The Climate Crisis Is Our Business

The climate crisis is an existential threat, and every part of Patagonia’s business is implicated. We must radically reduce carbon emissions by transforming how we make our products. We must also double down on our work to help communities get off fossil fuels and protect nature, the original climate solution. And we must demand nothing short of systemic change from government and industry. The fight is on every front.

Carbon Neutral Is Not Enough

Purchasing offsets to get to carbon neutral doesn’t erase the footprint we create and won’t save us in the long run. If our goal was to cut emissions from our owned and operated stores, offices and distribution centers, we’d be good. But the bulk of our emissions—95 percent—comes from our supply chain and materials manufacturing. We take responsibility for all of it.

How We Cut Our Carbon

Our Materials

No More Virgin Petroleum Fibers by 2025

Our product line accounts for more than 90 percent of our total carbon emissions. While Patagonia has long used materials with lower environmental impacts, we haven’t been able to stop using fossil fuels altogether. By 2025 we will only use preferred materials—organic and Regenerative Organic cotton, recycled polyester and recycled nylon, among others. We’re already at 87 percent of our line and counting. This effort will reduce our emissions by 15 percent. (We, too, wish this number were larger, but every percent counts!) Through our growing Worn Wear program, Patagonia will continue to offer customers clothes with 60 percent lower emissions than new.
NetPlus™ Material Made from Recycled Fishing Nets

NetPlus™ material is made from 100 percent recycled discarded fishing nets collected in fishing communities in South America.

Regenerative Organic Certified™ Cotton

We’ve used organic cotton exclusively since 1996 and we’re now testing Regenerative Organic practices with cotton farmers in India.

Yulex® Natural Rubber

In 2016 we replaced neoprene rubber with natural rubber to reduce our use of petroleum-based materials in our wetsuits by 85 percent.

No More Virgin Petroleum Fibers by 2025

Our product line accounts for more than 90 percent of our total carbon emissions. While Patagonia has long used materials with lower environmental impacts, we haven’t been able to stop using fossil fuels altogether. By 2025 we will only use preferred materials—organic and Regenerative Organic cotton, recycled polyester and recycled nylon, among others. We’re already at 87 percent of our line and counting. This effort will reduce our emissions by 15 percent. (We, too, wish this number were larger, but every percent counts!) Through our growing Worn Wear program, Patagonia will continue to offer customers clothes with 60 percent lower emissions than new.
NetPlus™ Material Made from Recycled Fishing Nets

NetPlus™ material is made from 100 percent recycled discarded fishing nets collected in fishing communities in South America.

Regenerative Organic Certified™ Cotton

We’ve used organic cotton exclusively since 1996 and we’re now testing Regenerative Organic practices with cotton farmers in India.

Yulex® Natural Rubber

In 2016 we replaced neoprene rubber with natural rubber to reduce our use of petroleum-based materials in our wetsuits by 85 percent.

Transforming Our Business Is Not Enough

Transforming how we do business is a crucial lever, but the climate crisis demands much more. We will support community-led efforts to go fossil-fuel-free and protect nature. We will also use any power and influence we have to meet climate change with systems change.

Nature-Based Solution

Protect Nature as a Climate Solution

Old-growth forests. Wetlands. Peat lands. Coastal marine habitats. Regenerative agriculture. Science confirms that nature can reduce a third of the CO2 we need captured by 2030 to slow catastrophic warming. For nearly 50 years, Patagonia has protected the wild places we love. Given the science and urgency, we now focus more than ever on the high-carbon landscapes that can save us, too. For example, through partnerships with local and Indigenous communities and our 1% for the Planet program, Patagonia has supported the protection of Alaska's Tongass National Forest since 2008, with its 17 million acres of old-growth spruce, hemlock, and cedar that hold hundreds of millions of tons of carbon.

Protect Nature as a Climate Solution

Old-growth forests. Wetlands. Peat lands. Coastal marine habitats. Regenerative agriculture. Science confirms that nature can reduce a third of the CO2 we need captured by 2030 to slow catastrophic warming. For nearly 50 years, Patagonia has protected the wild places we love. Given the science and urgency, we now focus more than ever on the high-carbon landscapes that can save us, too. For example, through partnerships with local and Indigenous communities and our 1% for the Planet program, Patagonia has supported the protection of Alaska's Tongass National Forest since 2008, with its 17 million acres of old-growth spruce, hemlock, and cedar that hold hundreds of millions of tons of carbon.

“The climate crisis poses an existential threat; if we don’t clean up our mess, we’ll be history. Business has a role to play, but it’s only one lever. We must use all the tools at our disposal to secure a safer, more just future.”

Ryan Gellert, Patagonia CEO