Yvon Chouinard, 83, could have sold the brand -- valued at $3 billion, according to The New York Times -- or taken it public.
Instead, he, his wife and their two children agreed to transfer all of Patagonia's voting shares, or stock that gives the holder voting rights, in the company to a trust in charge of ensuring the brand's environmental values are respected.
All of Patagonia's nonvoting shares have been transferred to a nonprofit dedicated to fighting against climate change and for nature protection and conservation. Company profits will also be donated to the nonprofit.
"Earth is now our only shareholder," Chouinard wrote in an open letter posted to Patagonia's website.
"I never wanted to be a businessman," he explained. "I started as a craftsman, making climbing gear for my friends and myself, then got into apparel."
He added: "As we began to witness the extent of global warming and ecological destruction, and our own contribution to it, Patagonia committed to using our company to change the way business was done."
Founded almost 50 years ago, Patagonia quickly became committed to conserving nature, by carefully choosing its raw materials and donating one percent of its sales each year to environmental NGOs.
But Chouinard has decided this is no longer enough.
One option was to sell Patagonia and donate the money. "But we couldn't be sure a new owner would maintain our values or keep our team of people around the world employed," he said in the letter.
Taking the company public would have been a "disaster," he said: "Even public companies with good intentions are under too much pressure to create short-term gain at the expense of long-term vitality and responsibility."
Patagonia will remain a company, which cares about its financial health and will operate with a board of directors and CEO.
The Chouinard family will no longer get any money from the company but will stay on the board, as well as oversee the trust and guide the nonprofit's philanthropic work.
ETX Studio
Fri Sep 16 2022
![Patagonia founder gives away company to save planet Patagonia founder gives away company to save planet](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/81663317021_patagonia.jpg)
Founded almost 50 years ago, Patagonia quickly became committed to conserving nature, by carefully choosing its raw materials and donating one percent of its sales each year to environmental NGOs - ETX Studio
Jenayah: Polis sahkan suspek teman lelaki Nur Farah Kartini
Lelaki yang ditahan polis bagi membantu siasatan berhubung penemuan mayat Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah, adalah teman lelakinya.
Suspek kes kematian Nur Farah Kartini direman tujuh hari
Seorang penjawat awam yang dikaitkan dengan penemuan mayat Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah, direman selama tujuh hari bagi membantu siasatan kes tersebut.
[TERKINI] Pan Gon bakal umum letak jawatan hari ini?
Tidak ada maklumat lanjut berkaitan sidang media berkenaan walaupun desas desus mengatakan ia melibatkan kepimpinan tertinggi FAM atau barisan kejurulatihan skuad Harimau Malaya?
Bukan masa sesuai untuk perkenalkan semula GST - Amir Hamzah
Menteri Kewangan II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan berkata bukan masa sesuai untuk perkenal semula GST. Katanya, kerajaan hanya akan perkenalkan cukai yang tidak memberi kesan kepada golongan rentan.
#AWANInews #SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews #SisiTVParlimen
![Anda kini boleh uji iOS 18 Public Beta Anda kini boleh uji iOS 18 Public Beta](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721100842_iOSPublicBeta.jpg)
Anda kini boleh uji iOS 18 Public Beta
Walaupun iOS 18 Public Beta sedia dimuat turun, ia masih lagi dalam peringkat pembangunan dan ujian.
Saya 'pelik' soalan YB Hulu Terengganu - Timbalan Menteri KPDN
Timbalan Menteri KPDN, Fuziah Salleh pelik dengan soalan YB Hulu Terengganu, Datuk Rosol Wahid yang mengaitkan harga barang naik dan subsidi diesel antara faktor kekalahan PH di Sungai Bakap.
#SisiTVParlimen #AWANInews
#SisiTVParlimen #AWANInews
PKPS 2.0: LHDN kutip RM512.6 juta - Amir Hamzah
Menteri Kewangan II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan berkata LHDN sudah mengutip RM512.6 juta melalui Program Khas Pengakuan Sukarela (PKPS) 2.0 yang bermula 6 Jun 2023 hingga 31 Mei lalu.
#SisiTVParlimen #AWANInews
#SisiTVParlimen #AWANInews
![Bursa Malaysia meneruskan peningkatan pada awal dagangan Bursa Malaysia meneruskan peningkatan pada awal dagangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/51709865166_BURSAMALAYSIA.jpg)
Bursa Malaysia meneruskan peningkatan pada awal dagangan
Pada 9.19 pagi, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) menambah 0.20 mata kepada 1,630.02 daripada 1,629.82 ketika ditutup pada Isnin.
![Kanak-kanak 4 tahun maut jatuh dari tingkat 16 Kanak-kanak 4 tahun maut jatuh dari tingkat 16](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2015-07/41437207555_PolisLogo.jpg)
Kanak-kanak 4 tahun maut jatuh dari tingkat 16
Polis Daerah Putrajaya menerima panggilan MERS 999 memaklumkan mengenai kejadian kanak-kanak jatuh bangunan sekitar pukul 7.50 pagi tadi.
AWANI Pagi: Hidup bersama COVID-19
Jom ketahui semua info penting tentang “Hidup Bersama COVID-19”! Langkah, pengurusan kes, vaksin, dan banyak lagi bersama Dr Aznida Mohamad Zaki, Pakar Perubatan Kesihatan Awam, Bahagian Kawalan Penyakit Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia dalam Awani Pagi Selasa, 8.30 pagi.