Sustainable Fashion Brand Spotlight: Patagonia
Founded in 1973 by Yvon Chouinard and is headquartered in Ventura, California the company is named after the Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina.
Their original mission before it became a billion-dollar brand was to “build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” They’ve now simplified it to “use business to save our planet.”
Patagonia’s focus has been pioneering sustainable and eco-friendly fashion industry business practices, and this new mission statement reflects their commitment to using its platform to help address the global climate crisis.
Their mission statement and ethical initiatives resonate with us here at Gents Fashion so we wanted to shine a light on the brand for those who don’t know. Here are a few cool facts you need to know and what makes Patagonia sustainable.
High-quality, durable products
Patagonia is a sustainable fashion brand because of their use of recycled materials, organic cotton, and natural resources. They also have a Fair Trade program to support workers in developing countries. Their clothing is designed to last longer and be repaired rather than replaced.
Recycled materials
Patagonia is committed to using recycled materials in its products as a part of its holistically integrated sustainability approach. They have been using recycled polyester since 1993, and have since expanded their use of recycled materials to include other fabrics such as nylon and cotton.
Patagonia’s use of recycled materials reduces their dependence on virgin materials and diverts waste from landfills. In addition to using recycled material in their products, Patagonia also encourages their customers to repair and reuse their clothing through their Worn Wear program, further reducing waste and extending the life of their products.
Supply chain
Patagonia places a high priority on transparency throughout their supply chain. They are committed to knowing where their materials come from and how their products are made.
Patagonia also seeks to reduce their environmental impact by using sustainable and recycled materials, reducing their carbon emissions, and prioritizing renewable energy rather than using fossil fuels.
They work to minimize waste and use of hazardous chemicals throughout their supply chain, from production to distribution, and even through their Worn Wear program, which encourages customers to repair and reuse their Patagonia products.
Patagonia is committed to fair labor practices and has implemented a range of measures to ensure that workers throughout their supply chain are treated fairly and paid a living wage.
For example, they partner with Fair Trade USA to certify certain products, which ensures that workers who make those products are paid a fair wage and have safe working conditions.
Patagonia’s approach to supply chain management emphasizes environmental and ethical considerations, and they work to ensure that every step of their supply chain aligns with their company ethos.
Animal welfare
Their commitment to animal welfare and environmental conservation set them apart from other companies in the apparel industry. They have implemented a formal animal welfare policy that outlines their responsibility to ensure that animals are treated humanely throughout their supply chain.
Patagonia is committed to sourcing materials from suppliers that share their values of animal welfare, and they work closely with their suppliers to ensure that animals are treated with respect and dignity.
For example, Patagonia has established a traceability program to ensure that the wool they use is sourced from farms that meet their standards for animal welfare. They have also eliminated the use of exotic animal skins and hair in their products.
They’re also a member of the Textile Exchange Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) which ensures that sheep are treated humanely and the land they graze on is managed sustainably.
In addition to these initiatives, Patagonia is also a member of the Fur Free Alliance and does not use fur or angora in their products. They have also implemented a down traceability program to ensure that the down they use is sourced from suppliers in the supply chain that do not engage in live-plucking or force-feeding of geese.
Patagonia’s animal welfare policies sets them apart from many other companies in the apparel industry. They understand that animals are an integral part of our natural world and that their welfare is essential to the health and sustainability of our planet.
Carbon Footprint
In 2011, Patagonia led the way to become the first clothing company to be certified as a carbon-neutral company by the Carbonfund.org Foundation making it one of the most responsible companies in the world that’s proactively reducing environmental degradation.
This means that they’ve measured and offset all of their carbon emissions from day-to-day operations, including shipping to reduce their carbon footprint and combat climate change by the clothing industry.
This is a huge accomplishment and it really sets them apart as a sustainable clothing brand.
As transparent as they can be
As a responsible brand, Patagonia also focuses on transparency, listing the materials used in each product on their website. The company has a “Common Threads” program which encourages customers to repair their clothing instead of throwing it away.
B-Corp certified
Patagonia is a certified B-Corp company, meaning they meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance. B-Corporation is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or USDA Organic certification is to milk.
1% for the planet
They are also a member of 1% for the Planet, meaning they donate 1% of their sales to environmental organizations. 1% for the Planet is an alliance of businesses that understand the necessity of protecting the natural environment.
They understand that profit and loss are directly linked to its health and are committed to connecting companies with nonprofit partners.
Donate 10 million
In 2018, Patagonia made $10 million dollars in grants to environmental groups around the world. Patagonia is a leading responsible company and billion-dollar brand and we hope more brands in the same category follow their lead.
The Patagonia sustainable apparel company
Patagonia is a great sustainable fashion brand if you’re looking for high-quality, eco-friendly products. You can shop with them worldwide online, pop into one of their retail stores, or dive through second-hand stores to find a gem.
