Our future regarding sustainability is kind of uncertain. This is the reason why companies need to work together to reduce environmental costs of everything they make, and to create a more sustainable economy throughout the supply chain. Companies should not behave like islands, they should try to work together, to try to stop environmental damage, so that our future generations could live in the world that we would have wanted to live in. We could say that the future of the next generations relies on the co-operation of enterprises that compete with one another.
Patagonia is one of the companies that believes in having strong corporate partnerships. Patagonia has several corporate partnerships with companies that improve labor conditions worldwide, that restrict the use of dangerous chemicals, that increase transparency of social and environmental practices throughout the supply chain…among many other companies.
I would like to highlight 3 of these corporate partnerships that Patagonia have been achieving during its existence.
-1% for the planet: Since 1985, Patagonia has pledged 1% of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment.
– Fair Labor Association (FLA): The FLA is a multi-stakeholder initiative including companies, colleges, universities, and non-governmental organizations working together to improve workers’ lives.
– Textile Exchange: Patagonia was a founding member of the Textile Exchange, a nonprofit group dedicated to increase global sales of organic cotton apparel and home-textile products. The company has expanded its role by including bio-based, organic and recycled fibers.
However, I’ve seen that MEC and Patagonia have many corporate partners in common? Why do you think that this is happening?
As a foreign student, I was not aware of Patagonia’s policies and initiatives until I came to Canada. In Mexico, many companies behave as independent entities that focus solely on profit. Unfortunately, they disregard their impact on the community and the environment. As consumers, I believe it is our duty to research and become informed about the companies that we buy our products from. Soon enough, companies who neglect sustainable practices will realize that their business model is outdated and will therefore implement changes accordingly. Today, I am a more careful and conscientious buyer. I believe it should be the norm that all companies, whether big or small, implement initiative like Patagonia and MEC.