Patagonia has a history of making history, so it comes as no surprise that it embarked on Road to Regenerative Organic Cotton. First launched in 2017 on cotton farms in India, Patagonia plans to expand its work this year with its Regenerative Organic Certification Pilot initiative.
But what is “Regenerative Organic Certified” (ROC) and why use it?
[ROC] takes the best parts of organic agriculture and it builds on it and says ‘what’s the best practices we can use for soil health, for animal welfare, for labor, for farmers?’ and it combines it into one standard.
Rose Marcario, former CEO (Patagonia)
In 2017, Patagonia helped establish the Regenerative Organic Certification, a holistic agriculture certification encompassing pasture-based animal welfare, fairness for farmers and workers, and robust requirements for soil health and land management. Last year, Patagonia’s food wing, Patagonia Provisions, launched its first two ROC products. Owner and founder of the company, Yvon Chouinard shares, “It’s some of the hardest work we’ve ever done. But we intend to keep moving forward because if we can show that Regenerative Organic works, we just might save the planet.” (source)
We know Patagonia isn’t shy when it comes to supporting and integrating sustainability into every aspect of what it does. From seemingly small steps like only using organic cotton in its apparel (since 1996) to building robust environmental and animal welfare responsibility programs, the company is working to become part of the solution to climate change.
Patagonia’s 3-part short film series (Part 1: Big Agriculture is Broken; Part 2: Soil is the Solution; Part 3: What We’re Doing (and Why)) documents the problems with conventional agriculture and the solutions regenerative organic agriculture brings to our world.
We’re trying to look at every part of our supply chain and how we can create positive change.
Helen Barbour, Head of Sportswear (Patagonia)
Check out Patagonia’s current apparel options made from Road to Regenerative Organic Cotton and stay tuned for the latest coming in Spring 2021.
