Clarins Group acquires Domain for integrated and responsible sourcing

Clarins Groupe bets its farm on integrated sourcing. The beauty giant has upped the ante, acquiring 115 hectares in the communes of Saint Gilles and Générac near Nimes, France. It's all part of the beauty company's strategy to create a more vertical, ethical and durable integrated supply chain, explains deputy CEO Virginie Courtin.

"For 70 years, Clarins has relied on plant science to develop more effective and innovative cosmetic formulas," Courtin said in a statement, "The acquisition of this domain demonstrates our approach to ongoing excellence, security and traceability in the services we provide to our clients."

In 2021, Clarins became a member of the Ethical Biotrade Alliance. The estate, with 50 hectares of farmland, will become a plant production and processing site and a laboratory for the study and research of new plant varieties in accordance with the standards of regenerative agriculture.

Clarins said innovative agricultural practices and a unique hydrological approach will allow the project to effectively regenerate and improve the site's ecological areas, combining biodiversity with the highest quality production. The company said it enables Clarins to achieve its goal of combining traceability of raw materials with the highest quality, most effective formulations and continuous innovation for more responsible beauty.

Clarins acquired Le Domaine de Serraval in Haute-Savoie in 2016. 2.5 tons of plants are supplied annually to Clarins laboratories and factories. The second area will allow Clarins to fundamentally change the scale of production of the natural ingredients used in its products, the company said. The first harvest from the estate is planned for 2025 or 2026, with the ultimate goal of having one-third of the plants needed to produce Clarins products grown on its two estates by 2030. The Clarins estate has 50 hectares of arable land where the group intends to grow plants for use in its products and establish a laboratory for research and study of new species.

According to the company, the field uses innovative cultural practices and a unique hydrological approach. Clarins said it aims to combine the traceability of the raw materials it uses with the quality and effectiveness of its formulas. The territory plans to first plant 50 species of trees and plants in fall 2024. These include cactus pear, quince, almond, almond, lavender, lemon thyme and blueberry.