Patagonia is the brand most people name when asked for a sustainable company, and unusually, the reputation holds up under scrutiny. In 2022 its founder gave the entire company away to fight climate change. Here’s what holds up and what to keep in perspective.
- Certified B Corp since 2013 with a standout score (166)
- In 2022 ownership was transferred to a trust + nonprofit, profits now fund climate work (‘Earth is our only shareholder’)
- 1% for the Planet since 1985 ($14.7M in FY25)
- Worn Wear program repairs and resells used gear to extend product life
- Organic cotton since 1996; 85%+ of products Fair Trade Certified, 88% preferred materials
- It still manufactures new clothing, which always has an environmental footprint
- Premium pricing puts it out of reach for many
- You can’t shop your way to sustainability, buying less still beats buying ‘green’
Related: buy secondhand first, see our guide to the best online thrift stores.
What Makes Patagonia Different
Patagonia is an outdoor apparel company, but it operates more like an environmental organization that funds itself by selling jackets. In 2022 the Chouinard family transferred ownership to the Patagonia Purpose Trust and the Holdfast Collective, so that all profit not reinvested goes to fighting the environmental crisis, the now-famous “Earth is our only shareholder.”
The Sustainability Substance
Beyond the headline, the fundamentals are strong: a B Corp since 2013 (score 166), 1% for the Planet since 1985, organic cotton since 1996, and over 85% of products Fair Trade Certified. The Worn Wear program repairs gear and resells used items, directly fighting the buy-and-toss cycle that defines most apparel.
The Fine Print
No clothing brand is “sustainable” in absolute terms, making new products uses resources, full stop. Patagonia itself tells customers to buy less and repair more. So the most sustainable way to use Patagonia is to buy it rarely, buy it used through Worn Wear, and keep it for years.
Worn Wear changes the buying math
Patagonia’s most underrated program is the one that asks you to buy less from it. Worn Wear repairs your damaged gear, often for free or cheap, and resells traded-in items at a steep discount through its used storefront. A used Patagonia shell is routinely the best durability-per-dollar purchase in outdoor clothing.
This is also the answer to the brand’s biggest practical objection, the price. If full retail stings, buy the used version, or check the secondhand sites in our online thrift store guide. The company’s repair-first culture means old gear is usually worth fixing.
Where it still falls short
A 4.8 is not a 5. Patagonia’s clothing leans heavily on synthetics, recycled or not, and synthetic fabrics shed microfibers in the wash; the company funds research and sells mitigation tools, but the materials problem is unsolved industry-wide. Its supply chain is global, with everything that implies.
What earns the score anyway is that Patagonia surfaces these problems itself, in public, with data, while structuring its entire ownership around the mission. Measured against the industry we covered in our fast fashion piece, the gap between Patagonia and the median brand is enormous.
The Verdict: Is Patagonia Sustainable?
Patagonia is the closest thing to a gold standard in sustainable apparel, a high-scoring B Corp whose owners gave the company to a climate trust, with industry-leading repair, organic, and Fair Trade programs, though even the best clothing brand still makes new products with a footprint.
Related: our sustainable clothing guide ranks the brands we trust most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Patagonia a B Corp?
Yes. Patagonia has been a Certified B Corporation since 2013 with a B Impact score of 166, well above the 80-point certification threshold, reflecting strong verified social and environmental performance.
Who owns Patagonia now?
In 2022 the Chouinard family transferred ownership to the Patagonia Purpose Trust and the Holdfast Collective, so the company’s profits now fund environmental causes. Patagonia describes it as ‘Earth is our only shareholder.’
Is Patagonia actually sustainable or is it greenwashing?
Patagonia’s claims are unusually well-backed: B Corp status, Fair Trade and organic sourcing, the Worn Wear resale/repair program, and giving ownership to a climate trust. The fair pushback is that making new clothing always has a footprint, which Patagonia openly acknowledges.
What is Patagonia’s Worn Wear program?
Worn Wear is Patagonia’s repair, resale, and recycling program. It fixes worn gear, sells used Patagonia items, and provides care guides, all aimed at keeping clothing in use longer instead of being thrown away.
Is Patagonia really owned by a nonprofit?
Effectively, yes. In 2022 the Chouinard family transferred voting control to the Patagonia Purpose Trust and the remaining shares to the Holdfast Collective, a nonprofit. Profits the business doesn’t reinvest fund climate and conservation work.
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Sources & Further Reading
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