Patagonia

Patagonia's environmental stance is built on four cornerstones: Reduce, Repair, Reuse, and Recycle. The company promotes sustainable practices by minimizing its ecological footprint, encouraging customers to repair and recycle products, and implementing fair labour practices to create a positive impact on the environment and society.

Yvon Chouinard, born in 1938, is an influential American rock climber, environmentalist, and entrepreneur. He founded Patagonia in 1973, emphasizing environmental responsibility. A pioneer in rock climbing, Chouinard's climbing career includes significant first ascents and innovations in climbing equipment. His company, Chouinard Equipment, revolutionized climbing tools and became Patagonia, initially a clothing endeavour, that evolved into a sustainable business committed to environmental activism.

Chouinard spearheaded initiatives like using organic cotton and committing a percentage of sales to environmental causes. Yvon Chouinard wrote "Let My People Go Surfing" in 2005; a book about his business approach and ethical stance. His dedication to ethical business practices earned him accolades, including the Sierra Club's John Muir Award. In 2022, he donated Patagonia's ownership to address climate change.

Patagonia was founded in 1973 by Yvon Chouinard, an accomplished rock climber, and is now headquartered in Ventura, California. Patagonia Inc. is a renowned American outdoor recreation clothing retailer with a global presence with roots back to when Yvon sold hand-forged mountain climbing gear through his company Chouinard Equipment. He worked until 1965 when he partnered with Tom Frost to improve his products and address the growing supply and demand issue he faced.

The inaugural Patagonia store, Great Pacific Iron Works, opened in 1973 in Ventura. In 1981, Patagonia and Chouinard Equipment were incorporated within Great Pacific Iron Works, later renamed Lost Arrow Corporation in 1984.

Over the years, Patagonia expanded its product line to encompass sport-specific apparel, like surfing gear. Committed to environmental causes, Patagonia allocates 1% of total sales to environmental groups since 1985 through One Percent for the Planet, co-founded by Yvon Chouinard. The company actively addresses environmental concerns through advertising campaigns, repair services for old products, and recycling initiatives. In 2019, Patagonia announced a strategic focus on distributing branded products to firms dedicated to environmental, social, and corporate governance initiatives.