We are so excited to announce that we are now a supplier of Patagonia’s ethically sourced, sustainable products, in both Canada* and the USA! They have been a long-time client of ours, and we’ve been long-time fans of theirs. Patagonia is a quality outdoor clothing retailer whose mission is to “save our home planet”. They’ve recently been named by Fast Company as one of the top ten innovative companies in the world for their work in regenerative organic agriculture, activism, and green supply chain innovation. They are a brand that truly lives and breathes their values, and we love them for it.
What are Patagonia’s Core Values?
Build the best product | Our criteria for the best product rests on function, repairability, and, foremost, durability. Among the most direct ways we can limit ecological impacts is with goods that last for generations or can be recycled so the materials in them remain in use. Making the best product matters for saving the planet.
Cause no unnecessary harm | We know that our business activity—from lighting stores to dyeing shirts—is part of the problem. We work steadily to change our business practices and share what we’ve learned. But we recognize that this is not enough. We seek not only to do less harm, but more good.
Use business to protect nature | The challenges we face as a society require leadership. Once we identify a problem, we act. We embrace risk and act to protect and restore the stability, integrity and beauty of the web of life.
Not bound by convention | Our success—and much of the fun—lies in developing new ways to do things.
How Does Patagonia Live Their Values?
1% for the Planet and Patagonia Action Works
Since 1985, Patagonia has pledged 1% of their sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. In 2002, Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard, teamed up with the founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, Craig Mathews, to create 1% for the Planet, a non-profit whose members contribute at least one percent of their annual sales to environmental causes. They provide support to environmental nonprofits working to defend our air, land and water around the globe.
More recently, Patagonia built Action Works to connect committed individuals to organizations working on environmental issues. It’s a digital tool that makes it possible for anyone to discover and connect with environmental action groups and get involved with the work they do. You can visit the site to search for issues that you’re passionate about, and they will connect you with the people doing the critical work of grassroots environmental action in your area.
Worn Wear
Patagonia believes “the best thing we can do for the planet is cut down on consumption and get more use out of stuff we already own,” which is exactly why they created Worn Wear.
Since Patagonia has been in business, they’ve encouraged their customers to play hard. Their product has been built to stand up to rocks, ice, salt and snow, but they know that playing in these environments can still result in scuffs and holes in their clothing. Patagonia provides education on how to fix their products at home or on the go, encouraging you pick up a needle and thread and follow their manuals; but if you get stuck or botch your repair, they will hand-fix your product for you. If there’s really nothing that can be done to salvage your product, they will make sure it’s responsibly recycled (or upcycled!) for you.
If you decide that it’s time for you to say goodbye to any of your well-loved, but still functional pieces, Patagonia will trade you store credit for your used goodies, which you can use at both Patagonia and Worn Wear.
Okay, so what is Worn Wear, exactly?
It’s an online store where those old Patagonia clothes go to get a second life, instead of ending up in the landfill. Maybe you fell out of love with that piece of clothing, but someone else is bound to treasure it! According to ThredUp, buying a used garment extends its life on average by 2.2 years, which reduces its carbon, waste and water footprint by 73%. How can you argue with that!?
Patagonia Provisions and the Regenerative Organic Certification Pilot Program
In 2012, Patagonia launched Patagonia Provisions, a food company focused on products sourced in innovative ways that benefit and regenerate the planet.
We believe that regenerative organic agriculture is one of the most effective ways to fight climate change, provide food for a growing population, and keep the planet healthy. If we switch from industrial agriculture to regenerative organic (RO) farming practices, which build healthy soil, we could turn agriculture from a problem into a solution. Because healthy soil traps significantly more carbon, regenerative organic agriculture could be the key to helping stop climate change.
The health of people and the planet is reliant on healthy soil, and right now, US soil is being lost at a rate of 10 times faster than it’s being replenished. If we continue down this path with industrial farming practices and deforestation, scientists predict that we will eliminate topsoil within the next 60 years. Regenerative organic agriculture will rebuild topsoil and impact climate change in a positive way.
In 2017, alongside some of our other clients (Shout out to Dr. Bronner’s, Nature’s Path and Guayaki!), Patagonia joined a group of business leaders, farmers, and experts in soil health, animal welfare and social fairness to establish the Regenerative Organic Alliance.
Can you break it down for me?
Regenerative Organic Certified TM (ROC TM) is an agricultural certification for food, fiber, and personal care ingredients. It means treating your farm as an ecosystem to emulate nature. The earth evolved with animals and plants and soil co-evolving together, so the Regenerative Organic Certification was created with the goal of restoring farmland to this balance.
What does it take to receive regenerative organic certification?
Farmers must comply with these three pillars:
- soil health and regenerative practices
- animal welfare
- farmer and worker fairness
Our mission is to promote regenerative organic farming as the highest standard for agriculture around the world. We exist to heal a broken system, repair a damaged planet, and empower farmers and eaters to create a better future through better farming. By adopting regenerative organic practices on more farms around the world, we can create long-term solutions to some of the biggest issues of our time, including the climate crisis, factory farming, and fractured rural economies.
To Summarize
For Patagonia, it all loops back to their values: build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to protect nature, and don’t be bound by convention. These values shine through in everything they do – from their ethically sourced products, use of sustainable materials, activism, and supply chain innovation. Welcome to the Fairware family, Patagonia! We’re so pleased to have you on board as a supplier.
*Please note, Canadian distribution is part of a pilot program and is available for a limited time only.
