The ecological choices of Patagonia
Everybody knows Patagonia, the logo with mountains is internationally recognized as synonymous of quality outdoor apparel and extreme sports. If the company of Yvon Chouinard, founded in 1973, doesn’t need presentation, it’s important to remark their support to an ethical and sustainable industry.
The first steps of Yvon Chouinard
After a career as alpinist Chouinard started selling clothes for climbers, when he ordered some polo shirts from Umbro, in England, being more comfortable for the neck in contact with ropes. Beside the technical feature, there was an unexpected success on sales. After that Patagonia it became famous not just for sport apparel but also for casual clothing. Here, the complete story, on their website.
An ethical workplace
Since the beginning of its history Patagonia has tried to work with factories that shares value of integrity and quality, but it’s in the 90s that the company starts to report and test their commercial partners. In 2007 the starts the Footprint Chronicles to trace the social and environmental impact of their products. Will follow California Transparency in Supply Chains disclosure late in 2011 and the Responsible Purchasing Practices.
They are partnering with Verité, an ONG, dedicated to ensuring people around the world work under safe, fair and legal conditions. In 2014 they begin to sell Fair Trade Certified items, paying a community-development premium to cooperative of farmers who decide how best to use it.
Deepening: The Fair Trade organization
Fair Trade is a global movement made up of producers, companies, consumers, lawyers, and organizations finalized to protect Planet and workers. At Fair Trade they certify the whole products and ingredients in five main categories: Coffee, Produce & Floral, Seafood, Apparel & Home Goods, and Consumer Packaged Goods. All businesses that want to demonstrate a social responsibility can ask for a Fair Trade certification, following certain steps and standards. On the website there are some shopping guides with brands and farms that are taking their responsibility with the working class.
Environmental Impact
Patagonia carry on its commitment with the planet trough transparent and sustainable solutions, donating each year, the 1% of the annual net revenues to nonprofit charitable organizations. Furthermore they follow tree major principles as a guidelines.
1 Supporting clothing maintenance and second hand
They worked hard to make quality products, so people don’t need to buy more. In this optic was born Worn Wear to promote repairs and recycle.
2 Choosing sustainable and renewable fabrics
Among the fibers uses by Patagonia we have hemp, characterized by a cultivation with a low impact, organic cotton, recycled nylon, Polyester and wool. Moreover they can count on technology such as TENCEL, a fiber coming from the pulp of trees and YULEX a plant based polymer. However reducing pollution doesn’t mean to reduce quality as well, the jackets of Patagonia are designed to protect you from the bad weather keeping an high level of breathability.
3 Reducing waste of energy
From the headquarter to every single retails the company has just one focus: environmental efficiency. To do so the use as much as possible renewable energy reporting every year which are the results.
Spread with style
Every year the company reports the results concerning the use of energy, the problems that they are facing and what they’ve achieved. They also speck about extraordinary stories of people and their Patagonia apparel, you can find them on youtube.
Patagonia based it’s reputation on quality and respect for the planet, it appear obvious that are many those who are supporting their actions. Between the Patagonia Ambassadors, there are the strongest surfers, climbers snowboarders and skiers of our times. Here, the entire list.
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