Facts you didn’t know about Yvon Chouinard, the rebel who donated his company worth 3 billion dollars.

“As of now, Earth is our only shareholder,” said Yvon Chouinard after donating his international company, Patagonia, to an ONG which takes care of the environment.

It is up to us to take care of our mother earth. It is a mission that we must follow.

Yes, it is a duty that resides in you and every company in the world.

We are witnessing this lesson through a brilliant entrepreneur who considers himself a rebel who loves surfing and nature.

The story and effort of this eccentric businessman are unique.

Yvon Chouinard inside one of his production centers.

His father was a mechanic and a plumber.

His humble beginnings allowed him to understand the importance of savings to create a better future for himself.

When he was fourteen years old, in the 60s, he started his career as a rock climber in Yosemite Valley, California.

He figured out a way to earn money, recollecting plastic bottles, selling rock-climber equipment, and feeding himself with cat food.

And, after a trip to Scotland, he bought some rugby shirts to sell.

Yvon Chouinard inside his factory contemplating the horizon.

Without imagining, this action would be the beginning of one of the most iconic and successful sportswear brands in the world: Pagagonia Inc.

Yvon started exporting sports clothes and then created his designs, looking for comfort for his clients.

At first, the profits were few.

But Yvon did not give up because he was sure his creativity would make him take over the market, so he took a chance by implementing vivid colors instead of the typical pastel shades or black ones.

Yvon never imagined he was becoming a businessman. But, when he immersed himself in the textile industry, he realized the environmental problems caused by producing clothes.

Yvon Chouinard is with his vivid colors sportswear collection.

“I realized the impact of global warming and the ecology destruction when I started in the clothing industry”, said Chouinard.

Thus in 1992, Patagonia was one of the first companies to use organic cotton to make its clothing.

Besides, the brand is the leader in researching and developing environmentally friendly materials.

They developed fleece fabric from recycled plastic bottles and surfing clothing made of a vegetable substitute for neoprene.

They also stopped using any clothing pigments which contained sulfates and polluting metals.

Patagonia sign outside the white building.

Annually, the fashion industry consumes 93 billion cubic meters of water, which equals the water consumption of 5 million people. It’s shocking! that’s why Yvon decided to do something about it.

Yvon invited Patagonia employees, who were friends, or friends of its friends, to practice surfing during lunch and rock-climbing trips organized by the company.

These activities allowed Yvon to experience deforestation firsthand, mountain damage, and other problems suffered by nature.

These practices were only the beginning of the corporate approach dedicated to combating climate change.

Patagonia’s team is opposed to participating in any project that affects the environment.

Yvon Chouinard is writing in his notebook at his studio.

They committed to donating 1 % of their profits to organizations annually whose purpose is the recovery and preservation of natural habitats.

Its mission pro-environment is clear, and that is why Patagonia became a B corporation. This certification granted by B Lab Global is exclusive to companies that want to transform the global economy to benefit people, communities, and the planet.

Nowadays, Patagonia is worth 3 billion dollars

88% of its products are made of recycled and renewable materials, and they want to scale this to 100% of its production by 2025.

The company makes sure to use 100% renewable energy in its stores, offices, and distribution centers.

Patagonia was involved in a controversy because they sued the administration of the ex-president of the United States, Donald Trump. After all, he was planning to destroy natural habits in Utah.

The commitment of Patagonia to the environment is impressive.

UN Environment Program (UNEP) acknowledge the actions of Patagonia, naming them the UN Champion of the Earth.

But no one imagined what was about to happen…

Yvon donated 100% of the assets of Patagonia to Holdfast Collective, an ONG in charge of protecting nature and combating global warming.

Yvon Chouinard is with his surfboard and black wetsuit on the beach.

To maintain the philosophy and values of the company, Yvon created the Patagonia Purpose Trust, intending to continue to generate 100 million dollars annually, which will go entirely to the care of our only home.

This eccentric entrepreneur refuses to live in a mansion, wears old clothes, drives an old Subaru, and does not have a cell phone, and with his actions in Patagonia he wants to inspire people to take care of planet Earth.