Feature Image: Davines
In 1983, Gianni Bollati, together with his wife Silvana, founded a licensed hair product manufacturing business. Silvana formulated products in the basement of their home in Parma, while Gianni travelled across Italy to sell them. They named the company Davines, a tribute to their children, Davide and Stefania. Within a year, the business flourished, leading to the purchase of a warehouse and, by 1987, the hiring of their first employees.
The Davines Group has spent 40 years at the forefront of sustainable innovation in beauty. Initially operating as a research laboratory for premium hair and skincare products, the company launched the Davines haircare line for salons in 1993, followed by a skincare line in 1996 and Skin Regimen in 2018.
Today, Davines is a global leader in sustainable beauty, present in over 90 countries and renowned for its artisanal, eco-friendly products. All formulations are created at the Davines Village headquarters in Parma, combining advanced cosmetic research with the company’s commitment to sustainability. As a certified B Corporation, Davines continues to redefine the beauty industry through values-driven practices, making a positive impact on people, the planet, and communities.
B Corp Certification
Since 2016, Davines has been part of the B Corp movement, reflecting its commitment to creating positive social and environmental impact beyond profit. B Corp certification, granted by the international organisation B Lab, evaluates a company’s overall performance across five key areas: governance, employees, community, environment, and customers.
The B Impact Assessment (BIA), which forms the basis of certification, sets high standards for measuring performance, accountability, and transparency. While not tied to ISO or government standards, it provides an independent and holistic framework for assessing sustainable business practices.
Davines has demonstrated continuous progress in its B Corp journey. Its certification score has risen steadily, from 99 points in 2016 to 117.4 in 2020, and an impressive 123.5 in 2023. This improvement underscores the company’s dedication to sustainability, particularly in environmental impact, where it excels.
As one of the few beauty brands among over 7,500 B Corps worldwide, Davines sets a benchmark in the industry. Its journey reflects a commitment to not just sustainable growth but also to fostering a regenerative, inclusive, and equitable business model.
A Commitment to Growth and Well-Being
Davines Group places people at the heart of its values, striving to promote personal and organisational well-being while fostering self-realisation. By enhancing skills and talents through education, professional training, and personal development programmes, the Group empowers its team to thrive and contribute to its purpose of creating a good life for all, grounded in beauty and sustainability.
With a focus on work-life integration, Davines is committed to flexible work arrangements and talent development to build a resilient and future-ready workforce.
Circularity and Community Impact
Davines’ partnership with Plastic Bank reinforces its commitment to circularity. For every product sold, the company removes an equivalent amount of plastic waste from coastal areas in Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, and, beginning in 2024, Thailand.
Launched in 2021, the Davines x Plastic Bank collaboration began with the ‘Rethinking Plastic’ campaign. Over the past two years, this partnership has removed 879 tons of plastic from the coasts of these regions, equivalent to more than 44 million bottles. In 2021 alone, 100 tons of plastic were collected, and in 2022, the initiative achieved a milestone by removing an amount of plastic equivalent to what Davines placed on the market through its product sales.
To mark its 40th anniversary on September 22, 2023, Davines inaugurated Activation Day, a global corporate volunteer event dedicated to waste collection, particularly plastic, in collaboration with local NGOs. This first pilot involved nearly 600 staff members worldwide, who collected over 5.4 tons of waste in a single day.
Activation Day not only reinforced Davines’ commitment to circularity but also served as a reminder of the vital role individuals play in building a healthier and safer environment. With plans to replicate this initiative annually, the event symbolises the interdependence between local communities, the company, and non-profit organisations.
Insights from a Professional
To provide a perspective from within the industry, I spoke with Toni, a skilled barber and hairdresser at Kesman, a prestigious men’s grooming brand with locations in Farringdon and Victoria. Toni’s expertise and passion for high-quality grooming products make her an advocate for Davines. These are her insights:
What sets Davines apart in sustainability?
Davines prioritises eco-certified, organic ingredients sourced responsibly. The brand’s commitment to local biodiversity and ethical practices ensures that its products are safe for both consumers and the environment. They also ensure that its suppliers follow ethical practices and respects the local ecosystems by using ingredients that support the biodiversity of the regions they are sourced from.
How is Davines working towards Net Zero by 2050?
Davines is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 through a two-step approach: reducing critical emissions based on the latest climate science and neutralising residual emissions. They have partnered with projects like Ethiotrees in Ethiopia, which focuses on reforestation while supporting local communities affected by the Tigray conflict, and the Scolel’te project in Chiapas, Mexico, which restores forests and agroforestry systems to promote both environmental and social benefits.
what are your Favourite products?
The OI range really stands out. Toni’s favourite is the OI Hair Butter, a luxurious antioxidant-rich nourishing butter with a delicious scent. This versatile product offers anti-frizz control, providing remarkable softness and shine to the hair. It deeply hydrates and nourishes, leaving hair feeling soft, full-bodied, and radiant. Toni suggests using it either as a conditioner or as a treatment for enhanced nourishment, in which case it can be applied both before and after shampooing.
The award-winning OI range is celebrated for its versatility, serving as both a daily haircare solution and a styling aid. Enriched with Roucou oil, known for its beta-carotene and antioxidant properties, the products deliver exceptional shine, softness, and nourishment.
The OI All In One Milk is another of Toni’s favourites, it’s a lightweight, multi-functional leave-in treatment ideal for fine to medium hair, which also provides hydration for coarser textures. It tames frizz, detangles, and protects hair from heat up to 230°, leaving it soft, silky, and naturally shiny. Formulated with provitamin B5 and a functional amino complex, it offers deep moisturisation, stress resistance, and like the Hair Butter, it smells amazing. This hydrating milk can be applied to towel-dried hair or used as a finishing touch for particularly dry strands, ensuring lasting hydration and a radiant finish.
Toni uses the OI Shampoo and Conditioner, both professionally and personally, which also comes in a Mini set, making it an excellent option for those wanting to sample the products before committing to full sizes. Suitable for all hair types, this set combines bestsellers designed to nourish, soften, and enhance the hair’s natural shine and fragrance. Perfect for travel, it includes mini versions of the OI Shampoo, OI Conditioner, and OI All In One Milk.
Another favourite is the Naturaltech Energizing range including the shampoo, which is specially formulated for fragile hair prone to breakage. This is a gentle shampoo that moisturises the scalp while stimulating hair growth. It strengthens strands, prevents hair loss, and leaves hair silky, thick, and shiny. It’s also paraben- and sulphate-free, and contains 95.9% biodegradable ingredients. The range also includes a treatment Gel for Thinning Hair, the Superactive Serum for faster hair growth and a Thickening Tonic to create full bodied hair.
The Scientific Garden: Innovation Rooted in Nature
At the heart of Davines Village lies the 3,000-square-metre Scientific Garden, a living testament to the company’s dedication to sustainable beauty. Cultivated using organic farming principles, the garden inspires research into botanical properties for product development.
Design and Purpose
Designed by del Buono Gazerwitz, the garden’s layout reflects the harmony of science and humanism. Inspired by historical gardens, it features sections such as the Garden of Aromatic Plants, Medicinal Plants, and Perfumed Plants. This open-air laboratory fosters innovation while promoting biodiversity.
Developed in collaboration with the University of Florence, the plant species in the Davines Scientific Garden were carefully selected for their functional and scientific properties, supporting the company’s R&D initiatives. A large greenhouse, designed and manufactured in England, occupies the space and houses plants specifically for research purposes.
The garden is enclosed by a double hedge, which serves both to define its circular shape and protect the plants from adverse weather conditions. Beyond the circle, the design incorporates an arboretum that reflects the international spirit of Davines. Customers from around the world contributed to its creation by suggesting tree species from their home nations, resulting in a diverse selection that embodies the company’s philosophy.
“THE SCIENTFIC GARDEN GIVES US THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING DIRECT CONTACT WIT NATURE AND ITS INFINITE RESOURCES. PLANTS ARE A SOURCE OF STUDY AND INSPIRATION FOR OUR DAILY AND FUTURE WORK.”
Davide Bollati, Chairman of Davines Group
The garden’s layout reflects its dual purpose as a research hub and a tranquil space for wellbeing. Divided into sections, the garden features aromatic plants like basil and thyme, medicinal species such as echinacea and Agastache Mexicana, and plants used for natural colourants and perfumes, including a rich variety of roses. This living laboratory symbolises Davines’ harmonious blend of sustainability, beauty, and science.
key ingredients
Davines prioritises the selection of high-quality ingredients, respecting local biodiversity and favouring those that are natural, eco-certified, or organic. All Davines products are crafted with ingredients deemed safe for both consumers and the environment; the website features a comprehensive glossary detailing each ingredient and its benefits. Below is a selection of some key ingredients.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers, a quintessential part of the Italian landscape, thrive in the Scientific Garden. Their oil is a key ingredient in Davines’ Authentic Line, valued for its ability to deeply nourish and hydrate.
Artichoke
Known for its purifying properties, artichoke extract is cultivated in the garden and incorporated into the Naturaltech Detoxifying line. This range is designed to cleanse and revitalise scalps and hair exposed to environmental stressors.
Lavender and Rosemary
Lavender and rosemary flourish in the Scientific Garden, their extracts lending the unmistakable fragrance to A Single Shampoo. Lavender, native to the Mediterranean, has been used for cleansing since ancient Roman times. Meanwhile, rosemary—whose name originates from the Latin ros maris (sea dew)—symbolises the light blue hue of its delicate flowers.
Agastache
Agastache Mexicana, prized for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, is another garden treasure. Its super-active extract is featured in the Naturaltech Energizing line, formulated specifically for brittle and thinning hair.
Echinacea
Echinacea, long regarded as sacred by Native Americans for its healing benefits, is cultivated in the garden for use in the Naturaltech Well-Being line. The plant’s polyphenol-rich extract is celebrated for its potent antioxidant properties.
Lemon
Lemon trees, dotted throughout the garden and the on-site bistro, provide a refreshing scent. Their phytoceuticals are used in the Naturaltech Rebalancing shampoo, which is formulated to control excessive sebum production.
Advancing Regenerative Organic Farming
In July 2021, the Davines Group partnered with the renowned Rodale Institute to establish the European Regenerative Organic Center (EROC), the first international hub dedicated to regenerative organic research and education in Parma, Italy. The centre’s mission is to demonstrate the environmental and social benefits of regenerative organic farming while addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.
Regenerative organic farming focuses on enhancing soil health by implementing practices such as minimal soil disturbance, crop rotation, the use of organic fertilisers, and biodiversity promotion. These methods improve ecosystem services, including food production, water regulation, and increased carbon sequestration, which removes more CO2 from the atmosphere compared to conventional farming.
Known for coining the term “regenerative organic,” the Rodale Institute has been at the forefront of research, farmer training, and consumer education. This partnership strengthens Davines’ commitment to harmonising beauty and agriculture through sustainable innovation.
1% for the Planet
Davines’ commitment to sustainability extends beyond its innovative products and practices. The company is a proud supporter of 1% for the Planet, a platform that connects businesses with environmental non-profit organisations.
Through this initiative, Davines donates 1% of its sales to causes that align with its mission to protect and regenerate the planet. This dedication reflects Davines’ holistic approach to creating products that benefit both people and the environment, reinforcing its role as a pioneer in sustainable and regenerative practices.