Outdoor apparel company donates its entire Trump tax cut savings to environmental groups
Patagonia is making a big statement about climate change — one with $10 million attached to it.
The outdoor clothing and gear company said it will donate the $10 million it saved in recent tax cuts to environmental groups. In a letter on LinkedIn, CEO Rose Marcario said that “based on last year’s irresponsible tax cut,” Patagonia will owe $10 million less in taxes this year. Instead of putting the money back into its business, she explained, the company is putting the $10 million back into its planet.
“Our home planet needs it more than we do,” said Marcario.
In a company statement, Patagonia said the planet is in peril because of human-caused climate disruption, and noted its support of the recent non-partisan National Climate Assessment report, which was largely dismissed by President Trump. The report warns that, without action, climate change will cause "substantial damages to the U.S. economy, environment, and human health and well-being over the coming decades."
In her LinkedIn post, Marcario did not mince words.
“Far too many have suffered the consequences of global warming in recent months, and the political response has so far been woefully inadequate — and the denial is just evil,” she said.
Patagonia will donate the $10 million to group’s defending the planet’s air, water, and land as well as those involved in the regenerative organic agricultural movement.
Patagonia has long been a supporter of environmental causes. Since 1985, the company has funded grassroots activism through its participation in 1% for the Planet, a pledge for businesses to donate 1% of sales to sustainability-oriented nonprofits. It was founded by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouniard.
Since the 2016 presidential election, however, the company has not shied away from taking a more activist stance and wading into politics. In 2017, it announced plans to sue the president after he withdraw the protected status of some 2 million acres of land that make up national monuments in Utah. Most recently, it made the first political endorsements in its history, endorsing two Democrats running for the U.S. Senate — Jacky Rosen in Nevada and Senator Jon Tester in Montana — for their stances on protecting public lands. Both were elected.
The outdoor clothing and gear company said it will donate the $10 million it saved in recent tax cuts to environmental groups. In a letter on LinkedIn, CEO Rose Marcario said that “based on last year’s irresponsible tax cut,” Patagonia will owe $10 million less in taxes this year. Instead of putting the money back into its business, she explained, the company is putting the $10 million back into its planet.
“Our home planet needs it more than we do,” said Marcario.
In a company statement, Patagonia said the planet is in peril because of human-caused climate disruption, and noted its support of the recent non-partisan National Climate Assessment report, which was largely dismissed by President Trump. The report warns that, without action, climate change will cause "substantial damages to the U.S. economy, environment, and human health and well-being over the coming decades."
In her LinkedIn post, Marcario did not mince words.
“Far too many have suffered the consequences of global warming in recent months, and the political response has so far been woefully inadequate — and the denial is just evil,” she said.
Patagonia will donate the $10 million to group’s defending the planet’s air, water, and land as well as those involved in the regenerative organic agricultural movement.
Patagonia has long been a supporter of environmental causes. Since 1985, the company has funded grassroots activism through its participation in 1% for the Planet, a pledge for businesses to donate 1% of sales to sustainability-oriented nonprofits. It was founded by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouniard.
Since the 2016 presidential election, however, the company has not shied away from taking a more activist stance and wading into politics. In 2017, it announced plans to sue the president after he withdraw the protected status of some 2 million acres of land that make up national monuments in Utah. Most recently, it made the first political endorsements in its history, endorsing two Democrats running for the U.S. Senate — Jacky Rosen in Nevada and Senator Jon Tester in Montana — for their stances on protecting public lands. Both were elected.