Yvon Chouinard's Philosophy On Sustainable Business

Patagonia's mission statement is "Make the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, and use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis." A sustainable business is a business whose production, packaging and shipping is designed to preserve the environment. Yvon Chouinard's views on sustainable business and its impact on the environment may seem very radical to the traditional business man, however the principals of those views are very conservative.

After a career in black-smithing, Yvon's first business was creating climbing piton's that rivaled all others on the market. Yvon has stated that the pitons had to be of the highest quality because a faulty product would be fatal. Yvon Chouinard's reason for being in business is to make a superior product. Part of being a sustainable business is to make sure that your product line is made to the highest quality. If the product doesn't have a long life, then it is just going to get junked and be replaced. This is an obvious waste of resources and money.

While the majority of modern corporations choose to exclude "environmental impact" in their costs, Yvon Chouinard has made it the main focus for his company Patagonia. Yvon Chouinard believes in the Iroquois model of seven-generation planning for your business. Your business should grow as if you are planning on being in business for 100 years. If you cannot sustain the environment for a 100 years with the way you produce, manufacture, and deliver goods, then it's time to restructure. Without a healthy environment we will not have healthy business...if any business at all.

Did you know that 25 percent of insecticides, and 10 percent of pesticides are used for growing conventional cotton every single year. Not to mention that many of these chemicals were once used to create nerve gas for warfare. A simple way to promote the health of our environment is to wear organic cotton!