Nation at a Glance — (10/17/19)
News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.
Southeast Asia has a weight problem
By Adam Minter
STARTING next year, Singapore will treat packaged sugary drinks such as Coca-Cola the way that other countries treat cigarettes. Advertisements will be banned, and a label attesting to a beverage’s unhealthiness will be mandatory. The goal is to reduce the high rate of sugar consumption and associated health problems — such as diabetes and heart disease — that are now plaguing Southeast Asia.
The problem is quickly getting worse. Between 2010 and 2014, obesity surged 24% in Singapore, 27% in Malaysia, and 38% in Vietnam. Left unaddressed, this epidemic could exact steep human and financial costs. Banning ads for sugary drinks won’t solve the problem on its own. But if Singapore thinks a bit more ambitiously, it might provide a model for other emerging and newly developed countries needing to slim down.
It wasn’t so long ago that much of Asia was associated with undernourishment. Thanks to a half-century of economic development and income growth, that’s no longer the case. Although hunger remains an issue in some areas, overall, Asians now have access to more and better food than ever — a fact reflected in rising life expectancies across the continent.
But increased access to food isn’t all good news. As incomes have risen, Asia’s eaters have tended to shift away from traditional starch-based diets and toward food rich in fat, protein, dairy, and sugar, much of it packaged and processed. Calories that might’ve once been worked off in rural fields now accumulate on the hips and bellies of Asia’s middle classes as they settle in cities by the tens of millions. Meanwhile, local food cultures that posed few health risks in less affluent times turn out to be problematic in an era of cheap calories. The fried snacks emblematic of Malaysian street food pose minimal health risks in moderation. But thanks to their low-cost ubiquity, they’re now helping to make the country, in UNICEF’s words, “the fattest nation in Asia.”
Then there’s sugar. Even before low prices made sweets widely accessible, Southeast Asia had a sweet tooth. Now that it can be more easily indulged, consumption is skyrocketing. In Thailand, daily sugar intake has increased from 19 teaspoons a day in 1997 to 28 in 2019. Singapore is modest by comparison, with consumers averaging around 12 teaspoons a day, about half from beverages (a typical can of soda contains 10 teaspoons). But even that’s at the high end of the World Health Organization’s guidelines.
The health effects associated with this shift, combined with other unhealthy nutritional trends, have been severe. Southeast Asia now accounts for about 20% of all diabetics globally. Over the past two decades, countries in the region have seen the world’s largest increases in premature deaths related to cardiovascular disease. Already, obesity-related ailments take up as much as 15% of Indonesia’s national health-care spending and 19% of Malaysia’s.
Faced with such an epidemic, Singapore’s plan to ban advertising and mandate labeling certainly makes sense. But if the government really wants to reduce consumption, it’ll need to apply direct pressure on manufacturers and consumers by imposing taxes on the production and sale of sugary goods. In price-sensitive developing countries like Mexico, such taxes have proved effective in reducing consumption or changing manufacturers’ practices. In Malaysia, the mere threat of such a tax convinced F&N Beverages Marketing, one of the country’s biggest drink manufacturers, to reformulate 70% of its products to avoid the price hike.
Ultimately, developing countries will have to look beyond prepackaged goods. Informal street dining remains prevalent in most of these areas, and consumers seeking sugary snacks or fried food can simply frequent a stall and eat tax-free. Promoting healthy (or healthier) eating will require long-term public-education campaigns, ideally combined with school-based nutritional programs like the one Malaysia will be launching next year.
None of this will be easy or cheap. But, as with a diet, the improved quality of life should ultimately pay for all the sacrifice.
BLOOMBERG OPINION
Over a cup of entitlement
With over 30,000 stores globally, Starbucks is now the world’s largest “coffee” store chain. And while it is present in over 70 countries, in reality, however, only four big markets account for more than half of those stores: the United States, China, Japan, and Canada. In the Philippines, it reportedly has around 250 stores nationwide.
Starbucks is an old company. It started in Seattle, Washington in 1971 — almost 50 years ago. I’ve been to the original store near Pike Market, and from the way it looked, I figured the owners never really imagined the business getting as big as it is now. But it didn’t start growing big until after it was sold in 1987. By 2017, the chain reportedly had $22 billion in gross revenues; over $2 billion in net income; over $14 billion in assets; and, over 277,000 employees worldwide.
Starbucks opened its first store outside North America in Tokyo in 1996. This was unsurprising, of course, as Japan is a big consumer of coffee. And it was equally unsurprising that the first store had to be in the expensive Ginza neighborhood. A year after, in 1997, a store was opened in the Philippines, at 6750 Ayala Avenue, at the financial district of Makati City. More international stores later opened in London in 1998, and then in Sydney in 2000.
The Starbucks chain has been operating locally for over 21 years now, and has become a common fixture in many highly urbanized Philippine cities. For those born in the late 1990s and onwards, perhaps they can no longer imagine a world without Starbucks. The company enjoyed prime mover advantage here, being the first to promote the “new” coffee “culture.”
I bought into the Starbucks lifestyle early on. Being a young newspaper editor in 1997, Starbucks 6750 was a convenient, comfortable, and classy venue to do interviews or chat with news sources while in the financial district. It was also a nice place to have coffee and converse with friends or colleagues, either for professional or personal reasons.
When I stepped down as managing editor in 2005 and went into business for myself, Starbucks became my go-to place. One can get a cup of coffee, camp out with a laptop, and get work done — the whole day, if need be. As a freelancer, or small business owner — a.k.a people without offices — I found it convenient, comfortable, and practical to work in Starbucks and other cafés. Meetings were held there, and work got done in between. Coffee meetings were also cheaper than lunches.
And for people who travel frequently, Starbucks is always considered “home,” wherever they are in the world. Looking for coffee, or breakfast, or a place to hang and rest for a while, there is always a Starbucks store within reach. And, it looks and smells and feels the same wherever in the world you are. As long as it is properly maintained, of course.
But just as McDonald’s or KFC are quick-fix, go-to places for relatively inexpensive meals whether in the Philippines, the US, Japan, Hong Kong, or other parts of the world, identifying with these “brands”, however, is a generation thing. Perhaps they are more for kids and adults no older than 65 years as of today. For older folks, Starbucks is either too expensive or too noisy.
But the personal relationship with brands perhaps will not be as strong as with Starbucks when it comes to the search for “home.” Given a choice, one can be more inclined to “hang” in a Starbucks store than in McDonald’s, for instance. I, for one, will go to McDonald’s of KFC for food but will rather have coffee in Starbucks while waiting for someone or to get some writing done.
And this, to me, is where Starbucks gets it right. The others are all “fast” food, and want you to quickly eat your meal and send you on your way. Starbucks, in a way, is also “fast” coffee. Many go in-out and get coffee “to-go.” But the venue also invites you to take things “slow,” to ease into a comfortable seat, and slowly sip your coffee, while listening to soothing music.
Or, if you are the more practical type, to pick a spot, open your laptop, plug in your charger, and put on your earphones to listen to your own music. After buying something to eat or drink, of course. And while many will argue that Starbucks coffee is either inferior in taste or flavor, or expensive compared to others, what they don’t get is that people keep going back for more than just the coffee. The “experience” offered is what actually sells the place, in my opinion.
But the culture that Starbucks has cultivated in the Philippines since 1997 is not without its consequences. For one, it has paved the way for access to coffee or caffeine by teens when this was probably not as widespread around 20 years ago. In the past, coffee had always been for the older folks, while kids and teens consumed juices and sodas. But now a younger generation of coffee drinkers have evolved, more so with the popularity of cold brews.
And while Starbucks provided more comfortable venues for people to meet and converse face-to-face, to an extent, coupled with technology, it has also brought out the worst in some people. And this is the main reason that I don’t frequent the place like I used to. Many go to coffee shops to work or do business, which is fine. But there are some individuals who occupy tables good for three or four people and treat these as exclusive domains for hours on end.
And this sense of entitlement comes from the mistaken notion that buying one cup of coffee already gives them free, unrestrained, and unimpeded access to all services — occupying a table for three because they need to “work” or have a meeting; charging laptops and mobile phones for free; using two to three seats for bags and other stuff; unlimited time in toilets; internet access; etc. — to the inconvenience of other customers.
I once encountered a middle-aged man playing an online video game on his mobile phone while in a coffee shop. He was wearing earphones and was obviously conversing with other online players. He was loud and disruptive, and his mouth needed a good cleansing. But he was oblivious to the fact that he was irritating or annoying other customers. And, the store staff didn’t bother to tell him, perhaps avoiding the risk of offending a customer.
Simply put, some coffee stores have become too comfortable, so much so that customers take the liberty of doing as they please — forgetting that they are still, actually, in public and not in the comfort of their own private homes or offices. Worse, some inconsiderate individuals hold court in coffee shops, conducting business as if they own the place, with loud conversations to boot. Worse, they make a mess of the place without bothering to clean up as they leave.
This is not to say that Starbucks or coffee chains are to blame. After all, they are simply the venue, and not their customers themselves. And it will be difficult for stores to “screen” customers or to insist on exclusivity, for to do so is simply bad for business. My issue is not with lack of class but simply with lack of manners. One cannot help but be disappointed by the sense of entitlement some people get from buying a cup of coffee.
Marvin Tort is a former managing editor of BusinessWorld, and a former chairman of the Philippines Press Council.
Rethinking workspaces for employees’ well-being
Workplaces have been modified through time, from the open office to cubicles to coworking spaces. Much more at this present time have workspaces been rethought and redefined to cater to the overall well-being and productivity of employees, especially those who are yet to enter the workforce.
“Designers are now creating inspirational, fun workplaces which promote health and well-being among users. This has a direct effect on job satisfaction and engenders pride in employees as well,” observed Mustafa Khamash, founder and managing director of luxury design atelier Kart Group, in an article from the Architecture Digest.
Prioritizing the well-being of employees in creating or remodeling workspaces has become a trend in itself. As Office Hub online office space marketplace observed on its web site, enhancing both physical and mental well-being of employees is at the forefront of business owners’ minds, aiming to increase their morale, reduce sick days, and inspire infectious productivity within the workspace.
Another notable trend transforming today’s offices is breakout zones. Created to drive experiences further within the usual work, these breakout zones can be in the form of meditation spaces, yoga studios, rooftop terraces, massage rooms, games areas, and lounges. According to online office space marketplace Office Hub on its web site, breakout areas “create a casual and relaxed environment that is more conducive to conversation, communication and creativity.”
“Far from fueling distraction, this office design trend tells employees that they’re welcome to bring their true selves to work — the concept that hundreds of coworking spaces harness today — and that they are trusted to be productive even without the confines of a cubicle,” Office Hub added.
Biophilic design is also another interesting trend in workspace design, which many workplaces are starting to adapt. Coming from the concept of “the human desire to connect with nature and to draw comfort from green spaces”, biophilic design brings nature indoors, as evident in the incorporation of greeneries into offices, be it live walls, landscaped gardens, or indoor plants.
Space Matrix, a design consultancy speacializing in workplace design, said on its web site that biophilic design will be less of a trend and more of a necessity in people-centric workplaces. “Futuristic offices will incorporate greenery right into the architecture of their buildings, and mimic nature as closely as possible when it comes to light, sound, smells and thermal conditions,” it added.
Not only does biophilic design integrate living forms in what used to be apparently concrete areas, but it is also poised to enrich productivity among employees. This was proven by a report by carpet tile manufacturer Interface, Inc., which indicated “an increase of eight percent in productivity and 13% in well-being from those working in offices with natural elements, proving the importance the biophilic trend will have in years to come.”
Characterized by lightweight and easily moveable furniture, wall dividers, and whiteboards on wheels among many others, dynamic space structures are also another way workspaces are being transformed. According to Office Hub, dynamic workspaces “can help minimize build costs, maximize space efficiency of small offices, and keep businesses adaptable to advances in technology.”
“By switching up the monotonous office layout, you can give staff an environment that is always fresh and interesting — which has an incredible effect on idea generation, productivity, and mindset,” it added.
Moreover, aged textures are being favored in today’s sleek workspaces. “Stark minimalism is fast being replaced by earthy touches that give a space a cheerful, lived-in look,” wrote Space Matrix. Examples of these “earthy touches” include wood beams, exposed ducts, handcrafted textiles, carefully curated interior accessories, bespoke furniture, and artisanal products.
Amid the popularity of collaborative and interactive workspaces, there are still professionals who prefer to do their work autonomously on a quiet desk. In fact, a recent report by Office Hub noted that “70% of Australian businesses moving to a shared workspace in 2018 chose a private office over a coworking desk.”
Adding personal touches of home is also another interesting way of reinventing workspaces. This is characterized by features such as wide-screen televisions, fridges, softer lighting, and comfier sofas. “Homestyle characteristics are already the DNA of the world’s most cutting-edge coworking spaces — in 2019, it will translate more to conventional office design,” noted the office space web site. — Adrian Paul B. Conoza