Kolmar Korea wins two presidential citations at sustainability and productivity awards

Kolmar Korea announced Monday that it received a presidential citation for contributions to sustainable management at the 2026 Korea Productivity and Sustainable Management Innovation Awards.

The cosmetics manufacturer swept two presidential citations at the ceremony, winning in both the sustainable management and productivity innovation categories. Executive Vice President Lee Young-ju, who heads the production division, received the citation in the productivity improvement category.

The event was hosted by South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and organized by the Korea Productivity Center (KPC) to recognize individuals and organizations that have contributed to strengthening industrial competitiveness. This year marked the first time the National Productivity Awards and the Sustainable Management Citation Ceremony — previously held separately — were combined into a single event.

Kolmar Korea was recognized for its systematic approach to ESG (environmental, social and governance) management. Particularly noted was the company's work raising sustainability standards across its entire supply chain, leveraging its cosmetics original design manufacturing (ODM) business structure spanning both customers and partner companies.

The company has pursued a range of initiatives, including eco-friendly packaging and product development, climate risk response, ESG education for partner companies, and support for calculating greenhouse gas emissions. It has also focused on human rights impact assessments for employees, strengthening safety management systems, and community engagement programs. An ESG committee guides the integration of key sustainability goals into overall management.

Lee, who received the presidential citation for productivity improvement, was recognized for leading digital transformation, production automation and logistics innovation as head of the production division. The company said Lee built a production system capable of meeting rising global demand for K-beauty products while improving operational efficiency and quality competitiveness.

As K-beauty continues to expand in global markets, the production capabilities and supply chain management of cosmetics ODM companies have grown increasingly important. Beyond production efficiency needed to respond swiftly to diverse demands from global customers, sustainable management capabilities — including eco-friendly product development and ESG oversight of partner companies — are emerging as key competitive factors.

"This award reflects our company-wide efforts to make sustainability a core management value, as South Korea's first cosmetics ODM company and a driving force in the K-beauty industry," a Kolmar Korea official said. "We will continue to lead sustainable industrial development through further advances in ESG management and production innovation."