KOSÉ x Reef Check Malaysia Save The Blue CSR

KOSÉ has been our partner since 2013 and is a strong advocate for a beautiful Earth. With their ‘Save The Blue’ sustainable skincare campaign, KOSÉ have transplanted corals with an area of ​​118,589,237cm² worldwide within 14 years.

In 2022, from July through September, KOSÉ has donated proceeds from the sale of their bestselling products -  SEKKISEI Vitalizing Serum and Tinted Cream to Reef Check Malaysia to support our efforts to save our reefs.

Coral Restoration

Coral reefs are known as the "Rainforest of the Oceans" due to the biologically diverse species depending on them.

Often mistaken as rocks, coral reefs are actually animals. They are essential for marine life for habitat, nursery and food sources. Coral reefs also protect us from coastal erosion and are an important food source and tourism and marine-related recreational activities.

However, our coral reefs are under threat from climate change and unsustainable human activities. Coral reefs are either under threat of bleaching or destroyed. In an effort to save the reefs, we carry out coral restoration programmes.

“Coral restoration is described as ‘a suite of active interventions aimed at improving reef structure and ecosystem function and increasing populations of key species’.”
— UNEP, 2020

Examples of restorations:

  1. Direct replanting

  2. Coral gardening

  3. Larval propagation

  4. Artificial structure with planted coral

The list of restorations above is considered reactive actions.

The first step of reef restoration is identifying the best site. Our team will take into account factors such as an area that does not have a strong current, is away from tourists' hot spot or human activities, have good water circulation and has a good presence of herbivorous fishes to decide if an area is suitable to carry out the restoration.

The coral species that will be used will then be chosen. The location from where the coral donors are taken is also considered to ensure increased genetic diversity and resilience, among other things.

Goals of reef restoration

1. To create and increase new habitat at selected sites

2. To improve the aesthetical value of marine ecosystems in one area

3. To encourage the local community to reconnect with the local reef environment and be active in reef conservation

The corals will be transplanted using one of the methods mentioned above. This is where you come in and help us to build the rehabilitation blocks and to deploy these corals to the restoration sites.

After being successfully transplanted, we will monitor the corals monthly for six months and quarterly after that to ensure they survive.

We will also maintain the nursery by cleaning and removing predators to increase its survival.

We hope these efforts will give them the best chance to grow and survive.

Beach Clean-Up

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure! This is why we work to keep our waste from ending up in the ocean. One of the ways we do so is by holding beach clean-ups.

Beach clean-ups are a simple way we can do to help our ocean stay healthy. It is as easy as it sounds, grab a plastic bag and start picking up trash along the beach! We take it further by segregating recyclables and non-recyclables and collecting data during our clean-ups.

We collect data on clean-ups using the Clean Swell App to track our clean-ups impacts to be used by relevant parties to fight marine debris on a global scale.

A typical beach clean-ups with us looks a lot like this:

We collect trash along the beach.

Recyclables and non-recyclables are segregated either during the clean-up or after the clean-up is done.

We keep track of the amount by using the Clean Swell App. Each item picked up is recorded under their respective categories.

Trash collected is sent off to the landfill or a recycling centre.

KOSÉ and Reef Check Malaysia

This year marks KOSÉ’s 7th year supporting Reef Check Malaysia’s work. Through KOSÉ’s donations over the years, KOSÉ has supported our coral reef surveys, which are vital to monitoring coral reefs' health and also other conservation activities. 

In 2020, in particular, KOSÉ has generously supported our Reef Check surveys even amidst a difficult time due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Movement Control Order (MCO) and has enabled us to carry out our work.

In 2021, KOSÉ successfully prevented 12,311 kg of waste from polluting the marine ecosystem on Mantanani Island by supporting our waste management on Mantanani Island for two months.

Their initiative doesn’t end there, as KOSÉ has been non-stop promoting the ‘Save the Blue’ project with the help of influencers and radio announcers in order to spread greater awareness to the public and educate more people on the importance of caring for our environment. A simple action such as not littering even in the city will help protect our environment.

KOSÉ x RCM

This July 2023, we had the opportunity to join KOSÉ Save the Blue programmes along with MIX FM 94.5, MY FM 101.8, and Blue Heaven Divers.

With KOSÉ team’s help, we managed to make 20 coral blocks, plant 100 coral fragments and remove 582.5kg of litter, including 456kg of ghost nets.

This year from 1 July to 31 August, KOSÉ Malaysia will donate a portion of the sales from SEKKISEI-themed products to Reef Check Malaysia, further supporting their crucial conservation activities. Every purchase of KOSÉ’s SEKKISEI-themed products will make a difference. Purchases can be made at either KOSÉ counters or through their online store.

“We thank you for your support and we hope to see you again!”