PATAGONIA PLEDGE FUNDS TO THE PLANET

Acompany built on a love for the outdoors, Patagonia has never existed solely for its retail production but has always had its core purposes in the activism that lies at the organization’s roots. Its history of innovative design of mountaineering gear and clothing has brought the brand huge success, but it is their ongoing campaigning work that perpetuate the values and existence of the company. ‘Protect Wild Places’ and ‘Regenerative Organic Agriculture’ are just two of the many campaigns in action at Patagonia now.

Since 1985, Patagonia has pledged 1% of their sales revenue to preserving and protecting the natural environment and have now made an even bolder move in a time where Earth’s temperatures are rising to what scientists deem an “unacceptable risk”, noting that we are at least one degree above preindustrial levels, according to a United Nations article that discussed the findings of a September 2019 report on climate change by the World Meteorological Organization.

In September 2022 The Guardian reported that the founder of the outdoor clothing retailer, Yvon Chouinard, solidified his declaration to combatting the climate crisis, when he handed over 98% of non-reinvested profits from all sales to a new not-for-profit trust called the Holdfast Collective. In a company statement,they outlined that the Holdfast Collective aims to fight the, “environmental crisis, protect biodiversity and nature and support thriving communities”, but more specific detail is yet to come on its strategies to achieve this colossal work. In a press release announcing the news of the company’s new path, chair of the board Charles Conn said he believes that ‘Companies that create the next model of capitalism through deep commitment to purpose will attract more investment, better employees, and deeper customer loyalty’. Work that betters the world and the lives of the people in it is work that everybody will want to be a part of.

Relinquishing his role as Patagonia’s an interview with The New York Times (NYT) back in September 2022, where he explained why he was giving away his company, he felt angst from being reported as a billionaire businessman by Forbes in 2017. Saying to NYT, “I was in Forbes magazine listed as a billionaire, which really, really pissed me off. I don’t have $1bn in the bank. I don’t drive Lexuses”. The label did not sit well with him, as somebody who had already been giving away much of his earnings to humanitarian endeavours.

What sets Chouinard apart from his fellow billionaires that are also