Patagonia: Leading the Corporate Eco-Consciousness Trend

• Posted on 28 February 2020
• By C.
• 0

With Earth Day just around the corner, we thought this was a good opportunity to talk about a growing trend in the industry that we are thankful for; the growing eco-conscience of sports apparel manufacturers. Patagonia has been at the forefront of this trend since it was founded in 1973.

With Earth Day just around the corner, we thought this was a good opportunity to talk about a growing trend in the industry that we are thankful for; the growing eco-conscience of sports apparel manufacturers. Patagonia has been at the forefront of this trend since it was founded in 1973.

Patagonia’s mission statement:

"We’re in business to save our home planet."

This mission statement is new going into 2020 from their previous mission statement which was: “Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.”.

Not many corporations have such altruistic values, but Patagonia is no ordinary corporation. They were one of the first Californian companies to become a benefit corporation in 2012. Benefit corporations expand the duties of directors to require them to consider public-benefit concerns (in this case social and environmental) alongside the financial interests of shareholders.

Patagonia really does put its money where its mouth is. Every year they commit 1% of total sales or 10% of their profit (whichever is more), to environmental groups. Through the 1% for the planet initiative co-established by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, they have been encouraging other companies to follow suit. Since 1985 Patagonia has donated over $89 million in cash and in-kind donations to grassroots environmental groups.