Patagonia donates millions to environmental causes

[catherine]

As I mentioned in the November frugals thread, Patagonia said it was going to donate all of its Black Friday sales to grassroots environmental groups.

Well, here is the follow up:


Black Friday is a consumeristic nightmare – but there are some companies using the day for good. Last week Patagonia announced plans to donate all of its Black Friday sales to charity, and they wound up pulling in a grand total of $10 million – five times the amount they originally predicted. The money will go towards grassroots environmental groups fighting the wave of climate change deniers moving into Washington D.C. next year.


http://inhabitat.com/patagonia-is-donating-all-10-million-of-its-black-friday-profits/

Wow. They have earned a spot on my "voting with my dollar" short list.

[bicyclist]

This company is fantastic! Who knows if larger companies will follow its' lead but they would do well to if the environmental crisis is to be abated. Companies need to figure out how to prevent pollution in the first place and how to fund solutions, not try to paper over growing crises. Patagonia is inspiring and setting a good example.

[Ultralight]

Do you think that we could avoid catastrophic climate change if every company behaved like Patagonia?

[Yppej]

I looked at their prices and no wonder they can afford to do this.

[catherine]

I looked at their prices and no wonder they can afford to do this.

Their clothes aren't cheap but they are very high quality. And they have annual sales. Last year I bought one of their light windbreaker/raincoats: https://www.patagonia.com/product/womens-torrentshell-rain-jacket/83807.html?dwvar_83807_color=ARWD&cgid=root#tile-1=&q=rain%2Bjacket&lang=en_US&start=1&sz=24

I brought it up here to VT for the summer.. the summer has bled into the winter and since I thought I was going to be back in NJ by now, I have NO winter clothes. In Vermont. But I've been wearing this jacket over a hooded sweatshirt and I've been fine. Also, the quality of workmanship in the detail is incredible. And, I just like buying from them and supporting their mission. I believe I'll have this jacket for years. If I own it for 12 years, and keep it for 10, that's $13 a year.

In some cases you get what you pay for. I wouldn't buy one of their $35 t-shirts, but I will invest in their outerwear. In fact, I'm waiting for a good winter coat to go on sale.

[Ultralight]

I think that the Patagonia thing is a big scam. Think about how much environmental destruction is needed to run their business. Same for REI (and I am a co-op member!).

[catherine]

I think that the Patagonia thing is a big scam. Think about how much environmental destruction is needed to run their business. Same for REI (and I am a co-op member!).

Environmental destruction is needed for any big business, unfortunately. You might as well choose one that tries to give back.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2014/04/22/11-companies-considered-best-for-the-environment/#7805eeec12ae

[Ultralight]

Environmental destruction is needed for any big business, unfortunately. You might as well choose one that tries to give back.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2014/04/22/11-companies-considered-best-for-the-environment/#7805eeec12ae

How about "least bad" for the environment?

[catherine]

How about "least bad" for the environment?

Which outdoor/clothing business is "least bad"?

[Ultralight]

Which outdoor/clothing business is "least bad"?

Perhaps Patagonia.

My point is that how good can you really feel about assaulting the planet slightly less brutally?

[catherine]

Perhaps Patagonia.

My point is that how good can you really feel about assaulting the planet slightly less brutally?


I know. But people are going to buy tents and parkas, and backpacks. They might as well buy them from a company that runs ads telling them NOT to buy their products, and one that does their own research on how bad the raw materials are for the planet so they can design clothes that eliminate or minimize their use, and which markets and sells their own used clothes and who only hires farmers who use sustainable farming practices and who turns back profits back to the environment and who bakes sustainability into their core values.

[Ultralight]

I know. But people are going to buy tents and parkas, and backpacks. They might as well buy them from a company that runs ads telling them NOT to buy their products, and one that does their own research on how bad the raw materials are for the planet so they can design clothes that eliminate or minimize their use, and which markets and sells their own used clothes and who only hires farmers who use sustainable farming practices and who turns back profits back to the environment and who bakes sustainability into their core values.

Patagonia is not even remotely close to sustainable. You know this.

Their ads and such are meant to help you clear your conscience... and then buy!

[catherine]

Patagonia is not even remotely close to sustainable. You know this.

Their ads and such are meant to help you clear your conscience... and then buy!

So, again, tell me a company that sells similar products that is more sustainable.

Yes, you should use what you have

Then you should fix what you have

Then if you can't you should buy a used whatever

But if you are going to buy, again I ask, where do you go? To the local lady on the corner who quilts down parkas and sells them? I haven't seen one--even up here in Vermont. (Although I do have a set of mittens that I bought from a local woman who upcycles old sweaters.)

[Ultralight]

First off, I apologize that I am causing you all this cognitive dissonance.


So, again, tell me a company that sells similar products that is more sustainable.

Instead of "more sustainable" why not say "slower in its destruction of nature and depletion resources?"
Because even if every company pulled a Patagonia this planet will still burn.

But I don't think there are any companies that are actually sustainable. None.


Yes, you should use what you have

I agree.


Then you should fix what you have

Sure!


Then if you can't you should buy a used whatever

Yeah, I mean, I guess so.


But if you are going to buy, again I ask, where do you go? To the local lady on the corner who quilts down parkas and sells them? I haven't seen one--even up here in Vermont.

I go where ever to buy what I want/"need."
Why, you ask?
Because we're watching the credits of the movie, Catherine. That is why. This show is over. Enjoy the background music while it fades to black. No need to worry anymore.

[catherine]

I go where ever to buy what I want/"need."
Why, you ask?
Because we're watching the credits of the movie, Catherine. That is why. This show is over. Enjoy the background music while it fades to black. No need to worry anymore.

Oh.

Well, I guess I better go out and buy some sub-zero Patagonia outerwear and store it in my prepper shed. :)

[Ultralight]

Oh.

Well, I guess I better go out and buy some sub-zero Patagonia outerwear and store it in my prepper shed. :)

:cool:

[JaneV2.0]

Well, y'all can wallow in your apocalysm all you want, but I don't think the world will end in any of our lifetimes. It makes a cheery talking point, I guess; I would save the jeremiads for at least the second or third date if I were you, Ultralight.

[ApatheticNoMore]

More sustainable as far as clothing would probably be made from natural materials not synthetics.

[Rogar]

From what I have read about Chouinard I believe he is truly interested in helping the environment and it's not all just a marketing ploy. Although marketing is a part of a successful business. They offer trade ins on lightly worn Patagonia clothing. They make their fleece using recycled plastics and use organic cotton. I have a few items of clothing that I picked up on sales and it's quality stuff made to wear well and last. I don't know of any other clothing manufacturer who has as high a level of corporate responsibility.

I can't afford to outfit my wardrobe with all Patagonia, but it sort of gets back to buying quality things from a company that cares. It certainly beats no account brands who sell lower quality goods and their clothing is sometimes worth paying a little extra. I recently noticed that Ibex has gone under. I've paid a premium for their wool outerwear. Another good company that couldn't compete with lower quality brands with questionable responsibility.

I think bottom line is that it's a good idea to know a little bit about the supply chain of what ever a person chooses to buy.

[ApatheticNoMore]

They might do a lot of ethical corporate practices, probably especially the clothing made to last, still though black friday stuff, how can that not be marketing gimmick. I mean when you get into the realm of black friday sales hello.

I have my doubts that plastic is much sustainable at all, the plastic situation seems out of control (you can hardly even recycle it anymore) so I almost suspect any type of natural fiber (even made from pesticide loaded cotton) is better.

[Rogar]

Is there a difference between a marketing gimmick and just plain marketing? I could interpret REI’s decision to close on Black Friday and Patagonia’s Black Friday as leading by example, albeit some good publicity.

Although to me it much of it seems like feel good environmentalism, but a reasonable effort relative to the majority of the rest of retailing. It’s a little like Al Gore living in a mansion but on a different scale.

[Ultralight]

Is there a difference between a marketing gimmick and just plain marketing? I could interpret REI’s decision to close on Black Friday and Patagonia’s Black Friday as leading by example, albeit some good publicity.

Although to me it much of it seems like feel good environmentalism, but a reasonable effort relative to the majority of the rest of retailing. It’s a little like Al Gore living in a mansion but on a different scale.

REI says: "Hey everybody! We're closing on Black Friday because we are progressive and love the planet. So stop in and get your sleeping bags before then and don't forget to buy your tents and stuff online the following Monday!"

[Rogar]

REI says: "Hey everybody! We're closing on Black Friday because we are progressive and love the planet. So stop in and get your sleeping bags before then and don't forget to buy your tents and stuff online the following Monday!"

So, your point is that it's better to buy nothing rather than to buy something you don't need from a company with some attempt at corporate responsibility? I can understand that.

[Ultralight]

So, your point is that it's better to buy nothing rather than to buy something you don't need from a company with some corporate responsibility? I can understand that.
Yes.

[Gardenarian]

Patagonia was the company that really popularized fleece clothing. Unfortunately I, all that recycled plastic fleece breaks down in the wash, goes out to sea, and microplastics (from fleece) are now a major problem.

Yeah, Patagonia SHOULD be stepping up.

[Rogar]

I had to educate myself on fleece. It looked to me like Patagonia did indeed popularize fleece. It caught on quickly and became pretty much the standard popular outdoor wear and every one made it. At the time there was no concerns over the microplastics. So at least at that point it would not seem Patatonia should be held accountable for some sort of environmental hazard. In more recent history Patagonia actually funded a study to determine how much of the microfibers were working their way into the environment, mostly through the washing of the garments. https://www.outsideonline.com/2091876/patagonias-new-study-finds-fleece-jackets-are-serious-pollutant I somehow doubt that they did this entirely of their own volition and there was probably some other general concerns.

So who is responsible. Every loves fleece and everyone makes it., including Patagonia. If we we had a functioning agency like the EPA they would study this and use the results to determine the environmental impact and establish limits and guidelines. I suppose they are barely trying to keep their heads above water these days and there are bigger fish to fry. There has been no large public out cry and my guess would be that the hardest of the hard core environmental scientists wear fleece for field work. Is it that you have to pick your battles and this one just doesn't rate? I really don't know the best answer, but no matter how much is recycled or recyclable, all of the plastic synthetics we consume are going to end up in a waste stream sometime in the near or far future and it is going to take a long time to break down.

I do some outdoor work in inclement weather and have a low opinion of fleece. It's probably cheap to make and maybe a fashion, but doesn't hold a candle to down or my favorite, wool. Especially in high humidity when the cold seems to go right through fleece. Unfortunately, I'm not so sure raising domestic sheep is that environmentally safe either.

[Yppej]

Maybe if we could replace lawnmowers with goats and use goat wool.

[bicyclist]

Folks raise good questions here! There's no free lunch or more to the point, no pollution or depletion free raw material, is there? Natural materials like cotton and wool become industrial imputs when produced on a large enough scale. At least fleece makes use of huge numbers of plastic soda bottles which present a significant disposal problem. People expect clothing to be priced affordably and that's the problem with craft items. They are

[bicyclist]

Woops!My entry got chopped. Craft items can be great but out of reach. We are depending on a system of shipping clothing around the World to take advantage of cheaper labor and that takes more energy for transportation than making it locally.If the workers are to make enough, consumers are going to have to pay more but they may come to demand greater quality and durability than if it's "fast fashion." They might even demand things made of recycled fabrics. Bicyclist