Patagonia on Cyber Monday: Don't buy it!

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Are you up to your web cam in free shipping and buy-one-get-three offers this Cyber Monday?

Patagonia, one of the nation’s largest and most well-respected outdoor retailers, is asking us to pledge to “Think before we buy.” Gasp!

Cyber Monday, and the culture of consumption it reflects, puts the economy of natural systems that support all life firmly in the red. We’re now using the resources of one-and-a-half planets on our one and only planet.
Because Patagonia wants to be in business for a good long time – and leave a world inhabitable for our kids – we want to do the opposite of every other business today. We ask you to buy less and to reflect before you spend a dime on this jacket or anything else.

Don’t buy what you don’t need. Think twice before you buy anything.

Patagonia products are expensive. It’s often referred to as Patagucci, but there’s a reason for that. In a world of fast fashion that is worn today and worn out tomorrow, Patagonia doesn’t sacrifice quality. And if one of their products does wear out, they’ll replace it! I worked at a store that sold Patagonia’s products and they would repair or replace nearly anything.

Bear Attack damage your long underwear? No problem. Patagonia will take care of the damage, although the psychological damage may be irreparable.

In the long run, quality is cheaper. This is something that every Engaged Consumer should know.

I can’t think of a company that is more transparent than Patagonia when it comes to talking about the environmental and social impact that their products have on the world. I’ve never EVER heard of a company other than Patagonia admit anything like that it takes 135 liters of water – enough to meet the daily needs of 45 people – to make a single jacket.

I took the pledge and I hope you’ll do so too. Be sure to check out the Footprint Chronicles why you’re over there.

TAKE THE PLEDGE

 
3 comments
Gary Hyslop says:

I took the pledge. It’s so refreshing to see a company with that kind of social responsibility.

Homepage says:

Hey, you used to write great, but the last few posts have been kinda boring

Let your voice be heard!

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