Patagonia has a simple goal “…to make the best-quality product with the least amount of harm.” (article 2 in additional reading) Patagonia is not only responsible for earning profit for shareholders and creating quality products that are in demand for the consumer, but also for a variety of programs that they have created and incorporated into their business model. Patagonia has responded to the ethical challenge in more ways than one, but mainly they have recognized a need to address the environmental issues that are present today. Patagonia is reducing, reusing, and recycling in any way possible. An example of the programs that have been put into action by Patagonia is ‘1% For The Planet,‘ which is a pledge they have made ever since 1985. This pledge is to give 1% of their profits every year to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. Patagonia also encourages other companies to do the same by joining this program and taking the same pledge they have. Some other solutions include: using lower-impact dyes, organic cotton, and their Common Threads Initiative, in which they use old clothes to make new clothing – so that their products never reach the landfill. Also, their headquarters, a 19 million dollar project in Ventura, California, contains its own solar power plant in the parking lot. These are all investments that Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia’s founder, and his team feel comfortable making, as they know the risk is well worth the reward. Even with all the programs listed above, Chouinard still does not consider Patagonia as a responsible company. The company boasts over $500 million dollars in sales last year with stellar profits to go along with the green envy of companies all over the world.
Additional Reading:
1. Patagonia: Lessons from a Pioneer in Responsible Business
2. Outdoor Clothing Maufacturer Patagonia Recognized for Corporate Responsibility
4. Patagonia: One Company’s Fight To Do Right For the Planet
Trackbacks