SUSTAINABILITY
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Patagonia also recognises that responsible business extends beyond regulatory compliance. Its Responsible Purchasing Practices framework is designed to ensure that commercial decisions – such as order timing, payment terms and volume planning – do not place undue pressure on suppliers or jeopardise worker wellbeing. By partnering with initiatives such as the Better Buying Institute, Patagonia enables its suppliers to provide anonymous feedback, helping the brand continually improve its practices.
From an environmental standpoint, Patagonia manages a Supply Chain Environmental Responsibility Programme to reduce the ecological impact of manufacturing partners.
This includes rigorous monitoring of water and energy use, chemicals and emissions.
Transparency is a defining feature of Patagonia’ s approach. Through its longstanding Footprint Chronicles platform, the company publicly discloses information on factories, mills and farms – including audit results and environmental data. Patagonia also complies with legal requirements such as California’ s Transparency in Supply Chains Act( SB 657), detailing its policies on forced and child labour as part of its broader commitment to accountability.“ The best we can do is minimise the harm we do to the planet,” says Yvon.
“ We’ ll do what we can to clean up our own house and convince other businesses and suppliers to use cleaner energy and more responsible materials, but it’ s a never-ending summit. The work is never done. procurementmag. com 83