Why does being a B Corp set us apart?
March is B Corp Month: it is the celebration of all companies that have been certified because they meet the highest environmental and social sustainability standards. Davines is also a B Corp and we would like to explain why this makes us proud
Nowadays, sustainability is one of the main topics of public discourse. That is a good thing: it means that an increasing number of people - both in the world of institutions and in industry, as well as among consumers - are aware of the urgent need to change our way of life, so that the planet and communities may survive.
The fact that sustainability is at the center of the debate is indeed important; what is more important, however, is that the discussion is followed by action. This is what the companies - like Davines - that belong to the B Corp movement are fighting for. Here are some of the positive actions that Davines is engaged in to emphasize its commitment to people and the planet.
The challenges of packaging: Plastic Neutral Products
Davines is a proud partner of Plastic Bankto prevent plastic from entering the sea and improve people's lives. Thanks to this partnership, in 2021 we prevented 100 tonnes of plastic from being dispersed in the sea, contributing to recovery actions in the coastal communities of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Brazil.
We have now decided to further expand our commitment: in 2022, all Davines Group products will be certified Plastic Neutral, by Platic Bank. What does that mean? It means that, for every product we sell in 2022, we will collect and remove the same amount of plastic dispersed in the environment.
Interdependence: together we are stronger!
Making the world a better place is a common concern for all; we are all connected and responsible for each other. That is why we joined forces with another B Corp: 24 Bottles, which produces reusable thermos bottles and tumblers.
Regenerative Agriculture: Davines with Rodale Institute
In 2021, we announced our new partnership with Rodale Institute, a pioneer of the regenerative organic movement since 1947. The new Davines Group - Rodale Institute European Regenerative Organic Center will open in Parma, near the Davines Village, expanding the range of regenerative organic ingredients and acting as a hub for research on sustainability and the training of farmers.
The new European Regenerative Organic Center will encompass a 10-hectare site on the Davines Village campus and focus on the management of organic agriculture in a Mediterranean climate, as well as on the close relationship between personal care ingredients and agriculture.
Decarbonization: the most urgent goal to save the planet
The environment is the first area on which we would like to have a positive impact, starting with countering climate change. Davines has been a Carbon Neutral company since 2018 and, in 2019, we committed to becoming Net Zero by 2030, in a joint effort made by many B Corps around the world.
In 2021, we also ran our climate action campaign “Still, we are not there yet”, with a view to involving collaborators, professional clients, and consumers in over 90 countries. We challenged our community: help us save 80 tonnes of CO2. How? By tracking your virtuous actions with A World, an app chosen by the UN to promote sustainable lifestyles. We are talking about simple, everyday actions - such as turning the water off while you brush your teeth or taking a short shower. Each action corresponds to a value of CO2 saved or another positive index. The challenge ended with results that exceeded expectations: 119 tonnes of CO2 saved.
B Corp Beauty Coalition: do beauty, do good
As a Certified B Corporation, Davines believes that all companies - through their products, services and profits - must strive not to harm the planet and, what is more, create value for all. Another important step in that direction was the establishment of the B Corp Beauty Coalition in January 2022: a group of 36 B Corp companies that wish to turn the beauty world standards upside down, challenging themselves to go one step further on sustainable ingredients, innovative packaging with a lower impact, green logistics, as well as transparent communication towards consumers.
What is a B Corp?
The B Corp movement was born in the United States in 2006 - before the green wave - with an ambitious goal: help companies to find a balance between “profit” and “purpose”, i.e. between “finance” and “ethics”. B Corps are, however, for-profit companies; that is to say, they have financial as well as ethical goals.
The certification is an attestation that they comply with the highest environmental and social sustainability standards. Their uniqueness lies precisely in this search for balance between doing business and doing good: the one must not be seen as the opposite of the other; rather, they both contribute and are mutually beneficial to the search for sustainable growth.
How the B Corp Certification is obtained
This movement is characterized by the concreteness of facts: to become a Certified B Corporation, companies must pass a true admission test, in which they quantify their impact on the planet and its people. Another pivotal fact: the certification does not provide a permanent status. Every B Corp company must re-certify every three years, so as to always guarantee that its impact is the same or has even improved.
