Nu Skin, a global leader in beauty and wellness, today announced its membership in the EcoBeautyScore Consortium; a globally recognized group developing an industry-wide environmental impact assessment and scoring system for cosmetics products.

Nu Skin joins more than 40 other cosmetics brands in the Consortium that has set out to measure the environmental impact of products in a uniform manner with the goal of using the prototype by the end of this year. The aim of EcoBeautyScore Consortium aligns with Nu Skin's goal of putting the customer first and recognizes the need for one easy-to-understand, industry-wide standard.

"An increasing number of shoppers are basing their purchasing decisions on the environmental impact of products," said Ruth Todd, senior vice president and chief reputation officer at Nu Skin. "It's time to provide customers with even more clarity and transparency into the environmental impact of their beauty products. We look forward to partnering with other industry leaders and developing a globally recognized system that allows consumers to make informed decisions."

Other members of the EcoBeautyScore Consortium include Colgate-Palmolive, Coty, The Estée Lauder Companies, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., L'Oréal Groupe, P&G, Shiseido and Unilever. The Consortium is working with the experienced sustainability consultancy Quantis to help ensure a robust and scientific approach to co-build an assessment methodology and scoring system that are guided by:

A common method for measuring environmental impacts throughout the lifecycle of products, backed by the principles of the "Product Environmental Footprint" (the European Union's PEF scientific method based on life cycle assessment (LCA) for quantifying the environmental footprint of products). A common database of environmental impact of standard ingredients and raw materials used in formulas and packaging, as well as during product usage. A common tool that enables the assessment of the environmental impact of individual products, usable by non-experts. A harmonized scoring system that enables companies, on a voluntary basis, to inform consumers about the environmental footprint of their cosmetic products, using a methodology, data base, tool and scoring system that can be verified by independent parties.

In 2019, Nu Skin recognized the need for an easy-to-understand industry standard for beauty products and developed its own internal scoring system to improve the customer sustainability journey. Nu Skin plans to bring key learnings from this implementation as an active participant in the development of a globally recognized standard.

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: NUS) is a global integrated beauty and wellness company, powered by a dynamic affiliate opportunity platform. The company helps people look, feel and live their best with products that combine the best of science, technology and nature. Backed by more than 35 years of scientific research, Nu Skin develops innovative products including Nu Skin® personal care, Pharmanex® nutrition and the ageLOC® anti-aging brand which includes an award-winning line of beauty device systems. Nu Skin operates in approximately 50 markets worldwide in the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Pacific. Rhyz Inc. is the company's strategic investment arm that includes a collection of technology and manufacturing companies to support growth in the core Nu Skin business. Nu Skin is committed to sustainability, including global initiatives such as transitioning to reduced and sustainable packaging for all products by 2030. The Nu Skin Force for Good Foundation also strives to improve children's health, education and economic circumstances throughout the world.

A recent study from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign looked at the metabolic benefits of consuming avocados on a daily basis. According to the findings, consuming one avocado per day for 12 weeks was connected with a redistribution of abdominal fat in women. Avocados helped reduced women's visceral fat levels, which can cut the risk of a variety of ailments, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

According to Naiman Khan, a researcher, there are two forms of fat in the stomach. Fat that accumulates just beneath the skin is known as subcutaneous fat, and fat that develops deeper in the belly is known as visceral fat. It encircles the interior organs. People who have a higher amount of deeper visceral fat are more likely to develop diabetes. As a result, they sought to examine if the ratio of subcutaneous to visceral fat changed after eating avocados. The researchers recruited 105 overweight and obese people to take part in the study. The researchers offered one meal each day for 12 weeks; one group received one avocado per day for the duration of the trial, while the other group ate an identical meal without the avocado. At the beginning as well as the conclusion of the 12-week period, the researchers assessed the subjects' glucose tolerance and abdominal fat.

Avocados were shown to be advantageous to the women in the research but not to the males. Avocados were discovered to be associated with a redistribution of body fat, which can eventually lessen the risk of illness, according to the researchers. Women who ate one avocado per day had lower levels of visceral fat and a lower ratio of the two types of abdominal fat. According to the researchers, weight loss isn't always the most essential element because how the body stores fat might have just as big of an impact on long-term health consequences. Although everyday avocado consumption did not increase glucose tolerance, Khan believes that a dietary pattern that includes an avocado every day influenced how people store body fat in a healthy way. However, he feels that the advantages were primarily in females. The fact that the benefits were only evident in females suggests that gender may play a role in dietary intervention responses.

The researchers are planning to do more research on how avocados and other dietary changes may benefit consumers' health in the future. The researchers will be able to gain a clearer picture of which types of people would benefit from incorporating avocados into their diets by expanding their research, as well as provide valuable data for health care advisers to provide patients with guidance on how to reduce fat storage and the potential dangers of diabetes by expanding their research.

Eating an avocado can also help improve a woman's fertility. Avocados are abundant in nutrients that are essential for pre-conception health and pregnancy. Avocados are high in folate (folic acid), healthful monounsaturated fats, vitamin C, K, other B vitamins, potassium, and other minerals, as well as fiber. Healthy fat (monounsaturated and omega-3 polyunsaturated fats with minimal omega-6 polyunsaturated fats) aids in estrogen production and reproductive hormonal balance.

Avocados are also high in phytonutrients, which aid in cell protection. Avocado provides fiber and healthy fat to balanced diets of healthy, whole grain, low-fat protein, fresh veggies and fruit, and can help keep blood sugar (glucose) levels low. Avocado is beneficial to women's skin. Avocados' monounsaturated fats nourish women's hair and nails, and I believe we all realize how vital nails and hair are for a greater number of women throughout the world. Avocados also contain lutein, which aids in the improvement of people's eyesight.

Avocados are safe in maternal diets because they contain high levels of critical nutrients including folate and potassium; both are essential for fetal growth and development. They are high in healthy fats, as well as other vitamins and minerals, all of which are beneficial during pregnancy. Lack of folate or folic acid can result in birth abnormalities in newborns. As a result, the fetus requires adequate folic acid for optimal organ growth and development.

Avocados, which are high in folic acid, offer roughly 5mcg of folic acid per half cup. Iron deficiency during pregnancy can result in anemia in pregnant women. Avocados are high in iron, which is essential during pregnancy. Constipation and stomach ailments are prevalent during pregnancy. Avocado's high fiber content aids digestion and facilitates bowel motions. With all these, we can see the crucial benefit avocado consumption has on women.

Archipelago, Southeast Asia's largest privately owned and independent hotel management group, today announced the expansion of its Cuban portfolio with the opening of the 600 room GRAND ASTON La Habana Hotel. Rising to the Havana Malecón sky, this urban oasis is ideally located in the bustling Vedado, the capital's central commercial district, close to offices, shops, restaurants, and entertainment. Vedado is much more than a commercial district, it also has an electric nightlife, with clubs like La Zorra y el Cuervo, the Yellow Submarine, and the Cabaret Parisien providing quality entertainment.

GRAND ASTON La Habana takes modern living to the next level, revealing uniquely designed architecture, fresh rooms, eclectic dining, inspiring event spaces, and beautiful wellness facilities, including the city's only 24-hour fitness center and an amazing 56-meter long swimming pool overlooking the sparkling waters of Havana Bay. With an innovative design, its interior decoration is a perfect fusion between the Havana style of the 1930s and the Asian refinement of GRAND ASTON.

For a unique experience of rejuvenation and relaxation, its Wellness Center by Spa Ubud offers exotic Asian healing techniques, the only one in the city offering massages with authentic Balinese techniques. The hotel is also the first in the capital to house a bank branch (BFI).

"We're delighted to be opening what will become a true icon in the Havana hotel scene. One of the most creatively designed hotels is ready to welcome guests to experience the fusion of Asian and Cuban hospitality in a fantastic location," said John Flood, President & CEO of Archipelago.

Southeast Asia's largest privately owned and independent hotel management group, operates more than 150 hotels, with a further 50 hotels under development across Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East. A trusted hotel company with a long track record and more than 30,000 rooms operating or under development in over 60 destinations with brands including ASTON, Collection by ASTON, The Alana, Huxley, Kamuela, Harper, Quest, NEO, favehotels and Nordic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, wearables became a tool for tracking, monitoring, and combating the spread of the disease throughout the world. According to a recent study from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, the number of wearables shipped worldwide in 2020 increased to 259.63 million, with sports, fitness, and wellness trackers accounting for 112.15 million and Smartwatches 74.30 million. Now, due to the increasing number of use cases and improved features, the upward trend is predicted to continue. In 2021, 304.69 million wearables shipped globally. In 2022, the wearable market is projected to reach 344.9 million of shipments worldwide, a growth increase of 13.2%.

"While the wearables sector has witnessed strong growth so, too, has mobile accessories, where demand for wireless headsets has risen dramatically in the past year. This increase has been driven by the growing availability of more stylish, feature packed and technically capable devices, notably the use of true wireless, on the market and, once again, the pandemic's impact on consumer behaviour and lifestyle," states Filomena Iovino, 5G Devices, Smartphones, and Wearables Research Analyst at ABI Research.

Wireless headset shipments reached 502.7 million at the end of 2021 and are expected to exceed 700 million units in 2026, with a CAGR of 7.6%, and leading the smart accessory market. Features such as noise cancellation technology will improve the user experience and offer a more extensive range of future use cases. "Furthermore, as voice control becomes the dominant user interface for hands-free control of smartphones and smartwatches, true wireless headsets will also become significant drivers for the growth and adoption of voice assistants," Iovino says. According to ABI Research, global TWS headset shipments will reach more than 600 million units in 2026 and a growth rate of 19%.

Additionally, certain segments of the mobile accessories market are set for fundamental change as total "in-box" shipments are to decline further due to the removal of items, notably chargers and headphones, by some leading smartphone vendors. Similarly, directives aimed at harmonizing charging ports to the use of a USB-C connector to reduce e-waste and improve consumer convenience could also alter the accessories market, potentially accelerating progress towards greater use of wireless charging and free-port devices. However, the wireless charging ecosystem is still relatively immature, and time will be required to improve specific features, such as charging times and the high costs of accessories, to ensure it can offer high-quality performance and enhanced user experiences.

Despite the introduction of 5G networks as a premium feature, many device types in the wearables and accessories sector will not become completely self-connected, instead they will still need to be tethered to a smartphone or hub. Indeed, the 5G attach rate for wearables and accessories will remain low of about 0.6% by 2026 and will be mainly related to sectors such as smartwatches and headsets. "High data gathering and low power efficiency will be the key strengths for these smart gadgets, raising demand and increasing popularity, particularly in the healthcare industry," explains Iovino. As a result, wearable technology might be transformed, as gadgets shrink while gaining new capabilities.

"Although 5G is likely to appear in in greater numbers of smartwatches in 2023, volume is expected to remain low at 3.55 million by 2026 while 4G will still represent the highest volume with 45.4 million shipments and a CAGR of 31.7% by this stage," says Iovino.

Healthcare wearable devices will remain another dominant sector throughout the forecast period and one that lends itself well to cellular connectivity. These devices enable consumers to track vital healthcare information in and beyond a hospital setting. "Some healthcare devices are currently shipped with LPWA-LTE connectivity or 4G technology, expected to reach by 2026 0.86 and 0.72 million of units, respectively. Moreover, this could be a good sector for 5G owing to its low latency, reliability, and broadband speed connectivity," Iovino concludes.

These findings are from ABI Research's Mobile Accessories and Wearables Market Share and Forecasts market data report. This report is part of the company's 5G Devices, Smartphones & Wearables research service, which includes research, data, and analyst insights. Market Data spreadsheets are composed of deep data, market share analysis, and highly segmented, service-specific forecasts to provide detailed insight where opportunities lie.