Striving for sustainability

Founded in Italy with an aim to become ‘the best creators of good life for all, through beauty, ethics and sustainability’, a commitment to sustainability runs right to the core of the Davines Group.

Celebrating its 37th anniversary this year, the Group is present in 90 countries and in 2019 had a total turnover of €163 million (£149 million) from its haircare and professional skincare lines, including [comfort zone] and Skin Regimen.

Davines obtained B Corporation certification in 2016 and was re-certified earlier this year. The company’s financial performance shows that an economic model underpinned by sustainability can not only meet consumer needs but also generates business growth and profits.

Its founder and chairman, Dr Davide Bollati (pictured above), discusses the company’s achievements and aims:

Why do spas need to be sustainable?

The next 10 years are crucial to reverting the present unsustainable economic and social paradigm and rethinking the way we as humans inhabit our planet: not just diminishing our impact, but contributing to its regeneration.

Living in harmony with the environment should be at the centre of any human activity. The words ‘economy’ and ‘ecology’ have the same etymological matrix: we need to go back to their fair interdependence and balance to regenerate our planet and our society.

How does the Davines Group maintain its high levels of sustainability?

The process to become a Certified B Corporation entails numerous social and environmental commitment projects that involve employees, suppliers and customers all over the world.

Moreover, the Group has chosen to align its corporate strategy and sustainability efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) – 17 objectives identified by UN member countries in 2015 as guidelines for sustainable development of the planet.

Specific KPIs for our impact on people, the planet and communities are set every year and we make this public in our annual Sustainability Report.

In order to measure our contribution, Davines has adopted SDG Action Manager. This is a tool developed by B Lab and the United Nations Global Compact, which proposes common standards for companies to evaluate their own corporate footprint compared to SDGs.

We have also transformed our business into a Benefit Company, a move that legally reaffirms the Group’s long-term willingness to engage in generating a positive impact on society and the environment, beyond profit.

How can spa businesses incorporate sustainability in these economically challenging times?

Spas can measure their impact and reduce any possible waste; take the time to rethink their supplier and energy resources; and, of course, involve their teams and customers in this journey.

They can begin with specific practices for lighting, air conditioning and heating or cooling systems, and start to use energy from renewable resources. This can all be done for free and is easy to adjust. Spas can also involve their staff and guests through bonus schemes and the further promotion of sustainability.

What is next for the Davines Group in terms of future sustainability?

The Davines Group, together with over 500 B Corps worldwide, has made a commitment to achieve the Net Zero Emissions goal by 2030. The quantities of CO2eq that cannot be reduced or zeroed will continue to be compensated through the EthioTrees reforestation and soil regeneration project, exclusive to Davines and active today in Ethiopia.

I’m among the founders of Regeneration 20|30, a project that began with a digital event last October that is aimed at creating a global alliance between governmental and non-governmental organisations and spiritual leaders, in order to start a deep multi-lateral dialogue.

All parties are committing to change the past and present depletive economic and social paradigm into a regenerative one. A tri-layered pledge touches on the three main pillars of the alliance: Regenerative Economy, Climate Action, and World Happiness.