SUSTAINABILITY
SAVE the BLUE
In 2025, KOSÉ Travel Retail ran two major conservation programmes in Hainan and Okinawa under its SEKKISEI SAVE the BLUE project, which has been running since 2009.
Mangrove planting in Hainan
On 4 June, KOSÉ Travel Retail partnered with Wangfujing Duty Free and the Blue Ribbon Ocean Conservation Association for a mangrove-planting initiative in Hainan.
The activity took place at Dongzhai Harbor National Nature Reserve in Hainan, ahead of World Environment Day (5 June), following the success of a similar mangrove-planting partnership in 2024.
Mangroves play a critical role in mitigating climate change by capturing and storing carbon, purifying seawater and acting as a natural buffer against extreme weather events. The Dongzhai Harbor mangrove reserve alone serves as a critical habitat for 177 fish and 230 bird species, highlighting its biodiversity importance.
The day began with an educational tour of the Dongzhaigang Mangrove Science Museum. Afterwards, volunteers stepped into the tidal mudflats to plant young mangrove trees under expert guidance. The tree-planting session reflected a growing recognition of mangroves as one of the most vital ecosystems for coastal resilience and climate action.
KOSÉ Travel Retail united with Wangfujing Duty Free and Blue Ribbon to plant mangroves at Dongzhai Harbor, marking the 17th year of SEKKISEI’s SAVE the BLUE initiative
Beach clean-up in Okinawa
KOSÉ Travel Retail also ran a beach clean-up and coral planting initiative in Okinawa.
A portion of sales from SEKKISEI-branded amenities at two participating hotels, Hotel Nikko Alivila Yomitan Resort Okinawa and Ryukyu Hotel & Resort Nashiro Beach, went towards supporting local sustainability projects, such as coral preservation initiative in Yomitan Village and Itoman City.
Launched in partnership with coral farm operator Sea Seed, the events promoted marine conservation by engaging local children and family communities in educational and practical conservation activities.
Children from Yomitan Village and Itoman City, where the sponsoring hotels are located, were invited to participate in the beach clean-up. They also joined a marine preservation lecture focused on corals, a sunscreen education session and a hands-on coral seedling experience during the event. It was attended by approximately 20 children and their parents from the two locations.
Led by Sea Seed CEO Koji Kinjō, the initiative fostered greater understanding of marine biodiversity and the importance of coral reef restoration – further reinforcing SEKKISEI’s long-term commitment to protecting ocean ecosystems.
SEKKISEI rolled out a series of engaging consumer-facing activations for hotel guests, including interactive booths, SEKKISEI touch-up sessions and family-friendly activities.
‘Special Gift Tickets’ distributed at the events were redeemable for exclusive gifts at nearby local SEKKISEI stockists, including the DFS Okinawa downtown duty-free store. These featured original tote bags and deluxe miniatures, such as the SEKKISEI Brightening Lotion 14ml with qualifying purchases.
The coral-planting initiative engaged the local community to help preserve marine biodiversity
Children learned about the importance of protecting their skin against harmful UV rays using SEKKISEI products.
SEKKISEI activations in Okinawa blended skincare touch-ups with branded pool balls and games
Guests sharing their beachside experiences online were rewarded with limited-edition SEKKISEI gifts
Blue beach huts offered products and samples
SEKKISEI hosted a beach clean-up event in Okinawa, bringing together 20 children and their parents from the local community
KOSÉ Travel Retail has been collaborating with the Blue Ribbon Ocean Conservation Association since 2022 and Wangfujing Duty Free since 2024 to carry out ongoing mangrove-planting activities in Hainan
Spotlight Series – May 2026