100% of the untreated cotton in Patagonia's clothing is organically grown. Less than 1% of the world's cotton is organically grown.

If the garment industry switched to organic cotton, the quality of the soil could be improved, less water could be used and emissions could be reduced. Before Patagonia studied the environmental impact of textile fibres, they thought cotton, as a plant fibre, was "pure" and "natural". But this is only true for the plant itself. Conventionally produced cotton, on the other hand, is anything but pure or natural. Patagonia first started using only 100% organic cotton in 1996. Later, they also started using recycled cotton, organic cotton in the certification process and Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC) pilot cotton.

Compared to conventional cotton, growing organic cotton reduces CO2 emissions by 45% and water consumption by 87%.
To encourage more farmers to switch to organic cotton, Patagonia has introduced the Organic Cotton in Certification programme. Already during the certification process, farmers grow the cotton organically and can sell their harvest. The organic cotton in certification process follows the strict requirements of the organic cotton certification process during a multi-year process. Patagonia's support of cotton grown in this way encourages farmers committed to obtaining organic cotton certification and helps keep them on the path towards organic farming. Patagonia's first collection of certified organic cotton was launched in spring 2020.

And to further strengthen their efforts, they have implemented their first pilot project to grow cotton according to the highest standards - Regenerative Organic certification - which aim to rehabilitate soils, respect animal welfare and improve the lives of farmers.

82% of Patagonia's range is Fair Trade Certified™ garments. That's more Fair Trade styles than any other clothing brand offers.

If more companies joined the Fair Trade movement, hundreds of thousands of workers around the world could be positively supported. There are 60 million people in the garment industry who are among the lowest paid workers in the world. For Patagonia, Fair Trade is their first step on the path towards decent pay for all workers involved in their supply chain. None of the factories where their products are made are owned by them. Therefore, they have limited control over how much the workers actually get .But through Fair Trade, they can top up the workers' wages and ensure an improvement in their living conditions.

For every Patagonia product that carries a Fair Trade Certified™ label, they pay a premium. This money goes directly to the workers, who are free to decide how it is spent. There is no top-down decision-making in this programme. In each factory there is a democratically elected Fair Trade workers' committee that decides how the money is spent. The premiums have been used to fund community projects, such as health care and a day care centre.

Products were purchased that the workers would otherwise not have been able to afford, such as laptops or stoves; or cash payments were made directly to the workers. But that is not all. The programme also promotes worker health and safety, social and environmental measures, and dialogue between workers and management. To date, more than 50,000 workers in 10 countries around the world have benefited from the programme. 

Although 75 per cent of Millennials want Fair Trade products, only a handful of outdoor companies have committed to Fair Trade. Working with Fair Trade USA and Patagonia's suppliers, they have been able to help ensure that there are now more than 20 Fair Trade certified factories specialising in outdoor clothing.

Patagonia encourages other brands that have their products made in these factories to join the Fair Trade movement.