In the world of outdoor sports equipment, Patagonia has always stood out with a large focus on the various battles waged for the planet.
Last September, on the eve of his 50th birthday, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard made a big announcement. The 83-year-old American decided to sell his company to two new shareholders who were far from being traditional investors. Instead, it is the Patagonia Purpose Trust and the NGO Holdfast Collective that now share 100 % of the company's shares, with the mission to perpetuate its business while preserving its founding values. "We make the Earth our only shareholder. I am very serious about saving this planet," says Yvon Chouinard.
In concrete terms, this original form of shareholding allows this new trust to ensure that the use of voting rights respects the values of the founder, including the protection of the planet's resources. Once the investments necessary for the company's sustainability have been made, the remaining dividends (approximately 100 million dollars) go to the NGO Holdfast Collective, which uses these funds for actions to protect the environment, biodiversity and communities...
50 years after its creation, Patagonia continues its fight for the planet. "The Earth is our only shareholder," explains Yvon Chouinard in a letter sent to the company's more than 3,000 employees and published online. "I never wanted to be an entrepreneur. I started out as a craftsman making climbing gear for myself and my friends before I got into textiles. As we realized the impact of global warming, ecological destruction, and our contribution to it, we decided to use our company, Patagonia, to transform the business world. If we could do the right thing and still make enough money to pay our bills, we could influence consumers and businesses, and maybe change the system in the process."
When it comes to environmental commitment, Patagonia didn't wait for global awareness of global warming to take action. As early as 1986, the brand decided to donate 1% of its annual sales to groups working on climate and environmental issues. In 2002, Yvon Chouinard and Graig Mathews founded "1% for the Planet". This program encourages companies to donate 1% of their sales to the environment, the planet and the climate.
To celebrate its half-century of existence, Patagonia (which also holds the demanding B Corp certification) has unveiled a brand platform called What's Nexton which you can find the different causes she defends for the planet like her fight for preserve the Austrian glaciers of Ötztal and Pitztal and the Clean climbing that Patagonia puts forward to promote a more respectful climbing of nature.
On its "What's Next" platform, the brand also reminds us of the actions it takes to make its products more environmentally friendly. These include the reuse of used fishing netsThis is the first time that Patagonia has used the "green" principle in its products. "We've been experimenting with this idea of responsible business for almost 50 years and we're far from finished," adds Chouinard. "If our goal is a planet where life thrives - not running a business - each of us will have to take responsibility. We have taken ours. Find all Patagonia products on Private Sport Shop.