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Indian Armed Forces personnel take part in a yoga session to mark International Yoga Day at the Mumbai harbor on June 21, 2017.
“Much of Asian heritage is dominated by nature,” Thakran said. “Japan is one society that lives in the most harmony with nature, whether it’s waste recycling or using less means.”
When asked to name one key name in the wellness space, Thakran pointed to manuka honey. Native to New Zealand, the honey is widely regarded as alternative medicine and commands high prices.
“In five-10 years, it won’t be possible to sell products without conveying the right message of sustainability,” Thakran said. “Doing good can be very profitable as well.”
A devout believer in ethical finance, the Singapore-based investor said he believes environmental norms should be applied across private equity. Those in the industry are becoming “custodians of society at large,” he said, acknowledging that most PE companies have progressed on social factors such as gender equality.
L Catterton lives up to that ideology, he noted. “Before investing, we do something called a smell test — it’s a value alignment test across a wide spectrum of factors, such as ethics.”