Case Studies in CSR: Patagonia
Founded in 1973 by entrepreneur and outdoor enthusiast, Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia is a privately held outdoor clothing company based in Ventura, CA. The company's CSR vision consists of two main components: environmental conservation and restoration. As stated in its website, Patagonia's mission is to "build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis." Upon further investigation, however, it is clear that this mission statement does not fully capture the intense breadth and depth at which these core environmental values are integrated into everything Patagonia does. The company's commitment to the environment goes above and beyond what is required by law, despite the fact that this imposes extra cost on its customers and puts the company at a competitive economic disadvantage. Here are some highlights of the company's efforts to steer the clothing industry in a more sustainable and responsible direction.
