Patagonia, the Ventura, California-based outdoor apparel manufacturer has hired Matthijs Visch as general manager of Patagonia EMEA. As general manager, Visch will oversee Patagonia’s growing business in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, which today includes more than 230 employees and 11 stores. Visch will build on the success and strong environmental position established by previous general manager Ryan Gellert, who has transitioned into the role of Global CEO of holding company Patagonia Works, after six years of leading Patagonia’s team in EMEA.
Join us in taking three steps to support our employees and our communities—fund activists, call Congress, stop future restrictive voting laws.
We are sickened by the sharp rise in anti-Asian violence, and we join with our employees and customers to condemn hate.
Acts of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are not new—Japanese-American internment, the Chinese Exclusion Act, and more. We must recognize hate for what it is and put an end to it everywhere.
Patagonia strives to be a part of all communities where we operate. Yet, we have not done enough. We recommit to becoming an antiracist company that leads by example.
We will continue to support and protect our AAPI employees, customers, and community.
#StopAsianHate
For nearly 60 years, Willard Bascom’s bestselling book Waves and Beaches: The Powerful Dynamics of Sea and Coast (Patagonia, March 16, 2021, ISBN 9781938340956) has been a go-to resource of surfers, sailors, oceanographers and anyone with an appreciation for the sea. But since the book’s original 1963 publication, a new wave – the wave of climate change – has vastly impacted ocean dynamics, coastlines and coastal communities. Refreshed for the 21st Century, Patagonia announces a new edition of Waves and Beaches to help readers take action in protecting our shores.
The Vjosa, Europe’s largest wild river outside of Russia, faces its greatest danger yet, due to political uncertainty and opportunistic greed. Ahead of upcoming Albanian parliamentary elections, citizens, activists and conservationists are demanding political support for the establishment of Europe’s first wild river national park, thus protecting it forever.
As part of this action, today sees the launch of Vjosa Forever, a new documentary short film asking people everywhere to join the fight to preserve the future of the Vjosa.
Yesterday, Patagonia’s head of global communications, Corley Kenna, joined Accountable.US and two members of the House of Representatives for a press conference in support of Rep. Deb Haaland’s nomination to lead the U.S. Interior Department.
Click here to read the press release from Accountable.US.
Patagonia was created to explore wild places, and today, in the face of an impending climate crisis, the company’s mission statement: ‘We’re in business to save our home planet’ has never been more critical.
Today, Patagonia strengthens this mission with the hire of Beth Thoren to the position of Environmental Action & Initiatives Director, EMEA. In this role, she will help Patagonia to address the most pressing issues of our time, including the commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2025, across the business and supply chain, and supporting over 1,000 grassroots environmental NGOs around the world.
Patagonia has selected a new chief executive officer of Patagonia Works: Ryan Gellert. Since 2014, Gellert has overseen Patagonia’s business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Patagonia Works is the holding company for Patagonia, Inc. (apparel and equipment), Patagonia Provisions (food), Patagonia Media (books, films and multimedia projects), Lost Arrow Solutions (government), Fletcher Chouinard Designs, Inc. (surfboards), Tin Shed Ventures, LLC (investments), and Worn Wear, Inc. (used and upcycled apparel).
When it comes to the future of our democracy, our votes have never mattered more. But for too many Americans, the barriers to casting their ballots have never been higher. This year, we at Patagonia are committed to breaking down one barrier in particular: the widespread lack of information about how and where to vote.
Voting, our most basic and fundamental right as a democracy, is under threat, so Patagonia is doing its part to help ensure we have safe, free and fair elections this November. As we stand with the millions of Americans who want to elect climate leaders and see wild places protected for future generations, Patagonia will work with our partners across the country to help people exercise their right to choose their future and make a plan to vote.
United States of America, August 27, 2020 – More than 700 companies have now joined Time to Vote, a business-led, nonpartisan coalition that aims to increase voter participation in the U.S. elections. Voter turnout in the U.S. is one of the lowest in the developed world and one of the most common reasons people give for not voting is that they are too busy with the demands of life and work. The coalition, which represents more than six million workers in the U.S.*, is addressing this challenge by giving employees the time and the tools they need to exercise their right to vote in the November general election.
The Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), a group of experts in farming, ranching, soil health, animal welfare, and fair trade, is proud to announce that the Regenerative Organic CertifiedTM (ROCTM) certification standard for food, fiber, and personal care products has completed its pilot phase and is now open for general certification. Additionally, the ROA is thrilled to announce the availability of the first ROC products in the marketplace.
We are deeply saddened and extremely concerned to continue to read reports about forced labor and other human rights abuses against Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, China. In accordance with guidance from the Fair Labor Association (FLA), we are actively exiting the Xinjiang region. To achieve this, Patagonia has done the painstaking and important work of mapping the source of our products to the farm level, and we are constantly working to ensure that all of our products are built without human rights abuses and with the smallest environmental footprint possible. We have also communicated to our global suppliers that both fiber and manufacturing in Xinjiang is prohibited. Our supplier vetting process is enforcing this mandate, and we encourage you to review the FLA’s March 9, 2020 directive for more information. – Cara Chacon, Vice President, Social and Environmental Responsibility
After twelve years with the company, Rose Marcario is stepping down from her role as Patagonia’s President and Chief Executive Officer effective June 12, 2020. She was instrumental in leading the company through the most prosperous time in its 47-year history, and she has been recognized by global leaders for her success in advocating and advancing climate and environmental policies.
We join with those who call out the name of George Floyd in sorrow and anger against the systemic racism that pervades our land. We stand in solidarity with African Americans and people of color, including those among our colleagues and their families. And we call on business to work with government and civil society to address racism. We know that we have work to do.
