A letter from our founder, Yvon Chouinard, November 2024

by
Yvon Chouinard
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Every advancement in this society has been done through activism: It’s grassroots movements. It’s nongovernmental organizations operating where there’s no market, no shareholders, no bullshit. It’s businesses being courageous and doing their part.

I founded 1% for the Planet in 2002 to create a movement for moments like this. Businesses can and must make a collective difference in this fight moving forward. 

It’s simple: every business should be committed to people and the planet, above all else—for future generations and any future economy. The time is now to commit and join a powerful community of activists.

In 2020, Patagonia urged everyone to vote the assholes out. In 2024, don’t be an asshole: commit your business to 1% for the Planet. 

Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia and 1% for the Planet

In 2002, Yvon Chouinard founded 1% for the Planet and Patagonia became the first business to commit 1% of annual sales to the environment. Today, the 1% for the Planet network consists of over 4,700 businesses and individuals that contribute to environmental nonprofits in over 110 countries. To date, 1% for the Planet has directed over $672 million to these grassroots organizations working toward a better world.