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SUSTAINABILITY
What Is Regenerative Farming?
Regenerative farming is a holistic approach to agriculture that goes beyond sustainability. Rather than simply maintaining the land, it actively works to restore and improve soil health, biodiversity and ecosystem resilience through practices like crop rotation, minimal soil disturbance and the avoidance of synthetic chemicals.
Over the past century, conventional agriculture has dramatically increased food production, but at a steep cost. Soils have been degraded, water tables drained, biodiversity lost and greenhouse gas emissions amplified. Regenerative agriculture offers a way to reverse this damage, using farming principles designed to heal and regenerate the ecosystems we all depend on.
It is a growing movement worldwide, and an exciting shift in how we think about food, farming and our relationship with the land.
What is regenerative farming and why does it matter?
At its core, regenerative farming is about giving back more than we take. It is a way of managing land that goes beyond maintaining ecosystems and actively works to restore and enhance them.
Humans have always lived off the land, but as our tools and technologies advanced, we began to extract more than the earth could sustain. The sustainability movement grew in response, aiming to slow the damage. Today, regenerative agriculture takes that thinking further, seeking not just to protect but to actively repair what has been lost.
The goals of regenerative farming include:
Improving soil health and fertility
Increasing biodiversity above and below the ground
Improving water and nutrient cycling
Sequester atmospheric carbon (known as carbon farming)
Building resilient ecosystems and communities
What is Regenerative Organic Certified™?
While regenerative farming describes a broad set of principles, Regenerative Organic Certified™ (ROC) is a specific, verified standard. Created in 2017 by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, a coalition of farmers, business leaders and experts, it sets the highest bar for organic agriculture worldwide. The certification applies to food, fibre and personal care ingredients, and is built on three pillars.
Pillar 1: Soil Health
This pillar focuses on building and maintaining soils that are rich in organic matter and microbial life. Principles include:
- Minimising soil disturbance using low-till or no-till farming to protect the structure of the soil - including networks of important fungus - and reduce erosion.
- Maximising biodiversity and crop diversity with practices like crop rotation and cover cropping to improve nutrient cycling, keep pests under control and create habitats.
- Keeping soil coveredby mulching and ensuring that there are always living roots in the soil, which helps retain moisture, regulate temperature, and prevent erosion.
- Minimising synthetic inputs, moving away from synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, and GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and relying on natural processes instead.
Pillar 2: Animal Welfare
This pillar is about raising animals in conditions that allow them to behave as naturally as possible. Principles include:
- Pasture-based management that prioritises rotational grazing rather than keeping animals in one place for too long, and provides them with natural environments.
- No Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), an industrial practice where animals are contained in cramped conditions for long periods of time.
- Regenerative Organic Agriculture’s ‘Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare’:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from pain, injury or disease
- Freedom to express normal behavior
- Freedom from fear or distress
Pillar 3: Social Fairness
This pillar focuses on the needs of farmers, farmworkers and local communities. Principles include:
- Fair wages and working conditions such as equitable treatment and safe environments for farmworkers.
- Democratic organisations that provide support for farmer co-ops and worker representation.
- Transparency and accountability including fair pricing and long-term contracts for farmers.
What are the benefits of regenerative farming?
There are numerous benefits to using regenerative organic agriculture practices, which have positive impacts on the environment, the economy and at a social level.
How Davines supports regenerative farming
At Davines, our commitment to regenerative farming goes beyond sourcing. In collaboration with the Rodale Institute, we created the European Regenerative Organic Center (EROC), the first centre of its kind in Europe dedicated to researching and advancing the principles of regenerative organic agriculture.
Based in Italy, EROC focuses on research, education and expanding the supply chain of regenerative organic ingredients, bridging the gap between farming innovation and the beauty industry.
The active ingredients in our Essential Haircare family are sourced from Regenerative Organic Certified™ farms worldwide. Every bottle carries details of the farmers we work with, so you can see exactly where your ingredients come from and the positive impact they are making.
Explore our full range of sustainable haircare to discover products that are good for your hair and for the planet.
Based in Italy, EROC focuses on research, education and expanding the supply chain of regenerative organic ingredients, bridging the gap between farming innovation and the beauty industry.
Hear their stories
Looking to the future
Making regenerative organic agricultural standard practice across the globe is not an easy task. It will take time for the farming sector to make the transition, as well as initial financial investment, education and greater awareness in the market place.
But there is hope.
Consumers, brands and policymakers are increasingly aware of the damage that has been done to our world and the urgent need to make changes in order to not only prevent further damage but regenerate vital ecosystems. As word of Regenerative Organic Agriculture and its benefits spread, we can hope that we will begin to see that it is possible to reshape our food systems in a way that cares for both people and the planet.
Regenerative Organic Agriculture is a powerful solution for environmental and social change, especially through certifications such as Regenerative Organic Certified™, which hold individuals, organisations and leaders to consistently high standards. The best news is that every single one of us can play our part. By seeking out and supporting Regenerative Organic Certified™ certification, asking brands about their sourcing, and spreading the word, you send a clear message: that you will no longer accept practices that damage our planet. You are more powerful than you could ever imagine.
From soil to salon
Our commitment to regenerative farming starts with the ingredients in your haircare. If you would like tailored advice to suit your hair, visit your nearest Davines salon to speak to one of our experts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between regenerative and organic farming?
Organic farming focuses on avoiding synthetic inputs like pesticides and fertilisers. Regenerative farming builds on organic principles but goes further, actively working to restore soil health, increase biodiversity and sequester carbon. Regenerative Organic Certified™ combines both approaches under one verified standard, with additional requirements for animal welfare and social fairness.
What does Regenerative Organic Certified mean?
Regenerative Organic Certified™ (ROC) is a certification created by the Regenerative Organic Alliance. It is considered the highest standard for organic agriculture globally, with strict requirements across three pillars: soil health, animal welfare and social fairness. It applies to food, fibre and personal care ingredients.
How does regenerative farming help with climate change?
Regenerative farming practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage and composting help increase the amount of organic matter in the soil. This process, sometimes called carbon farming, draws carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it in the ground. Healthier soils are also more resilient to extreme weather, reducing the broader impact of climate change on food production.
What is the connection between regenerative farming and haircare?
Many haircare ingredients are derived from crops grown on farms. Davines sources the active ingredients for its Essential Haircare range from Regenerative Organic Certified™ farms, meaning the soils those ingredients come from are managed to restore ecosystems rather than deplete them. It is a direct link between soil health and the products in your haircare routine.
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