BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 October 2025 – The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (Public Organization), or GIT, has unveiled a strategic plan to accelerate the adoption of Sustainability Standards aimed at strengthening Thailand’s gem and jewelry industry. The initiative promotes good governance, transparency, and traceability across the supply chain, establishing international benchmarks that build confidence among global buyers and leading brands.

The move aligns with the expanding global gem and jewelry market valued at more than THB 11 trillion and responds to the growing sustainability trend that is reshaping consumer demand and trade practices worldwide. The plan is designed to help Thai entrepreneurs capture a larger share of this market by aligning with verified sustainable standards.

Global Market Shift: Sustainability as the New Competitive Edge

According to a report by McKinsey & Company, sustainability factors now influence 20–30% of global jewelry sales, reflecting a shift in consumer behavior. Today’s buyers look beyond beauty and craftsmanship to the origin of materials, environmental impact, and human rights practices throughout production. As a result, international standards such as the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) have become vital “trade passports” for access to major markets.

In this landscape, GIT is proactively supporting Thai jewelry businesses especially SMEs to align with international standards, strengthening consumer and partner confidence to meet these globally recognized benchmarks while enhancing the competitiveness of Thai enterprises in the global marketplace.

Mr. Sumed Prasongpongchai Director General of GIT stated “Thailand’s craftsmanship and design excellence are already world-class. What will truly unlock the potential of our entrepreneurs to compete globally are trusted standards encompassing responsible sourcing, fair labor, safety, and environmental protection.

The global gem and jewelry market is worth USD 366.79 billion in 2024, and consumer behavior is shifting rapidly from aesthetics and emotion toward transparency and good governance. These will soon define competitiveness in our industry.

“Standards are not just tools for ensuring trust throughout the supply chain; they are entry passes to international partnerships. GIT’s mission is to guide Thai entrepreneurs particularly SMEs toward Sustainability Standards under the GIT Standard framework, preparing them to meet global benchmarks. By turning product quality into traceable credibility, Thai businesses can achieve stronger and more sustainable growth both domestically and globally.” Mr. Sumed added

GIT’s Three-Pillar Framework for Global-Standard Transformation

GIT has developed a systematic framework to elevate Thailand’s gem and jewelry industry through full value-chain integration from raw material sourcing to international trade. Anchored on three interlinked operational pillars, the framework provides a clear and practical roadmap for sustainable industry advancement and global recognition.

1. GIT Standard for Laboratories – Building Trust and Credibility: This standard enhances the testing, analysis, and certification processes to ensure that every piece originating from Thailand is not only crafted with exceptional skill but also comes with a clear, traceable origin story that meets internationally recognized standards.
2. Due Diligence and Traceability for Entrepreneurs – Strengthening Corporate Governance: Building robust internal governance covering fair labor practices, workplace safety, transparent record-keeping, and material traceability. These elements create a foundation of trust among domestic and international buyers, including tourists and neighboring markets increasingly attuned to ethical sourcing.
3. International Standard Readiness – Supporting Export Competitiveness; Through training and incubation programs, GIT equips entrepreneurs to comply with international frameworks such as the RJC Code of Practices and Chain-of-Custody Guidelines, which cover critical areas including human rights, responsible sourcing, environmental management, and occupational safety essential for global market access.

This integrated structure enables to create greater opportunities for Thai businesses, particularly SMEs, to connect with responsible global partners, elevate product and brand value, as well as reduce long-term regulatory or reputational risks linked to labor or environmental issues, contributing to the overall sustainability of Thailand’s gem and jewelry industry.

Expanding Nationwide Through 2026

GIT plans to extend its Sustainability Standards initiative through 2026 in collaboration with industry partners and government agencies. The expansion aims to institutionalize structural standards across the entire value chain from manufacturers and factories to laboratories and domestic retailers ensuring consistency and accountability at every level. In parallel, GIT will provide advisory support to entrepreneurs seeking to assess operational gaps and develop improvement plans that align with international partner expectations.
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• 1 billion women are experience menopause at any given time—yet 87% feel overlooked and underserved by retailers and brands.¹
• For the first time, the MTick^® is going global, as leading Asian retailer DFI Retail Group partners with GenM to champion menopause visibility, accessibility, and inclusivity to the Asian retail market.
• The initiative will roll out at DFI’s stores across 5 different markets, including Guardian in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, and Mannings in Hong Kong and Macau.
• Customers can expect to see M-Tick-certified displays in stores starting in mid-2026.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 October 2025 – DFI Retail Group (DFI) becomes the first Asian retailer to join the GenM Collective and adopt the MTick^® symbol – bringing menopause-friendly products to millions of women across five key Asian markets. This marks an important milestone in setting a new international standard for the retail landscape, and underscores DFI’s commitment to positioning its Health & Beauty business as a trusted advisor for wellness, empowering everyday wellbeing for all.

DFI and GenM are partnering to transform how women search, source and shop for menopause-related products by curating MTick®certified selections tailored to each market. The products will meet one or more of the following criteria: backed by authorised medicinal, cosmetic or health claims; tried and tested by women experiencing menopause; and feature verified technology designed to support any of the 48 identified signs of menopause.

Starting in mid-2026, Guardian and Mannings stores will introduce dedicated spaces featuring menopause-friendly product ranges, supported by online product information and educational content. Every activation will feature clear product signposting and accessible menopause resources designed to empower women to shop with confidence and make more informed choices.

The MTick®is the trusted, universal shopping symbol and certification designed to signpost menopause-friendly products. To date, over 1,000 MTick-certified SKUs are available, with eight of the largest UK retailers displaying MTick-certified products in dedicated areas, either online or in-store, including Boots, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Holland & Barrett, Next, Matalan, and most recently, Asda and Ocado.

Globally, 1 billion women are experiencing menopause at any given time – yet 87 per cent of women report feeling overlooked and underserved by brands and retailers that they’ve trusted throughout their lives. GenM’s research also shows that 94 per cent of women want to shop menopause-friendly labelled products, but two-thirds (66 per cent) say that these are difficult to find.¹

United by the MTick®, GenM and DFI, with Guardian and Mannings, are set to provide visibility, choice, and trust to customers going through menopause across five different markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau.

Andrew Wong, Chief Executive Officer for Health & Beauty, DFI Retail Group, commented:

“At DFI, we are committed to empowering everyday wellbeing for all our customers. Partnering with GenM to bring the MTick® to Asia is a meaningful step forward in our wider Health & Beauty strategy focusing on wellness—one that champions inclusivity, accessibility, and education. By offering menopause-friendly products and services across our Guardian and Mannings stores, we’re not only addressing an underserved need, but also reinforcing our role as a trusted wellness advisor in the region. This partnership reflects our dedication to supporting women through every life stage, with confidence and care.”

Heather Jackson, CEO and Co-Founder of GenM, commented:

“DFI joining the GenM Collective marks a truly global milestone for menopause inclusivity and accessibility. By breaking new ground in Asia’s health and beauty sector, with Guardian and Mannings, we’re redefining how women search, source, and shop for menopause-friendly products – not just here in the UK, but on a global scale.

Menopause is not a trend; it’s a forever market and a lifelong reality that retail must play a vital role in supporting women through. We’re creating a new category of retail that is the most exciting, inclusive, accessible and vibrant category that has been seen in retail for the last 40 years. Now, with DFI on board, our mission to empower the 1 billion menopausal women globally and to ignite a purposeful shift in the retail landscape is accelerating fast.

United by the MTick®, retailers like DFI are truly transforming the shopping experience; delivering choice, trust, accessibility, and visibility to menopausal consumers. This is the start of something extraordinary. Watch this space!”

For more information on the MTick^® and GenM Collective, please visit: https://gen-m.com/

References
[1] UK Visibility Report 2024 – representative of 2,000 UK respondents.
Hashtag: #DFIRetailGroup #Guardian #Mannings #GenM #MTick #HealthandBeauty #MenopauseProducts #Women’sHealth

https://www.dfiretailgroup.com/

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About DFI Retail Group

DFI Retail Group (the ‘Group’) is a leading Asian retailer, driven by its purpose to “Sustainably Serve Asia for Generations with Everyday Moments”. As at 30 June 2025, the Group, its associates and joint ventures operated over 7,500 outlets, and employed over 83,000 people. The Group is dedicated to delivering quality, value and service to Asian consumers through a compelling retail experience, supported by an extensive store network and highly efficient supply chains. The Group, including associates, operates a portfolio of well-known brands across five key divisions: health and beauty, convenience, food, home furnishings and restaurants.

Guardian
Guardian was established in 1967 in Malaysia and has grown into a trusted health and beauty retailer in Southeast Asia. With more than 1,100 stores across Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. Guardian offers a comprehensive range of healthcare, beauty care, personal care, and baby care products to meet the diverse needs of its customers. Guardian stores also offer professional services such as patient-care counselling, dispensary and personal care services, providing a convenient, one-stop health and beauty solution.

Mannings
Mannings is Hong Kong’s largest health and beauty retailer, operating over 340 outlets, including more than 60 in-store pharmacies, across Hong Kong, Macau, and the Greater Bay Area. With a diverse range of products and services, Mannings is committed to integrating the concept of “Wellness” into our daily lives while pioneering a new era of health. By offering innovative health technologies, AI solutions, preventive healthcare, self-managed health tools, and digital wellness and beauty solutions, Mannings empowers individuals and families to prioritize their well-being.

Mannings also provides complementary professional services, including Safe Disposal of Unused Medicines program, Advice for Minor Ailments, as well as medication and usage consultations, safeguarding the community’s health and beauty.

About GenM

GenM is the Menopause Partner for Brands and Home of the MTick^® – the universal symbol and certification for menopause-friendly products. With a Collective of over 120 of the most progressive and powerful retail partners such as Boots, Tesco, QVC, Matalan, Morrisons, Next and Sainsbury’s as well as brand partners; TENA, Colgate, Sanex, Charles Worthington, Dove, Sure and Revolution Beauty, GenM is driving the creation of a new purposeful retail category of menopause, delivering trust, choice and visibility to the overlooked and underserved 15.5 million menopausal audience in the UK.

GenM’s game-changing MTick^® is transforming the way women search, source and shop for products that may ease, relieve or support any of the 48 menopause signs. The MTick^® is only displayed on products that meet the strict qualifying criteria of this certification. United by the MTick^®, the GenM Collective is empowering women to shop with ease and confidence so that she can, ultimately, live her best menopause.

About the MTick^®
MTick^® certification is only granted to brands and retailers which meet one (or more) of these criteria, and means they can proudly display the symbol on packaging, marketing, or at point or sale:

1. Backed by authorised medicinal, cosmetic and/or health claims*
2. Tried and tested by menopausal women in clinical user trials that generate statistical evidence for a specified symptom(s) or sign(s)
3. Features trialled and verified technology or functionality to support one (or more) of the 48 symptoms or signs

*Health claims – For the 48 symptoms and signs, EFSA approved health claims.

Driving Singapore’s Transition Towards a Cleaner Energy Future

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 October 2025 – GasHubUnited Utility Private Limited (“GasHub“), Singapore’s leading Liquefied Natural Gas (“LNG“) distributor, proudly unveils its transformative “Switch Campaign”, a bold initiative to drive industries towards cleaner and more sustainable energy. GasHub is a subsidiary of H2G Green Limited (SGX:5AI) (“H2G“).

This campaign empowers businesses in Singapore to achieve cost efficiency, strengthen energy resilience, and uphold environmental commitments, while supporting the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and the nation’s net-zero emissions goal by 2050.

A Smarter, Cleaner and More Sustainable Energy Choice

LNG is rapidly emerging as a game-changer in the global energy landscape. Compared with diesel, LNG produces up to 30% fewer CO₂ emissions, 75% fewer nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), and zero sulfur dioxide emissions, making it one of the cleanest fossil fuels available.

Its combustion efficiency also translates to lower maintenance costs, extended equipment life, and consistent energy output, providing businesses with a reliable and greener energy alternative that does not compromise on performance.

“As industries face increasing pressure to reduce carbon footprints, GasHub’s mission is to make the switch to LNG effortless and economically rewarding,” said Bentinck Ng, CEO of GasHub. “Our goal is to help companies not only meet regulatory compliance but to thrive in a future powered by cleaner, smarter energy.”

Key Benefits of Switching to LNG

Lower Emissions, Greater Compliance:

Meet Singapore’s tightening carbon and emission regulations while reducing company’s environmental impact.

Significant Cost Savings:

LNG offers lower maintenance costs and greater price stability over time compared to conventional fossil fuels.

Enhanced Energy Efficiency:

LNG burns cleaner, providing good calorific value and reducing wear and tear on equipments , extending operational lifespan.

Grants & Green Finance Support:

Businesses can access grants and transition funding through sustainability schemes and green financing that support the move towards LNG adoption.

Future-Ready Infrastructure:

GasHub’s turnkey LNG ecosystem offers end-to-end solutions, from consultation and installation to maintenance and supply chain management, ensuring a seamless and sustainable switch.

Empowering Businesses with Tailored LNG Solutions

The Switch Campaign provides companies with a comprehensive suite of support, including:

• Free Consultation & Energy Audit to assess current operations and identify potential cost savings.
• Funding Insights to guide businesses on government funding and green financing for LNG transition.
• Advisory on Equipment Conversion toensure LNG-compatible systems.
• Ongoing Energy Management with live monitoring for fuel consumption and emission tracking.

Already, several early adopters have reported enhanced operational stability and faster compliance with green certifications.

“We believe in going green and going global. With GasHub’s expert guidance, switching to LNG was simple, aligning us with partners worldwide for a sustainable economy,” said Mr. Kelvin Khor, Director of KMS Industrial.

Businesses across manufacturing, logistics, hospitality, and utilities are invited to take the first step towards energy transformation with GasHub.

Sign up for a free consultation and learn how LNG can reduce costs, improve performance, and contribute to a sustainable Singapore.

Contact GasHub: +65 8693 1149
Visit: https://www.gashubutility.com/switch
Email: enquiry@gashubutility.com

Hashtag: #Sustainability #CleanEnergy #GreenerFuture #NetZero2050 #SustainableSingapore #SingaporeGreenPlan2030 #Decarbonisation #EnergyTransition #H2G #Gashub #LNG

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