2022 has been an enormous yr for Patagonia and sustainability.
Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard lately designated the Holdfast Collective, a nonprofit devoted to combating the environmental disaster and defending nature as the corporate’s single shareholder. As Chouinard stated in his latest letter, “Earth is now our solely shareholder.”
All of Patagonia’s earnings will go straight to this non-profit basis, in alignment with the corporate’s goal of saving the planet.
Versus promoting the corporate or going public, Yvon Chouinard says they’re “going goal.” Which means rather than reworking nature’s sources into wealth for traders, Patagonia’s sources will likely be used to guard the planet.
This information comes one yr earlier than Patagonia’s fiftieth anniversary.
To rejoice this big milestone, their new award-winning line of down jackets at the moment are extra sustainable than ever earlier than, because of NetPlus know-how.
NetPlus is the fabric created from discarded fishing nets collected in South American fishing communities. NetPlus is a completely traceable submit shopper recycled materials, which is a sustainable method to sourcing materials.
Patagonia has traditionally been a trendsetter in environmental advocacy. This shift is a strong step in direction of inspiring the remainder of the business to maneuver away from quick trend and in direction of a extra sustainable and intentional method.
Be taught Repurpose or Upcycle 38 Frequent Family Objects
Meet Patagonia’s New and Improved Down Sweater
A recent spin on an iconic Patagonia basic, the down sweater is one in every of Patagonia’s hottest gadgets. Supplied in Males, Ladies, and Youngsters sizes, these cozy and high quality down jackets are available in a wide range of coloration choices and kinds (hood, collar, vest, and many others).
The identical particulars that everybody loves in regards to the down sweater stay, whereas the brand new and improved mannequin is now hotter, softer, and extra sturdy as a consequence of its shell now being created from 100% recycled fishing nets. The brand new down sweater material is post-consumer recycled ripstop created from NetPlus.
Why Did Patagonia Transfer to Repurpose Discarded Fishing Nets?
Briefly, as a result of the world’s oceans usually are not simply contaminated with plastics – they’re choking on them – as Patagonia phrases it.
Yearly, practically 9 million tons (remember the fact that 2,000 kilos equals one ton) of plastic will get into the world’s oceans.
To present a visible instance, you’ll have heard of the Nice Pacific Rubbish Patch.
Because the title suggests, it’s a big mass of floating rubbish and plastics that covers a distance of over 620,000 sq. miles, or roughly double the scale of the state of Texas. The truth that this exists is disturbing sufficient. But it surely will get worse. There may be multiple of those big floating rubbish patches.
Utilizing totally traceable submit shopper recycled materials is a sustainable method to sourcing materials.
The rubbish patches result in immense ecological harm and destruction, significantly amongst marine life. One of many worst air pollution offenders is fishing nets. Based on scientists, over 650,000 marine animals are killed or badly injured every year from getting tangled in these discarded fishing nets.
These fishing nets are sometimes discarded on the finish of their life, which is the place a California-based firm referred to as Bureo is available in. Bureo created a program to work straight with South American fishing communities to gather discarded fishing nets. Their facility in Chile kinds, cleans, and recycles the nets into their NetPlus submit shopper materials.
Not solely does this initiative assist shield our oceans and marine life; it additionally supplies revenue to those South American fishing communities.
The Significance of Selecting Publish-Client Recycled Merchandise
Utilizing recycled supplies means using and repurposing current waste versus making extra waste. It reduces and helps forestall extra plastics from ending up within the oceans, and likewise dampens the necessity for virgin plastic manufacturing.
Up to now, Patagonia has prevented practically 850 metric tons of plastic waste out of the oceans by using discarded fish nets. Primarily, Patagonia is popping the fishing nets into hat brims, jackets and material with NetPlus.
Sure facets of this course of and shift in direction of higher sustainability weren’t easy!
Patagonia shares how growing the hat brims was comparatively simple, however the unimaginable transformation from fishing internet plastic to high-quality yarn was far more difficult. Basically, Patagonia’s materials builders labored carefully with the provision chain companions to formulate how this ocean plastic could be transformed into material.
“Regardless of its immensity, the Earth’s sources usually are not infinite, and it’s clear we’ve exceeded its limits.” – Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia founder
This yr, a lot of Patagonia’s basic items have an improved environmental footprint, together with higher supplies.
Based on their web site, 344 metric tons of fishing internet plastic will likely be woven into Patagonia material for his or her fall line. They plan to proceed incorporating NetPlus supplies into extra Patagonia basic items over the subsequent a number of years.
In the event you’d prefer to study extra in regards to the firm’s local weather targets and dedication, you are able to do so right here. And you’ll store their new line of sustainable clothes right here.
As Patagonia’s founder Yvon Chouinard so poignantly says, “Regardless of its immensity, the Earth’s sources usually are not infinite, and it’s clear we’ve exceeded its limits. But it surely’s additionally resilient. We are able to save our planet if we decide to it.”
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