also help underprivileged groups develop hairdressing skills from our Beauty for A Better Life training programme so that they can become a hairdresser and have a stable profession. We have also been working on improving areas of our point of sales materials and retail. Clear guidelines have been adopted to ensure eco–POS and sustainable retail.

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L’Oréal Group remains fully committed to this collective effort as a matter of urgency. 2020 marks the end of the first series of “Sharing beauty with all” targets and will also be a turning point in terms of sustainable development as the company will unveil its new programmes and commitments for 2030 later this year. The new targets will be based on the Science Based Targets initiative’s framework to reaffirm its commitment in taking action on the climate, and in line with the 2°C trajectory defined by the Paris Agreement. This sustainability programme – along with its strong commitment to ethics, policy of promoting diversity and inclusion, and philanthropic activities – enabled the group to contribute to 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals defined by the United Nations in 2015.

As climate change increasingly becomes a reality, it is important that everyone take part in tackling this great environmental challenge. Our tangible, ambitious targets show how committed we are to sustainability, and we hope that these goals will be able to inspire others to help preserve our planet. 

Through its transparent communications, L’Oréal has provided data on its corporate social and environmental responsibility strategy, challenges, and results in three reports: The Registration Document; L’Oréal’s annual report to the United Nations Global Compact (UN Global Compact); and the Sharing Beauty With All Progress Report. More than ever in 2018, L’Oréal’s performance enabled the group to be recognised by the most demanding global organisations in this area. In 2019, for the fourth year running, L’Oréal achieved an ‘A’ rating in all three of the rankings conducted by the CDP for its efforts on climate protection, sustainable water management, and fighting against deforestation. L’Oréal is the only company in the world to have been recognised for achieving the highest level of performance for three consecutive years. In 2015, L’Oréal was recognised as a ‘Global Compact LEAD’ company by the United Nations and action on climate change was stepped up by committing to zero net emissions by 2050.