Founded in 1972 by Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia started out ‘green’ and has grown to be one of the most environmentally friendly companies in the world, being awarded the Eco Brand of the Year by the Volvo EcoDesign Forum in 2008. It all began with a man passionate about climbing who started making his own pitons. And it took off from there.
Unlike most retail website, Patagonia doesn’t bombard visitors with the latest products and most recent discounts. In fact, the website allows visitors to choose what to do first; whether it is checking out the eco-friendly clothing & gear section, the environmentalism section or the contributive blog.
As our favorite entrepreneurs tend to follow the guidelines of innovation, passion and positive employee relationships, it is here where Patagonia gets an A+ from us.
A leader in the eco-friendly clothing market, Patagonia has used all organic cotton since 1996 and even uses recycled bottles for their Synchilla Jackets. The company has also launched the Common Threads Program which aims to make all their clothing recyclable by 2010; 65% of the Spring Catalog is, in fact, recyclable. Patagonia urges customers to return old polyester based jackets, and then the company will have them forwarded to a processor to be remade into fiber or forms of plastic for reuse.
In addition to their environmental ways, Patagonia is also known for its’ employee relationships. The company started an in-house day-care center back in 1984; just one of 150 at the time. Patagonia employees also enjoy the benefits of casual work clothes, some even opting for barefoot workdays. On breaks, employees can also be found surfing, playing beach volleyball or eating with their children. “It helps keep the company atmosphere more familial than corporate.”
Saving the Earth, pleasing employees, what else is there? How about keeping customers extremely well informed utilizing Web 2.0 Technologies and helpful employees? Starting out at Patagonia.com visitors can view The Footprint Chronicles which details both the good and the bad about how products are made. Visitors can also check out The Blog for employees, friends, and customers with topics ranging from Environmental Activism to Innovative Designs. Then, read the personal Field Reports from Patagonia employees detailing their most recent adventures. You can also find Patagonia on Facebook (5,000+ Fans) and Twitter (614 Followers), once again, keeping everyone up-to-date and creating a unique community.
There is a lot to this well-established company; from causes and charities to corporate social responsibility and environmentalism. One thing is for sure, Patagonia lays it all out for visitors on their site; whatever you want to know about the company, it’s there.
View Mr. Chouinard talk about his personal history, how he created Patagonia, and the philosophy he uses to run the company. And, be sure to check out his book Let My People Go Surfing.
