Is Patagonia REALLY Sustainable?

Patagonia presents itself as an environmentally conscious brand, constantly promoting sustainability and anti-consumerism. Our question is: is Patagonia actually helping the planet or is it all just marketing?
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For further reading, check out the sources for this video here:
docs.google.com/document/d/e/...
Script: Holly Maley
Editor: Kirsten Stanley
Project Manager: Lurana McClure Rodríguez
Host: Levi Hildebrand
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[@beardedbastard7753]

A video on their military ties would be an interesting one

[@antoineallard8788]

Wait ? Military ties ?

[@David-vg1wl]

I was thinking the same thing! My Patagonia combat shirt is essential under plate carriers. I would like to know more about Patagonia's role in GWOT.

[@felixbechtoldt]

Agreed 🤝

[@PrimevilKneivel]

Same here, I didn't know about that.

[@JDLT645]

And the garbage design of not having back pockets on their combat pants. WHY?!

[@kenim]

In the end, Patagonia is JUST a clothing manufacturer. You cannot expect them to revolutionize the fossil fuel or logistics industry just by themselves. What they can do (and they are doing it) is use their resources to push for reform while doing the best they can within their industry (ie sustainable cotton).

[@williamrobinson4265]

exactly... they are just more neoliberal capitalists although the pickme-ass "good guys" kind of evil if they were supporting radical international organization of labor then maybe we would have dealt with the fossil fuel industry already

[@jimiefoxx]

Agree! And from that point of view, they are already at the top of its world.

[@avacurtis2729]

I am part of a clean energy campaign for my local school district and Patagonia actually shared our petition on Twitter. Might not seem like a big deal but brands almost never will do that especially with something as small and grassroots as we are

[@FutureProofTV]

That's actually so cool! Glad to hear your campaign got some visibility ✨

[@felixbechtoldt]

I love that they repair stuff from other brands. Before I knew more about all of these companies I bought a pretty expensive hardshell jacket from the north face. After a couple of weeks a zipper broke and I sent it to the norh face. Then I waited 8 weeks just to get my jacket back in the exact same condition as I sent it to them. The only thing I got was a note saying that zippers aren't covered by the warranty and that I could get a 10% discount on my next order. Then I heard about patagonias policy and boom, my jacket is fixed. I just wish I had bought from patagonia in the first place 😉

[@timbushell8640]

See... Levi, good biz even if into the global village, creates biz... some other company didn't get to sell Felix a new jacket... and by the sounds of it, Patagonia will be the brand of whatever 'high-ish tech' clothing he needs to buy next... ... long term marketing, seemingly transparent... and to date, I have no, zero, Patagonia stuff. : )))))

[@richeyrich2203]

@@timbushell8640 I tell ya, with their longer term philosophy, I am now only buying used gear from companies like this. I save the cost, I keep old gear in use. And it will be repairs or replaced when it breaks on me. I’m now buying Patagonia, Filson, rav, Cotopaxi, fijallraven, and the like. Companies that have very expensive gear but also want you to use it as long as possible.

[@SuperAaron99]

Patagonia talks a big game but they’re the same as everyone else. I bought a pair of winter gloves from them once ($70) and they tore a few weeks into owning them. I could have paid someone the stitch them back but I was curious to see about this repair policy they like to brag about. I took them to the store in Vancouver and they said they would be ready in 2-3. months lol. When I picked them up they were repaired but they had a tag from a repair shop in Los Angeles. These guys really shipped a pair of gloves from Canada to LA to put in a few stitches and shipped it back. Now they can say they repair stuff to “save the planet” and I can say sanctimoniously (like people that believe in this stuff) that instead of throwing them away I repaired them to “avoid waste”. When it comes down to it the resources taken up by this whole sham of a policy would have been less if they threw them away and gave me a new pair.

[@seyadeodin]

@@SuperAaron99 That's bad, but no, a new pair would still be more resourceful.

[@josech]

The fact that they have kept themselves as private company gives them more leeway to live their values. Others brands go public or get acquired by public corporations (looking at you North Face), and then everything is about shareholders value.

[@hanwagu9967]

companies don't go into business to lose money. Sure, public companies have shareholders, but private companies have greedy private owners. The fact that Yvon has kept Patagonia as a Private Benefit Company enables him to benefit himself while doing whatever he claims he is all about, even though we all know that in order to maintain status as a Private Benefit Company the company is forced to do some public benefit, and that Yvonn hasn't given up his riches or equally divvied up among all the employees, despite how much he says he is a socialist, anti-capitalist, dislike Patagonia being so profitable.

[@chrisxdm3014]

@@hanwagu9967didnt he recently just gave all his earnings and company to a charity ?

[@RxLush]

If they’re not cooperative with their workers as owners is the exact same thing

[@rufex2001]

If there are problems to be solved in the industry, I imagine BEING part of said industry is the first step. In this regard, I prefer that Patagonia stick around and keep showing that businesses can be profitable while at the same time trying to reduce, minimize or even reverse their impact on the environment

[@cyler6127]

The transition from the Patagonia logo into a talk about fossil fuels was pretty cool 👏

[@FutureProofTV]

Our editing team is the coolest 😎😎

[@kazooduck]

@@FutureProofTV future proof editing team is top tier

[@timbushell8640]

@@kazooduck ... sorry, that transition was 'top tier', really, a little sinking feeling into the coal strata, and "oops" there is a pink nodding donkey. Low bar sunshine low bar. After all, low Barr Trump is in the same video. : )))))

[@kazooduck]

@@timbushell8640 OH NO TRUMP MAN DISLIKE THE VIDEO SEND THR BATALLION. sunshine what are you saying?

[@MssIAMNOBODYSPECIAL]

"At least people will be buying from them and not a competitor without the same kind of corporate backbone" Agreed. Tho honestly, if all companies followed patagonia's example, a lot of problems would be so much less worse. Although I'd say: "just dont buy what you dont need, and buy whay you do need conciously". If patagonia is the most sustainable option out there (but not perfect), I guess you should go for that (while also pushing them to be better).

[@Sivah_Akash]

I think it just comes down to whether the presence of Patagonia is creating new induced demand for products or if are they moving people into buying their products instead of from other companies'.

[@gastonvuidepot]

I've been wearing Patagonia clothes for about 30 years, what's more, right now I'm wearing a Capilene shirt that's about 20 years old. I live in Patagonia, in the south of Argentina. Here I put all the Patagonia clothing I bought to the test. In my opinion, Yvon Chouinard did a very good thing with his company. Surely, there are more things to improve in Patagonia, but I think the path is the right one, so that we all have a better world.

[@MeMe-lx2jw]

If you think Chouinard did a good thing then you have no idea about what he actually did.

[@Sam_u_L]

Love your videos man! Keep killing it. The quality and inward looking element to your content is respectable at the bare minimum. I really appreciate the perspective you have on consumerism and your efforts to share and inform folks in areas we may not pay enough attention to. Side note, impressed you can still put out the same quality content while on the road! Safe travels 🙌🏻

[@FutureProofTV]

Wow thanks so much!! We've got a wonderful team putting in lots of work to make sure our content is always up to snuff. Thanks again for being here 😌🙌

[@athenadia4743]

It's definitely a valid point that at the end of the day Patagonia sells things that take away from the planet, hence they can't be "sustainable", but I also find it interesting to think about the fact that we need industry leaders and presences like theirs in all industries. In the end, I will always buy secondhand, but Patagonia is definitely better than buying from many competitors of theirs.

[@australianboy]

A video on Patagonia’s new decision with their shares as well as military ties would be really interesting.

[@RobBrulinski]

Their Mil gear is awesome

[@mdesmith13]

I would be very interested to hear about Patagonia's involvement with the military. This is the first I've heard of it, but it would make sense. The military wants quality outdoor clothing and gear.

[@EarthSurfer]

I have Patagonia fleece (sweater, jacket, full zip pants) that are older than Levi which I still use. Although all have had minor repairs, these well designed products are as close to sustainable as possible. (BTW: these items have been mostly hand washed to increase life and minimize creation of micro plastic waste.) I have worn out a few pieces of Patagonia tech wear, but all served far more years than I originally anticipated.

[@TheBenjaminBrowning]

Who else is sat watching this whilst wearing at least one item of Patagonia clothing?

[@FutureProofTV]

Nice 🤙🤙

[@masoudabdun-noor8675]

Several lol

[@AndyMBurgess]

Been waiting for you guys to make this video. Great job team!!

[@missw.2820]

I’d love a video about Patagonia’s history with supplying the military! I didn’t know about that

[@Thatdalton]

Yeah I feel like a video on their military partnership would really open a can of worms on their ethical practices!

[@prestonstrauss3693]

I second that motion!!!!!

[@David-vg1wl]

Patagonia calls it their Lost Arrow Project

[@robertcurcio4927]

Great video. I have the book you mention. Have rad it a number of times. Yvon says that there is no such thing as complete sustainability. He says to do as little harm to the environment as possible.

[@toneeviera8336]

Super awesome to see you examine your own beliefs and biases, hopefully it spurs others to do the same Also, the tie to the military would be really cool to explore and I'd watch the video

[@ttopero]

The frankness & attempt to bring transparency to typically opaque marketing is an important service this channel offers. I’d like to see a video about how Patagonia serviced the U.S. military while sticking with their values & ideals, without going into the politics of military, war or the treasure spent on both. We know that through military expenses, we’ve developed lots of technologies & services we benefit from as civilians-let’s focus on those aspects too.

[@BestYears2BestPlaces]

This is a smart biz strategy... if not for their philosophy. There is not much difference between well made clothes (how could that be so different?). But with this mission behind, it will stand out and differentiate. Thanks for the nice sharing. I would buy more Patagonia from now on....

[@kolonarulez5222]

I'd never heard of this brand and I was so excited you were talking about the lake in my home state lol

[@TommoCarroll]

Well sheet, I think it's about time I get myself SOMETHING from Patagonia - I like the honesty A LOT.

[@FutureProofTV]

Same here dude 😌

[@wetasspaddington]

are you blind

[@wiledman2430]

​@@wetasspaddington are you deaf?

[@nodette123]

Yes please. Would love to hear about Patagonia’s involvement with the military!

[@ruisen2000]

Not sure about other countries, but in Canada, patagonia almost never run any sales at all. When Black Friday or boxing day rolls around and every business is dangling these amazing limited time deals to get you to impulse buy, all you get from Patagonia is silence. I think they really do embody the "only come buy from us when you need something" to the best of their abilities.

[@daviddavis1322]

Sustainability is how they market things. Seems like they do as much as feasible while still being able to be a company.

[@doncristianugalde]

Awesome video! Would like to see a similar take on Apple and their sustainability & carbon neutrality marketing

[@golasticus]

I second this. Tech KZbin generally regards their "sustainability" front as just marketing from what I can see and it would be interesting to inspect their claims from a different perspective. They claim they do certain things like not shipping chargers with their phones to be more eco-friendly but a lot of their other business practices say otherwise. Like making their devices notoriously hard to repair and if it ever were, it would be so prohibitively expensive you'd be hard pressed not to buy a new device instead.

[@Angus_fO]

Coumd you do a video about sustainable everyday wear? As someone in the climbing community, it seems that sustainability is trendy and common in outdoor wear but is lacking behind in thing like tshirts. Also, maybe touch on how vague measurements of sustainability that brands like zalando and Asos use persuades customers into thinking that they're buying sustainable products when that's not the case.

[@HerWanderlust]

Xusah on Etsy makes great every day wear, and she will make it to your exact measurements and color preference. I have some of her garments for 3 plus years and they still have lots of life left

[@eriklenzen8523]

Would love to see a video about patagonia's partnership with the military!

[@rfigueroa785]

I used to work for a Patagonia dealer. There is a lot of plastic trash they send with there products.

[@FutureProofTV]

Hmm that also might be worth looking into 🧐 thanks for sharing, Ryan!

[@kazuesohma2425]

Please do a video Patagonia supplying the military and the morality (or lack thereof) of such a choice. I understand that it would be controversial, but I feel like not enough people talk about it. I was aware of them trying to sever their ties with Wall St. a bit ago (in a rather public way, might I add) so it's interesting (and weird) that they are okay with supplying the military.

[@masoudabdun-noor8675]

Everyone’s focused on what big companies are doing, but what are we doing ourselves to make the planter better. Calling awareness to issues is perhaps what they do best, then it’s up to the consumers to better their own practices.

[@troyglim]

Try doing an episode on Asket a zero compromise garments with transparency based in Stockholm, Sweden.

[@DezaRay24]

I waited & found my Patagonia jacket at Savers for $15 👌🏽 That was a win/win price for me And yes a military video

[@aaronedgeart]

Well said and lots covered here.

[@oliroy92]

Would love to see a video dissecting the tentree apparel company!

[@sillydrizzy2985]

Great video, FP Team. I definitely appreciated the comment at the end about how Yes, it's Marketing...but it's also Activism. There's greenwashing, and then there's what Patagonia is doing. We see the similar thing every June with Pride and you can generally tell which companies are just rainbow-washing, and which actually support this LGBTQ+ employees & customers. We as consumers need to better support the companies that walk the walk. But I totally get that it's hard to ignore price for many.

[@hoagietime1]

Can you do an episode on outdoor brands that also supply the military or have gun industry connections? I love alot of the Nemo gear I've had but have soured on them since I found out they supply tents for the military. I really want to be depressed about more of the gear I use.

[@similarteacher]

hope you don’t have any patagonia or arcteryx….

[@janreineke7275]

Can you make a similar video about Vaude? They are pretty big in europe, and also have the image to be very sustainable and environmentally friendly, for example by not using PFCs.

[@cuhweenuh]

Well looks like you’ve just convinced me to buy Pategonia anytime I need a new item. Still love thrifting- but they sound like an awesome company that I wouldn’t feel guilty giving my money to 🙂

[@HerWanderlust]

You can find lots of good Patagonia stuff on poshmark and depop mercari etc for much cheaper than new, and much of it is hardly worn. That way you can have your technical gear, at a good price, without supporting a company that is still making tons of new plastic clothing

[@oliverbowiebello]

Could you talk about REI? How they are a “co-op” but it doesn’t really seem to be a co-op in the true communal sense…maybe it once was?

[@jduarte1506]

Good video Patagonia is a brand that I love, I'm looking at a Patagonia jacket but a few days ago I started looking at a Jack Wolfskin brand that is German and in their jackets they don't use GORETEX. Now if you could help me between Patagonia and Jack Wolfskin for a jacket for normal rain, not something intense, which is better quality

[@GeorgeHolden]

I'd love to see the military link idea in a video!

[@kylefull]

Something I was disappointed with in terms of Patagonia: I recently ordered a hat off their website and it came in a nice recycled cardboard box. Pretty standard, but then the hat was in a plastic bag in the box - this was a bummer. Especially when other brands I've ordered from such as Prana and Cotopaxi don't ship with any plastics. I wish Patagonia would do better in that aspect.

[@richeyrich2203]

Was is a cellulose plastic or a standard acrylic?

[@harrisonsearle7442]

Definitely trying to hear about their MARS line

[@uptownkittydc]

Hell yeah I wanna hear about military shenanigans 😂

[@BradAnkenman]

Love your videos. This one the messaging was a little messy. I’m not sure what the main point was.

[@colebrantmeier6821]

yes, please dive into their Military business!

[@wiledman2430]

I have to much clothes to buy Patagonias stuff but i love there efforts.

[@samtortell3680]

Def make a video abt patagonia and army

[@amyarcher8017]

Great video 🙂

[@FutureProofTV]

Thanks so much, Amy!

[@imagemotion9384]

Please do a video on the Military relationship with Patagonia

[@hazardous92]

What about Ecoalf? Could you make a comparison of the two brands?

[@richeyrich2203]

I +1 for a dive into military contracts. Also the recent sale of the company to the preservation trust.

[@Jack-hw7wv]

Great video, do one on L.L. Bean?

[@scottkirby5016]

So I grew up near the old Patagonia HQ and Flag store. And one of things about them I found odd at the time was that there was a tiny shack of an outlet about a block away with a ton of Patagonia gear for comparatively cheap-called Cheap Sports funny enough. Not K-Mart prices but Sears level and had tons of camp equipment vs what clothes you'd see today. It was an outlet for the mistakes, the bad colour batches, wrong buttons whatever and was sent there as clearance. Not shocking when you look at the company but the reaction was how the people at the main store treated the cheap sports store/customer. People actively would send us to the mistakes outlet if they knew it had what we asked for, even if they had it on the shelves too, they actively seemed to look up to them as almost a more pure thing rather than something to be looked down on. If you were tolerant of them not being "perfect" they seemed to actively like you more. It was however a horrible place to norm my ideas of a clothing brand worked, misconceptions for life.

[@camerontuck5379]

I mean to me the Black Friday example just showed an example of an amazing fundraiser

[@porter97]

I'd be interested in that future episode he mentions at 8:50

[@heyitsburt]

yes please on the Patagonia x US Gov collab...

[@LieutenantLysol]

Known as Patagucci to me.

[@jleuthardt]

i literally JUST bought a patagonia shirt today

[@staceyd8397]

will you and the team be taking a look at Kathmandu?

[@MatthewJBD]

I've been buying Patagonia stuff second hand on Vinted.

[@tat3r666]

Can you do a video on sanuk shoes?

[@seanleal2292]

Patagonia is also a pioneer for new more eco friendly materials, chemicals, etc. So that the industry as a whole can be driven to lower carbon footprints.

[@seanleal2292]

And yeah activism is why I buy it. Making the brand reach more ears allows more people to learn from Patagonia why clothing is such a problem, why they should buy less and buy more durable clothing, and hopefully even repairing instead of replacing.

[@evano8312]

I am a huge worn wear fan for these reasons

[@carefullin]

Please a Cotopaxi brand video!!

[@jackdawson1054]

Patagonia military video yes pls

[@Scorchykotz]

Open that controversial can of worms! Love your videos, greetings from europe

[@FutureProofTV]

Greetings from Canada! Thanks so much for the support ❤️☺️

[@pmarty7339]

Naturally and logically, they do have an impact in the environment. And, even so, it's so beneficial they exsit because if they didn't, all those customers would have to buy from another company...and I'm sure other companies wouldn't do so much to try to help the environment and lessen their impact.

[@benjaminrozier8063]

just wondering what kind of eco stuff Picture have, I'm kind of a fan boy and they do seem to be very sustainably oriented

[@Dkayed00]

You are my lucky⬆️⬆️winner today ....

[@pioneer_1148]

Aside from Gortex I'd say patagonia is a good company for the planet. I'm not sure though if that is simply because it makes people love them as a brand or because Chouinard actually means what he says.

[@febrikriss1781]

They're actually hardcore 💪

[@omgtheweirdo]

You should join Nebula! Great content!

[@BenNuProductions]

Patagonia is the best so far in terms of major clothing brand sustainability.

[@michaelnorth8602]

Is it right patagonia produce uniforms for the US military?

[@nathanmaina1560]

Do a video on Merrell please.

[@sacrison5]

Have you ever considered doing a video about New Balance?

[@PocketAces500]

Patagonia and the Defence industry please

[@ProIific]

In this video you cite pushback on Patagonia by organizations such as PETA and Greenpeace but I honestly don’t understand beyond a surface level why that is relevant. You should do a video on these organizations so viewers can understand more deeply what these organizations are and what weight their opinions carry.

[@pawelltg9325]

Peta and Greenpeace are honestly terror organizations, dedicated to carry them ideologies at any cost, Peta have a long history of cruelty and lies for promote them ideology, for other side Greenpeace is one of the principal responsibles of nuclear energy backlash, even knowing that is the less environmental costly energy form that we know, also Greenpeace is know for ignore the environment cost of certain groups that finance them, both are organizations that are in line with lobbies and will selective change and ignore information just for impulse that lobbies, for sure not trustworthy opinions.

[@jway9097]

"what weight their opinions carry." 0. They're idiots.

[@georgecagle3829]

Would love to see a video showing Patagonia's military ties

[@Dkayed00]

You are my lucky⬆️⬆️winner today ....

[@rufex2001]

Yes on Patagonia and the military

[@mikeynaziri]

8:50 yes this is a topic of intrest

[@shaunaburton7136]

I have a Patagonia long underwear that is almost 20 years old. It lasts!

[@battymax]

The practice of using prison slave labour within the US incorporating the fashion industry would be interesting to watch, especially how that links with clothing and the military.

[@elizabethleland8670]

Yes! Open that can about the military!

[@theslightlyhillyrider969]

"forever chemicals in goretex".... Little did they know, the ePE jackets were just round the corner lol

[@salmanhamid9911]

I got motivated to buy Patagonia clothes. Went to their website as saw that a shirt costs about 75£. ._.

[@nlorens]

Hi Levi, hoping you would do reaction video to Adam Conover’s takedown video on Patagonia

[@Amemoryinvaded]

I just sent in a non-patagonia jacket for repair and they sent it back saying its not their product so no repair.

[@ivyhouts9357]

You should do a video on Athleta

[@crazysavvyloverlee]

I’d love a serious look at ikeas sustainability message

[@pedanthicc]

does anyone really give a rats hiney what PETA has to say about anything tho? great vid as always~

[@im093]

Especially since PETA straight up kills almost all the animals they "save".

[@showmemojo4784]

This might be a odd question but intelligent people tend to read a lot but what if someone substitutes books for documentaries documentaries sports and stand up comedy are about the only things I watch big Hollywood products I just don't get into

[@Dkayed00]

You are my lucky⬆️⬆️winner today ....

[@ruinedsoup9337]

they are unfortunately the only brand in America. That you can get hemp pants. Which i love. Except low style and color selection. But long lasting.

[@Dkayed00]

You are my lucky⬆️⬆️winner today ....

[@YamakuziTv]

Have you seen the Adam Conover video?

[@saywhat7349]

you have to do an update now

[@olamideolayinka4130]

You should post your vids on Rumble

[@jameszambito4176]

Why don’t they have anything to say about the recent chemical spills across the country