Patagonia announced on Monday it will donate 100 percent of its Black Friday sales to grassroots environmental organizations that work in local communities to protect air, water and soil.
The Black Friday sales, which will come from both its 80 global stores and Patagonia.com, are estimated to reach over 2 million.
“At Patagonia, we will grow and deepen our resolve to protect what we love,” said Rose Marcario, President and CEO of Patagonia in a company press release. “We will fight harder and smarter, and use every means at our disposal to prevail for the sake of the country, the planet, and the wild places and creatures that need our voice.”
Patagonia, since 1985, has pledged 1 percent of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment — which amounted to $7.1 million in its latest fiscal year. To date the total is approximately $74 million in cash and in-kind donations domestic and international grassroots environmental groups.
“The threats facing our planet affect people of every political stripe, of every demographic, in every part of the country,” Marcario said. “We all stand to benefit from a healthy environment—and our children and grandchildren do, too.”
However, the idea to donate 100 percent of Black Friday sales was conceived following the 2016 US Presidential election, according to Tessa Byers.
“The idea to donate 100% of global direct sales was conceived after the election because we thought it more important than ever to advocate for the planet,” said Byers, public relations at Patagonia. “During this difficult and divisive time, we felt it was important to go further and connect more of our customers, who love wild places, with those fighting tirelessly to protect them.”
The environmental groups were not listed in the announcement, but Patagonia will provide consumers with information about them on the company website and in stores on Black Friday.
