Big Applause to Patagonia!

Although I'm not a big fan of Patagonia, I must applaud their Common Threads Initiative.
Go to their website http://www.patagonia.com and right on the front in big bold letters it says, "DON'T BUY THIS JACKET!" Quite the opposite from all the other  retail websites in the midst of the holiday season.

The message of the Common Threads Initiative is simple:

1) Reduce what you buy. Don't buy more than you really need.
2) Repair what you can. Pledge to fix what is broken.
3) Reuse what you have. Patagonia will donate your old clothing to those in need.
4) Recycle everything else.
5) Reimagine a sustainable world.

This message is not new. No, in fact, we've probably heard it from our parents, our environmentally conscious friends, in school, and from news in the community. The Northwest (notably Seattle and Portland) is known for mandating an integrated recycling program for all residents to follow. What makes this noteworthy is that a corporation is making this bold pledge and using their clout to encourage people to think about how they are living and what they can do to improve a society that is obsessed by consumerism.

These kinds of bold statements are refreshing and welcoming to a public that's been jaded too long by over-advertising. And yes, maybe, it's a way to encourage people to buy Patagonia's stuff, but it also makes you think about what an individual can do to help the initiative - not just about that cute outdoor jacket in cherry red, right?

With movements like Occupy Wall Street happening, corporations need to own up their actions and use their brand influence for good.   Can you imagine what Toys-R-Us could do for education and assisting needy families? What if Walmart or other grocery stores Fred Meyers created a program to help food missions and those on food stamps? What if Target started a clothes and furniture recycling program that will encourage families  to give back and help those in need?

It's important that individuals do their part to save the environment, but it's also important that corporations are held accountable and use their resources and voice to make a big difference. Big kudos to Patagonia for looking beyond their profit margins and doing something that will help sustain our environment.