Davines was established by the Bollati family of Parma, Italy as a research and manufacturing laboratory for cosmetic companies. Later it developed its own brand of hair care products which seamlessly combine tradition with innovation.
Davines’ core principles are Beauty + Sustainability, which drive all decisions and activities at the company. This includes its Carta Etica philosophy, renewable energy usage and employee community activities within Davines Village.
Origins
Davines is one of the most beloved hair care brands in Australia, yet there is much that we still don’t understand about it – from where their name originated to their commitment to sustainability.
Davines was established by the Bollati family in 1983 as a research laboratory specializing in producing premium hair and skin care products for major cosmetic companies. However, Davines took an important step in 1992 by becoming an independant producer under its own label under Davines brand.
At the core of Davines lies its complex in Parma: an iconic modern building featuring large glass walls to ensure maximum architectural transparency. Here you can find offices, training spaces, research and development laboratories, production lines and stores – not forgetting their Scientific Garden which serves as an open air laboratory where all natural ingredients used in their formulas can be planted!
Sustainability
Sustainability is at the core of Davines, whether in ingredient procurement, packaging design or business operations. One of the first companies worldwide to achieve B Corp status certification ensures they are committed not only to environmentally sustainable products but also social responsibility initiatives. With their own team of Sustainability Development Activators located throughout their entire company they aim to motivate teams towards sustainability initiatives while offering operational references for sustainability initiatives.
Environmental responsibility at their facilities includes efforts to decrease and offset their carbon footprint while also conserving and restoring water basins around them. Through their ‘EthioTrees’ project, trees are being planted in Ethiopia to offset emissions while helping reforest areas at risk from desertification.
Their products combine natural ingredients with cutting-edge cosmetic technologies and an artisanal spirit, reflecting the ideal of Sustainable Beauty as the union between Beauty and Good. Furthermore, they utilize renewable energy sources as well as package their goods using plastic-neutral, recyclable materials.
Biodiversity
Since its founding, Davines has championed biodiversity through the cultivation of high-quality organic ingredients and sustainable business practices. Furthermore, they are actively involved in regenerative farming through partnerships with Slow Food communities in order to encourage farmers to utilize techniques which support soil health and biodiversity.
Davines produces 100% renewable electricity at their Davines Village and offices and have been carbon neutral since 2006. As part of their commitment to energy transition, Davines includes green aniseed extract from Mr. Corradetti’s farm in Parma – part of the Slow Food community there – in their Essential Haircare hero products.
Becoming a B Corporation resulted in major strategic and organizational changes for the company, setting measurable improvement goals through B Impact Assessment and working on creating a long-term plan to reach Net Zero emissions. They have also initiated a collaborative project with Rodale Institute to establish the European Regenerative Organic Center (EROC), which will advance research and education about regenerative agriculture methods which protect biodiversity.
Ethics
Davines, as a B Corporation, is dedicated to ethics, sustainability and innovation. Their products combine precious natural ingredients with Italian culture’s artisan spirit for excellence in cosmetic technology – while using renewable energy sources in their factories and prioritizing eco-friendly packaging solutions.
As part of their environmental commitment, they invest back into the environment by planting trees to offset their carbon footprint. One such initiative is EthioTrees which reforests areas at risk from desertification in Ethiopia.
Davines stands out from their competition by using cruelty free products; no animals were tested on for testing purposes and they don’t purchase ingredients from companies who do this either – making this company an exceptional ethical practice that sets them apart. Furthermore, employees are encouraged to donate a day of work each year in support of charity! Davines believes beauty and sustainability go hand-in-hand; this philosophy drives everything they do from formulation to design and even corporate governance!