Common Threads Initiative
This winter we launch our COMMON THREADS INITIATIVE, with the aim of encouraging the Australian community to ‘take the pledge’ and work towards reducing our environmental footprint. Everything natural or manufactured comes to the end of its life. Everything natural gives love to something new, so should the things we make. Whatever you’ve bought from Patagonia that’s finally worn-out, you can return to us, so that we can recycle it into new firer or fabric or repurpose what can’t be recycled.
Talented artist Kelley James and a group of musicians performing his song ‘High Life’ using six single string guitars to convey Patagonia’s message to live simply, and take the Common Threads pledge to Reduce, Repair, Reuse, Recycle and Reimagine. Let’s all work together to lesson our impact on world.
Since the launch of the original US based Common Threads program in 2005, Patagonia has taken back 45 tons of clothing for recycling and made 34 tons into new clothes – thanks to our customers who have become partners.
Patagonia is going one step further this winter and offering all customers in-store incentives for new winter jackets if they donate their old jacket. The donated jackets will be repaired, cleaned and distributed to local charities in need. This generous sign of goodwill will hopefully encourage the community to rethink how they purchase in the future.
As part of our Common Threads Initiative we are focusing on the REUSE aspect of the program. We will facilitate the re-distribution of clothing & jackets through Patagonia stores. Each store will have a Common Threads bin where people can drop off used clothing they no longer require, and to kick start the program we will also offer an incentive to customers who drop off an old jacket and need to purchase a new jacket.
Graham Dickinson, CEO Patagonia
Responsibly following the simple ‘Reduce, Repair, Reuse, Recycle’ mantra will ensure our environmental impact will be greatly reduced allowing us to bring about a sustainable world for those who come after us.
REDUCE- WE make useful gear that lasts a long time. YOU don’t buy what you don’t need.
We design and sell things made to last and to be useful. But we ask our customers not to buy from us what you don’t need or can’t really use. Everything we make– everything anyone makes– costs the planet more life than it gives back. The biggest, first step we can all take to reduce our impact is to do more with what we have.
REPAIR- WE help you repair your Patagonia gear. YOU pledge to fix what’s broken.
What we have should be things we can repair. If you have the skills to turn a frayed collar or to darn the worn heel of a sock, good for you. For our part, we should make clothes that wear out as evenly as possibleand repair quickly what you send back to us to be fixed.
REUSE- WE help find a home for Patagonia gear you no longer need. YOU sell or pass it on to someone who needs it.
Nothing wearable should be hoarded; useful things should be in circulation. Reuse what you no longer need, whether you’ve given up climbing or no longer wear brown. Donate unused clothes to a charity or sell them on eBay.
RECYCLE- WE will take back your Patagonia gear that is worn out. YOU pledge to keep your stuff out of landfills.
Everything natural or manufactured comes to the end of its life. Everything natural gives love to something new, so should the things we make. Whatever you’ve bought from Patagonia that’s finally worn-out, you can return to us, so that we can recycle it into new firer or fabric or repurpose what can’t be recycled.
REIMAGINE- TOGETHER we reimagine a world where we take only what nature can replace.
Two-thirds of our economy is based on the purchase of consumer goods. But to blindly purchase what’s good neither for the planet or ourselves to keep the game going is the very definition of unsustainability. Let’s buy what is healthy and useful; let’s stay away from what we don’t need and what causes unnecessary harm. Every action we take together to protect the land and waters we love adds to our knowledge and confidence that we can reimagine, then help bring about, a sustainable world for those who come after us.