Yvon Chouinard
Mr. Yvon Chouinard began in business by designing, manufacturing, and distributing rock climbing equipment in the late 1950s. His tinkering led to an improved ice axe that facilitated the French ice climbing technique and is the basis... [more]
Mr. Yvon Chouinard began in business by designing, manufacturing, and distributing rock climbing equipment in the late 1950s. His tinkering led to an improved ice axe that facilitated the French ice climbing technique and is the basis for modern ice axe design. In 1964 he produced his first mail order catalog, a one page mimeographed sheet containing advice not to expect fast delivery during climbing season. Business grew slowly until 1972 when Yvon Chouinard added rugby shirts to his catalog and his clothing business took off (today called Patagonia).
In the late 1980s, Patagonia’s success was such that Yvon considered early retirement. In some ways he would have preferred to disappear into the South Pacific with his fly rod and surfboard. However, he decided to continue directing Patagonia’s course, in part to use the company to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. As part of this goal, Patagonia instituted an Earth Tax, pledging 1% of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. In 2001, Yvon, along with Craig Mathews, owner of West Yellowstone’s Blue Ribbon Flies, started One Percent For The Planet, an alliance of businesses that contribute at least 1 percent of their net annual sales to groups on a list of researched and approved environmental organizations.
Yvon spends much of his time in the outdoors and serving on the boards of numerous environmental groups. “I work every day of my life. My job is to be the ‘outside’ man, studying lifestyles around the world, coming up with ideas for new products, new market trends, seeing that Patagonia stays relevant in a rapidly changing world.”
Suit Up for Summer with Patagonia E-fibers
As you replace your worn-out summer clothing, check out Patagonia for long-lasting clothes made from environmentally-friendly fabrics. The company offers hundreds of items in these fabrics, which they call E-fibers. Patagonia sells clothing made from organic cotton, recycled polyester, hemp, chlorine-free wool, recycled nylon, and tencel lyocell. Patagonia’s summer line-up includes Women’s Meridian Board Shorts made from recycled polyester (93%), Men’s Paddler Board Shorts made with a 100% recycled polyester liner, and Live SimplyTM t-shirts for all ages made from 100% organic cotton and now entirely PVC-free (as of Spring 2009, so check with customer service before you buy). While shopping online, you can choose to view only products made with E-fibers. The website also provides the Product Footprint of some items, including distance traveled, CO2 emissions, waste generated, and energy consumed. The company even owns up to the negative aspects of producing the product. Patagonia’s website truly allows you to be a conscientious consumer.
You can also feel good that your purchase is supporting a company active in environmental issues. Below is an impressive list of Patagonia’s environmental work.
•Co-founded The Conservation Alliance in 1989 to encourage outdoors companies to donate to environmental groups.
•Implemented the Patagonia Employee Internship Program in 1993, which allows employees to work for an environmental organization while still getting paid by Patagonia.
•Has organized Tools for Grassroots Activists Conference since 1994.
•Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard in 2002 helped start 1% For the Planet, a non-profit corporation that encourages businesses to donate 1% of net annual sales to environmental grassroots organizations.
•Involved in Organic Exchange since 2002, a non-profit organization with the goal of expanding organic agriculture.
•Launched Common Threads Garment Recycling Program in 2005, which recycles consumers’ Capilene® Performance Baselayers, Patagonia® fleece, Polartec® fleece clothing of any brand, Patagonia cotton T-shirts, and some polyester and nylon 6 products.
•Started World Trout® Initiative in 2005, which raises money through the sale of Patagonia World Trout t-shirts and awards grants to grassroots organizations protecting trout and their habitat.
•Received a Gold rating in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the Reno Service Center expansion building.
•Built a 66 kW, 360-panel solar electric system at their headquarters, which provides 12% of their power.
•Restoring 173,000 acres in Chile to natural habitat, a step towards creating Patagonia National Park. Visit Conservacion Patagonica for more information.
•Print catalogs on recycled paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): pages are 40% post-consumer recycled content and 60% virgin wood fiber, covers are 50% post-consumer recycled content, and inserts are 100% post-consumer recycled.
•1% of sales or 10% of pre-tax profits awarded as grants to grassroots environmental organizations.
Photo credit: Jennifer Wade
Disclaimer: I have no connection to Patagonia, financial or otherwise.
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