Clothing brand Patagonia has said that they will not be holding Black Friday sales this year, due to environmental impact.
By Holly Bentley
Outdoor clothing brand, Patagonia, is fighting to support the climate crisis. They will not be participating in the world-known event, Black Friday. They have stated that “they are supporting grassroots groups working to find solutions to the environmental crisis.”
The brand is well known for its ethical efforts against fast fashion. This is due to their emphasis on using recycled materials to create their garments. The company explain that:
“98% of the products in our line are made with preferred fibres, including recycled materials.”
Patagonia Website
When asked, Tilly (Student, 20) stated that “I was unaware of the environmental ethics of this company, it is reassuring to know that there are some brands that are trying to make a difference.”
Recent research from the ‘Dirty Delivery Report’ reported that deliveries sent out for black Friday are responsible for an estimated 386,243 metric tones of carbon emissions in the UK, the rate is expected to rise. For more information visit:
https://www.money.co.uk/credit-cards/dirty-delivery-report
The discounts that are offered on Black Friday are encouraging the overproduction of clothing, due to the high demand brands expect. This level of production is contributing to the extreme amounts of textile waste that is produced every year. Reports state that over 300,000 tonnes of clothing end up in household bins a year.
Patagonia is one of the only brands that will not participate in Black Friday. They state that they are “prioritising purpose over profit, and protect this wondrous planet”.
The clothing brand explains:
“We have built a robust social-responsibility program that analyses and manages the impacts our businesses has on the workers and communities in our supply chain”.
Patagonia
The website announces that “1% of their annual profits are for the preservation and restoration of the natural environment.” It goes on to emphasise that “we have awarded over $89 million in cash and in-kind donations to domestic and international grassroots environmental groups.”
According to the EAC report (2019), 20-35% of all primary source micro-plastics in the marine environment are from synthetic clothing.
The outrageous offers that are promoted on ‘Black Friday’ are actively encouraging the over consumption of clothing. Barney, (Student, 21) reported that “I feel like I must purchase something on black Friday, even if I don’t need it. I think this is because the discounts are too good to miss.”
Patagonia offers a free repair scheme to avoid overconsumption of their clothing. The service allows customers to send their damaged garments back to Patagonia to be repaired. For more information please visit:
https://customers.eu.patagonia.com/en-US/repairs/
