The founder of outdoor clothing brand Patagonia, known for its pro-environment stance, wants to do even more for the planet and decided, at 83, to simply donate his business.
In agreement with his wife and two children, Yvon Chouinard decided to transfer 100% of his shares in the company to a trust responsible for ensuring that its values are respected, and to an association that fights against the environmental crisis and the protection of nature. , to whom the profits will be donated.
A strong ecological commitment
“I never wanted to be a businessman. I started out as a craftsman, making climbing gear for myself and my friends before moving on to clothing,” he recalls.
Founded almost fifty years ago, Patagonia quickly became involved in protecting nature, scrupulously choosing its raw materials or donating 1% of its sales each year to environmental NGOs. But it was not enough, judged its founder.
And taking Patagonia public would have been “a disaster,” he predicted: “Even well-intentioned public companies are under too much pressure to generate short-term profit at the expense of long-term vitality and responsibility.”
Source: BFM TV
