Podcast | Patagonia’s 50-Year Journey as a ‘Responsible’ Company

A lot has happened in the 10 years since Patagonia, the big designer of apparel and gear for outdoor recreation, published a book about its 40 years of being in business. Now it’s back with a new edition, covering the last 50 years. That additional decade saw the company changing its mission statement and transforming its ownership model from a family-owned concern to one controlled by a non-profit trust. On this episode, we talk about the company’s history and commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability with Vincent Stanley, its director of philosophy. We learn how Patagonia balances its environmental commitment with the need to serve customers just like any successful business — while managing a global supply chain that accounts for an overwhelming share of its total impact on the earth. And despite its unusual ownership model, Patagonia believes other companies can learn from its example and rethink their approach to doing business. Hosted by Bob Bowman, Editor-in-Chief of SupplyChainBrain.

Show notes:

Patagonia’s new book: The Future of the Responsible Company: What We’ve Learned From Patagonia’s First 50 Years.