42 AsiaSpa November/December 2017
ExpertTake
Barbara Gavazzoli
Can a for-profit business make a positive social and environmental impact in the world?“We take care of people, not just
of their skin: this implies a proactive attitude
to inspire and support conscious lifestyle
choices while contributing to preserve and
protect the environment, and give back to
society,” says Barbara Gavazzoli, director of
communication at Comfort Zone.
In a world where businesses fixate on
growth and financial results, such a view is
refreshing. But the skincare company isn’t
alone in its quest to make a difference in
the world. Last year, Davines Group and
its two brands, Davines and Comfort Zone,
became part of the B Corp community,
which is composed of more than 2,100
companies. Likened to the Fair Trade
certification, certified B Corps are for-profit
companies that meet the high standards
of social and environmental performance,accountability and transparency, set by the
non-profit B Lab.
“The ‘sustainable beauty’ vision of
Davide Bollati, our founder and president,
fully resonates in the B Corporation motto
‘Be the best for the world’ and creates
the perfect condition to achieve financial
success, which is usually linked to a higher
ethical purpose,” says Gavazzoli, who
believes the Italian brand’s accomplishments
are not only the result of effective products,
but also an ethical approach.
“Both our professional partners and end
consumers choose our products because
they appreciate high performance, a
natural approach and refined style. But
what truly makes the difference, they
explicitly say, is our sustainable and human
approach,” says Gavazzoli. “They are proud
to be part of a company,
and therefore of an
international community,
that cares for people and
the environment.”
And the company
doesn’t just talk the talk.
From formulations to
packaging, the whole
production process has
as low an environmental
impact as possible. For
example, its formulations
are free of silicones
and non-biodegradable
substances, while active
ingredients come from
suppliers that support
local communities.
Electricity used in the
manufacturing facility is
generated from renewable
resources with CO2
compensation policiesWriter Véronique Loin place. For primary packaging, glass is
preferred. Gavazzoli says, “We are starting
to use green plastic for our tubes. We have
removed all the paper internal parts from
our product boxes and are moving towards
a complete switch to recycled paper.”
When it comes to creating positive
social impact, the company launched the
I Sustain Beauty Campaign in 2015, which
“collects and awards volunteer social,
environmental and artistic projects that
make the world a more beautiful place”.
In 2016, two joint-winners received
€10,000 in materials and tools in support
of their projects that aimed to help cancer
patients, and young people facing issues
such as integration, bullying and anorexia
respectively.
Having received 99 points out of 200
in the B Impact Report – an above average
score compared with the entire B Corp
community – the company is determined
to improve its performance in three areas:
people, planet and community, with over
20 ongoing projects dedicated to these
causes. Each year a Sustainability Report is
also published to review goals, and set new
ones for the following year.
Most recently, Comfort Zone introduced
the Live the Joy of Beauty initiative, which
teaches its partners “not only how to treat
the skin but also how to establish a sincere
empathic relationship with their guests”.
Gavazzoli says, “We believe that beauty
can change and improve people’s lives. The
balance between beauty and sustainability
drives our action, and we want to inspire
those around us to do the same. Through
our communication and education, we
promote a vision of beauty which brings a
deeper sense of care and connection with
oneself and the world around us.”
http://www.comfortzone.it