Patagonia is an American outdoor clothing company since 1973. It has continually reflected the values of a business started by a band of climbers and surfers, adopting a sustainably minimalist mindset towards their products and business activity. Over the years the company has demonstrated their sustainable endeavours through their own self-tax of 1% for sustainable community projects as well as their own repair services to encourage the reuse of damaged apparel.
Positive Stories Rewarded to Patagonia
Cruelty-Free
All virgin downs that Patagonia sources, are traced from farms to factories and are protected by the Global Traceable Down Standard. The Global Traceable Down Standard is one of the strongest animal-welfare and consumer assurance standards for goose / duck down supply chains. Read more about their efforts in leading a cruelty-free production line, here!
Energy Efficiency
Patagonia follows self-developed general guidelines to help choose from available or innovative new practices to minimize the environmental harm caused and mitigate the effects of daily operations. They favour renewable energy, paying voluntary earth tax and practicing conservation and resource efficiency. Learn more about Patagonia’s mission be energy efficient, here!
Ethical trading initiative
In 2007, Patagonia launched its Footprint Chronicles aiming to become transparent and honest about the origin of products and their resources. The interactive map enables consumers to track each product and provides information on factories, textile mills and farms across the globe. Learn more about Patagonia’s ethical trading policies, here!
No Excessive Packaging
Following an internal case study under the inefficient use of polybags within their distribution centres shipping directly to stores and customers, Patagonia rethought their approach. They altered their operations to cater for smaller sized polybags that were collected and reused to minimise waste. Any customers receiving shipments are encouraged to mail back the polybags or drop them off at a Patagonia Retail Store nearest. Learn more…
Fair Labour Practices
Since 2014, Patagonia has taken steps in ensuring living wages in their supply chain through the partnership with Fair Trade USA, paying a premium on products manufactured. Patagonia is also a founding member of the Fair Labor Association, providing customers with an extra layer of assurance and transparency. You can find out more about Patagonia’s labour policies, here!
Fair Trade Certified
From 2014, Patagonia has partnered with Fair Trade USA offering more sustainably sewn styles than any other apparel brand to date. That means for every product carrying the Fair Trade Certified™ label, Patagonia will pay a premium that goes directly to a democratically elected Fair Trade worker committee deciding how funds are used for workers. Learn more about Patagonia’s labour policies, here!
Forest Conservation Initiative
This is one of Patagonia’s more recent campaigns, supporting the Gwich’in people of Alaska and northern Canada. The Gwich’in people are threatened by oil extraction and climate change, affecting their traditional culture and dependency on the caribou migration. Patagonia actively supports petitions on their “Action Works” page calling for customers to take action against deforestation. Would you like to learn more about how Patagonia is supporting the Forest Conservation Initiative? Click here!
Free from Harsh Chemicals
Free from Harsh Chemicals
Conventional cotton is responsible for 16% of insecticide use, despite only using less than 3% of the world’s farm-able land. By 1994 the Patagonia board of directors invested $20 million on organic cotton and went 100% organic by 1996. Find out more, here!
Green Globe
Patagonia is certified by Green Globe sustainability practices for their use of recycled polyester in many of its clothes. They are also recognised for their earth-tax pledge of 1% of sales to grassroots environmental groups worldwide. Find out more about the Green Globe initiative, here!
Leather Working Group (LWG)
Patagonia’s environmental impact team created a pair of boots after establishing criteria through interviews with industry friends, ambassadors and hardcore hikers. The company has used tanneries certified “gold” by the LWG in order to craft high quality footwear that used 35 percent less carbon-producing energy than normal. Read more over here!
Organic
100% of the cotton used in Patagonia clothes is organic since 1996. Cotton is also certified organic by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and their fabrics such as polyester and nylon are also recycled fabrics. They offer a repair and reuse program to discourage fast fashion repeat purchases. Learn more about Patagonia’s initiative to promote organic cotton here!
Rainforest Alliance
Products with the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal are grown and harvested in farms following sustainable practices. Products such as Patagonia’s natural rubber wet-suits are RAC. Here’s some more interesting information about Patagonia’s affiliation with RAC!
Recycled Textiles
Patagonia began making recycled polyester from plastic soda bottles in 1993, transforming trash into fleece and working towards a more sustainable system that uses more and discards less. The company also uses recycled cotton, down, and nylon in its clothing range. Patagonia strives to use recycled polyester, wool and nylon to promote a truly sustainable path to the future of fashion.
Reduced CO2 Emissions
100% of all electricity used by Patagonia in the US is generated from renewable sources. In addition, Patagonia and its supply chain has pledged to eliminate or mitigate all carbon emissions by 2025 using a 4 step process. Learn more about Patagonia’s fight against climate change, here!
Responsible Down Standard
Responsible Down Standard
All virgin downs that Patagonia sources are traced from farms to factories and are protected by the Global Traceable Down Standard. It is one of the strongest animal-welfare and consumer assurance standards for goose / duck down supply chains. Learn more about their production standards, here!
Responsible Sourcing
Patagonia works with factories, engaging in activities that promote and sustain fair labor practices, safe working conditions and environmental responsibility in the finished-goods factories that make their products. Learn more…
Responsible Wool Standard
Patagonia Wool Standard (PWS) was created to establish clear requirements and a robust methodology for sourcing wool. This helped supply chains reduce the impact on animal welfare and surrounding communities. From nutrition and handling till transportation, PWS has a strong commitment to land management, traceability and animal welfare. Learn more about their production standards, here!
Supply Chain Integrity
Patagonia’s Social / Environmental Responsibility (SER) team as well as their Quality team have the power to veto a decision to work with a new factory if they do not align with the values upheld by the company. Patagonia’s Supplier Code of Conduct has been well-recognised in excellence to trace, audit and publicly list suppliers, whilst ensuring subcontracting adheres to code standards. Learn more here!
Support Growers’ Welfare
Patagonia supports and rewards farms transitioning to organic cotton during the multi-year strict certification process by introducing the “cotton in conversion”. Farmers can sell their crop to Patagonia throughout the process of getting certified. Learn more about Patagonia’s effort to support those it employs, here!
Sustainable Apparel Coalition
In 2010, Patagonia helped gather top leaders in the apparel industry and other non-governmental organisations to create an index of social and environmental performance. The collaborative index is open source, and works to accelerate solutions towards environmental and social challenges that affect the global apparel supply system. Learn more…
Waste-Reduction Practices
Patagonia prioritises repair and reuse schemes offering robust repair programs aimed to keep customers reusing their apparel instead of repurchasing or discarding. The company offers in-store credit for customers mailing in used gear which are processed by Patagonia and sold under their “Worn Wear” product range. Learn more about how Patagonia is combating waste accumulation and pollution, here!