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Climate One

Yvon Chouinard: Giving It All Away

Climate One

Climate One

Earth Sciences, News, Social Sciences, News Commentary, Science

4.7585 Ratings

🗓️ 25 November 2022

⏱️ 58 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard made headlines recently when he announced that he and his family had transferred their $3 billion stake in the storied outdoor gear company to a special purpose trust and nonprofit that would give away $100 million a year, specifically to environmental causes. Patagonia has a long history of donating at least one percent of its profits – and 100% of profits made on Black Friday – to grassroots environmental non-profits. Yet even with this massive gift, and Laurene Powell Jobs’ own recent $3.5 billion pledge, climate philanthropy still only accounts for a small fraction of all charitable giving. This Thanksgiving weekend, we look back to our 2016 interview with Yvon Chouinard and bring the story up to date with Inside Philanthropy’s Michael Kavate. Guests: Yvon Chouinard, Founder, Patagonia Michael Kavate, Staff Writer, Inside Philanthropy For show notes and related links, visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Olivia Culpo here to tell you all about the launch of the new Abercrombie spring denim collection,

0:05.5

made the way denim should feel. Their denim has always been a staple in my wardrobe and has a wide range of fits,

0:11.4

styles, and washes. Every jean is available in both their classic fit and viral curve love.

0:17.5

Shop in the app, online, and in stores. This is Climate One. I'm Ariana Brocious. The clothing company, Patagonia, has become synonymous with outdoor adventure and sustainability, largely because of the

0:38.8

unconventional approach of its founder, Yvonne Chouinard.

0:42.2

I really believe that all of us should be buying less, but buying better.

0:47.8

Over the years, the reluctant businessman has also prioritized philanthropy to grassroots environmental

0:52.9

groups, and now he's given away the

0:55.5

company entirely to fund climate and conservation, a move in contrast with how most billionaires

1:01.1

approach capitalism. They've succeeded wildly under this current system. They think it needs to

1:06.1

be tweaked so that we don't overheat ourselves rather than recreated wholesale.

1:11.9

I'll look back with the entrepreneur, philanthropist, and adventure icon Yvonne Chouinard.

1:17.7

That's up next on Climate One.

1:26.3

The pioneering founder and owner of Patagonia is known for charting his own path through the wilderness and through business.

1:33.3

Rather than pushing customers to buy new jackets and gear, Yvonne-Shanard's company helps people fix buttons and zippers

1:40.3

and collects worn-out clothes for resale and recycling. In an industry not known for its social and environmental responsibility,

1:48.4

the company is a leader in understanding the impacts of its operations on people and the planet

1:53.4

and works hard to do no unnecessary harm.

1:57.1

All that effort drives up costs.

1:59.3

But until recently, the only shareholders were Yvonne

2:02.2

Chouinard, his wife, Melinda, and their two adult children. Now they've given the very

2:07.0

profitable company, valued at $3 billion, a way entirely to a specially design trust and organization

...

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