Date: Thurday, 15th Jul 2010
Time: 5.00-6.30pm
Location: Glassroom Cafe, Level 2, School of Information Systems,
80 Stamford Road, SMU.
About the Session
LOHAS is an acronym for Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability , a market segment focused on health and fitness, the environment, personal development, sustainable living, and social justice. It describes an estimated global US$350 billion marketplace for goods and services focused on health, the environment, social justice, personal development and sustainable living. The consumers attracted to this market represent a growing demographic group in Asia.
The LOHAS market is split into 6 sectors: Personal Health (Health), Natural Lifestyles (Lifestyle), Green Building (Building), Alternative Transportation (Transport), Eco-Tourism, and Alternative Energy (Energy). At first glance, it may appear that the six LOHAS sectors have little in common.
For example, a manufacturer of recycled plastics or one of the automakers that is working on next-generation, energy-efficient vehicles may not appear to have much in common with an eco-tour operator or a retailer of organic clothing. But a growing segment of consumers believe there is commonality that transcends any operational and structural differences. LOHAS describes a way of living that is “conscious”.
About the Speakers
Adam Horler, President, Asia-Pacific LOHAS
Having charted a highly successful career path through the likes of P&G, L'Oreal, red earth (Esprit), AS Watson and Molton Brown (Kao), Adam Horler decided to leave the “comfy armchair” of corporate life in Nov 2008. He describes what he saw and how it leads to founding Asia-Pacific LOHAS:
“My business travel in Asia has taken me of the beaten track to small towns and cities, where I saw that progress is not really working. Instead of a better life for those leaving the land and chasing the Western dream, I saw environmental degradation (plastic waste, water and air pollution) and poor quality of life for the people living in these towns (bad sanitary conditions, unjust working conditions, separation from family for long periods).
I guess the knowledge that “business as usual” was not benefiting the average person in Asia sat uncomfortably with me for many years while I worked my way up the corporate ladder. As with many things in life, I shoved this feeling to the back of my mind. It wasn't until Feb 2008, when trekking in Laos , that I finally felt that I had to change my life and do something to better the lives of people in Asia and also protect the environment and the Planet, which we are so busy wrecking in the name of progress. So, I quit my job as Regional CEO and set out on my journey to find something I could do that would have a big impact.
Tay Lai Hock, Founder, Ground-Up Initiative
Lai Hock is a Humanitarian worker, Green & Sustainability Advocate, Corporate Trainer, Motivational Speaker, Project Consultant and World Traveller. Before leaving his corporate life in 1999 to backpack in 35 countries around the world for almost 4 years, Lai Hock spent 11 years in extensive regional and international management experience in IT Sales and Marketing, and Business Development.
These days, Lai Hock is the Founder and President of a non-profit organisation – Ground-Up Initiative– that promotes environmental awareness and responsible practices by encouraging more people to get in touch with the land. He is also the Development Director of the Kranji Countryside Association, helping to raise the profile and awareness of the Kranji countryside area as a recreational and educational venue.
Lai Hock believes that by connecting with the land, we are able to reconnect with our true spirit. And it is through how we live, eat and relate to people that it becomes possible to contribute to society and live a harmonious life as whole.
For more information
Jared Tham
Tel: 6828 1977
E-mail: jaredtham@smu.edu.sg