Everyday Care, Extraordinary Impact: Kenvue’s Contribution to Healthy China 2030

“We been here in China for more than three decades and we continue to innovate our products offerings and solutions to build a healthier China.” Gift Arpaporn Samabhandhu tells the AmCham China Quarterly Magazine.

Motrin, Tylenol, Rhinocort, Daktarin, Motilium, Band-Aid, Listerine, Aveeno, Dabao—these household names in China – and around the globe – all fall under the umbrella of a “long-standing” brand-new company: Kenvue. Following its separation from Johnson & Johnson in 2023, Kenvue has emerged as a world-leading consumer health company, impacting the lives of approximately 1.2 billion consumers daily.

After completing its separation from Johnson & Johnson in 2023, Kenvue debuted itself as a world-leading consumer health company. With numerous iconic brands, Kenvue touches approximately 1.2 billion consumers’ lives every day.

“Kenvue’s purpose is to realize the extraordinary power of everyday care,” Gift says. “We believe that daily health rituals can generate substantial long-term benefits to people’s health. That’s why we provide holistic health solutions that cover nearly every aspect of daily health needs, including oral health, pediatric care, skin health, cold and cough, fever, pain, allergy, fungal infection, digestive health, and wound care.”

Kenvue’s diverse offerings enable it to address health needs from prevention to treatment, creating positive health outcomes and contributing significantly to building a Healthy China. “Healthy China is an inspiring vision that empowers individuals to take responsibility for their own health. This aligns with Kenvue’s purpose and vision globally,” Gift emphasizes. “We see ourselves as an integral part of helping consumers and patients achieve Healthy China’s goals, and we are honored to be part of this transformative journey.”

A Science-Backed Company

Gift highlights three key areas where Kenvue focuses on supporting the Healthy China initiative: Science & innovation, health literacy, and healthcare accessibility. “We base everything on science, Kenvue is a science-backed company.” she says. “Our Shanghai R&D center, staffed with our top talent, is dedicated to product innovation for China.” With four plants in China, Kenvue not only develops products specifically for the Chinese market but also embraces the growing trend of domestic production, manufacturing within China to better serve local needs.

Gift cites Motrin, a leading medication for managing pediatric fever, as an example of Kenvue China’s production innovation. Through this product, the company introduced an advanced ibuprofen suspension technology to China. This technology, Gift explains, ensures that active ingredients remain evenly distributed in the liquid, providing consistent dosage with rapid dissolution and absorption. Additionally, the product comes in a child-friendly orange flavor and ibuprofen suspension drops, improving what can be an uncomfortable experience for both children and parents.

“Sometimes the science behind our products is invisible, but it reflects tremendous efforts to improve overall health outcomes,” Gift says. “Our focus is on efficacy and safety, as well as the experience and compliance, ensuring the best possible health outcomes for users.”

Recent innovations led by Kenvue China include the Motrin cooling patch for physical cooling and the Motrin straw for replenishing essential vitamins and minerals. These products, along with a broader range of self-care medicines, provide holistic solutions for pediatric care.

“We tailor our innovations to cater to the real needs of patients and consumers. This year we launched Tylenol PM in China. This product is designed to help people with poor sleep due to pain at night. By extending our product offerings into new categories, we are able to help more people solve their health needs and improve their life quality,” Gift shares.

Enhancing Health Literacy

“Improving health literacy is crucial for shaping people’s understanding of their own health needs and achieving our Healthy China goals,” Gift says. “We take every opportunity to educate consumers, boost health awareness, and promote a healthy lifestyle.”

Kenvue’s mouthwash brand, Listerine—familiar not only to Americans but to consumers around the world—boasts a century-long history of enhancing oral health. With over 500 research papers documenting its efficacy and safety, along with a legion of loyal consumers, Listerine is supported by substantial clinical data and enduring consumer trust.

“This [research] gives us the confidence and responsibility to share our knowledge on good oral health,” Gift says. “Oral health is crucial for overall health. We are seeing improvement in China, and we are determined to help fill the rest of the gap.”

Surveys indicate that only 36% of Chinese adults brush their teeth twice a day. Gift says Kenvue’s research indicates that even with brushing and flossing, one is only cleaning 25% of the total oral surface. Incomplete oral cleaning is a major cause of dental caries and periodontal diseases, which are the two most common oral diseases in China.

Last year, Kenvue, in collaboration with several partner institutions, supported the release of the “Joint Tips of Comprehensive Oral Care.” The guide outlines three steps essential steps for complete oral care: Brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash. It also features an in-depth study on the antibacterial mechanisms of essential oil mouthwashes, emphasizing their effectiveness for long-term daily use.

“We are actively collaborating with academia and clinical associations to develop more oral health guidelines. This year we supported the China Oral Health Foundation to release the ‘Expert Consensus on Effective Use of Mouthwash For Oral Health Promotion’ which provides more practical advice on improving oral health through daily practices like using mouthwash.”

Kenvue is also dedicated to helping people quit smoking in China. Nicorette, a leading nicotine replacement therapy, offers a variety of options, including chewing gum, mouth sprays, patches, and lozenges, to assist individuals in their quitting journey. Gift explains that Kenvue partners with associations, online platforms, and industry groups to promote tobacco control education for both the public and healthcare professionals.

“We use every available channel, including the internet, media outreach, offline training programs, and volunteer initiatives, to encourage smoking cessation awareness and provide professional methods for smokers,” she adds. “This effort is crucial for improving health literacy on smoking and positively impacting public health.”

Boost Access to Quality Health Solutions

“Kenvue has four plants in China, giving us a strong manufacturing and distribution footprint across the country,” Gift explains. “Currently, over 90% of our products sold in China are manufactured locally, enhancing product accessibility with greater agility.”

In 2023, Kenvue’s Shanghai Value Chain was recognized as a Global Lighthouse by The World Economic Forum and McKinsey for implementing more than 25 Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) innovations. These included big data analytics, machine learning, additive manufacturing, and digital twins, resulting in a 50% reduction in new product introduction lead times, a 1.3x improvement in production forecast accuracy, and 99.8% on-time deliveries within 48 hours.

“Our supply chain is more responsive to consumer needs, more digital, and more intelligent. We are able to capture the evolving needs of Chinese consumers and respond quickly,” Gift says.

To meet increasing market demands in China, Kenvue is expanding its supply chain and upgrading its facilities. Its OTC plant in Shanghai, which manufactures Motrin, Tylenol and Antuss will become a center of excellence for OTC manufacturing in APAC region. Additionally, Kenvue’s plant in Beijing recently successfully established a production line for Aveeno, marking the first step in expanding production of the renowned baby skin moisturizer to meet rising consumer demands.

“Apart from supply chain expansion, we are collaborating with partners, including associations, distributors, retail pharmacies, O2O platforms, e-commerce, internet and social media platforms to build an ecosystem that delivers health products, information, and service to patients and consumers in need.” Gift elaborates.

Kenvue’s active engagement in the Healthy China 2030 initiative highlights the brand’s commitment to advancing public health through innovative solutions and accessible education. By leveraging cutting-edge science, enhancing health literacy and expanding access to quality health products, Kenvue is hoping to not only support, but actively drive the country’s national health agenda. As China progresses towards its ambitious health goals, Kenvue stands poised as a pivotal partner, dedicated to fostering a healthier future for all. With a focus on everyday care and comprehensive health solutions, Kenvue demonstrates how global companies can effectively contribute to national health transformations and support a healthier tomorrow for China. “Healthy China is such an important topic and its success hinges on every one of us playing a part. We will continue to work with all sectors and to contribute to a healthier and happier tomorrow,” Gift summarizes.