There are many clothing companies that push themselves on being environmentally and socially sustainable. Patagonia is a prime example of this kind of company. They recognize that their products have great impact on our Earth which is why they have made it a priority for that impact to be a positive one. To make this possible Patagonia has done many things to get them B Corp certified which as well only amplifies how well the company has done with sustainability. B Corporations “are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.” This being said, Patagonia’s overall B impact score is the highest on the scale meaning they have surpassed many other companies with their company values and ethics.
Patagonia’s products are made with 68% recycled materials and 100% organic cotton. They have found a way to recycle unique materials such as fishing nets to use in their products and keep out of the environment. B Corp rates Patagonia on their environmental sustainability as well as on their governance, workers, community, and customers. Patagonia has done well in all of these categories which is why their over B impact score is so high. They have focused on both environmental and social sustainability whereas other companies tend to struggle finding the best way to focus on even one of those. Patagonia is not only succeeding in this realm, but they are making progress over time which shows that they can continue to improve their sustainability. They had a score of 107.3 in 2011, 113.9 in 2014, and 151.5 in 2016. If Patagonia continues to push their company to its limits, they can become the shining example of how other companies can do the same.