September 6, 2024 Patagonia commits to reduced packaging impact by joining Pack4Good
Patagonia joins Canopy’s Pack4Good initiative to advance its environmental goals by focusing on Next Generation packaging solutions that reduce reliance on forests, preserving critical ecosystems.
Patagonia is taking another step in its environmental commitments by joining Pack4Good, a packaging initiative from Canopy, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting forests, species, and the climate.
Building on a strong foundation of working with Canopy to eliminate the destruction of Ancient and Endangered Forests caused by the production of viscose textiles since 2013, Patagonia is now focusing on Next Generation (Next Gen) packaging solutions that come from more sustainable sources, such as agricultural waste instead of trees. The company has committed to ensuring that none of their packaging comes at the expense of the world’s most climate- and biodiversity-critical forests.
Paper packaging — including delivery boxes, hang tags, and shoe boxes — contributes to 3.1 billion trees being logged annually, many from climate-critical forests. The pressure on the world’s forests is intense, and finding alternative sources of fiber for paper and packaging that don’t use trees is a priority for both Canopy and Patagonia.
“Patagonia is excited to announce its partnership with Canopy’s Pack4Good initiative,” said Jennifer Patrick, Packaging and Branding Director, Patagonia.
“As part of our goal to build the best product and constantly improve everything we do, we are taking steps to review and develop new, more-responsible packaging materials in partnership with Canopy.”
Shifting Toward Next Generation Packaging
Since its initial partnership with Canopy, Patagonia has been at the forefront of shifting the viscose and rayon supply chain, being among the first brand leaders to source exclusively from producers rated as “green shirt” in Canopy’s annual Hot Button Report. In its ongoing efforts to minimize environmental impact, Patagonia has been using 100% recycled content for all its packaging and catalogues.
The next phase of Patagonia’s journey will involve collaboration with Canopy to develop and scale up Next Gen packaging solutions. Next Gen Solutions utilize innovative materials such as agricultural waste and non-forest alternative fibers, significantly reducing reliance on primary forest resources.
“We are so pleased to be welcoming Patagonia to the Pack4Good family,” said Nicole Rycroft, Founder and Executive Director of Canopy.
“This commitment comes at a crucial time when the need for low-carbon alternatives to forest-based packaging is more pressing than ever. By supporting the scale-up of Next Gen materials, Patagonia is not only contributing to the preservation of Ancient and Endangered Forests, it is leading the outdoor apparel sector towards a more sustainable future.”
Today’s announcement brings the Pack4Good initiative to 445 brands worth over 249 billion USD in annual revenue.
ABOUT CANOPY
Canopy Planet is a solutions-driven non-profit organization focused on protecting the world’s forests, species, and climate. Working with over 900 companies, including major brands, Canopy transforms unsustainable supply chains by promoting Next Generation alternatives to wood-based products, such as packaging and textiles. Through initiatives like Pack4Good, Canopy aims to preserve Ancient and Endangered Forests and support biodiversity and climate stability.
Photo: Vitto Sommella / Unsplash
