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What Is Patagonia’s Official Purpose Statement and Why Does It Matter?
Learn Patagonia’s exact stated purpose: “We’re in business to save our home planet.” Understand what this core purpose means for the company’s strategy, brand identity, and environmental activism.
Question
Patagonia’s stated purpose is:
A. To build the best quality products
B. To protect the environment
C. We’re in business to save our home planet
D. To maximize retail profits
Answer
C. We’re in business to save our home planet
Explanation
Patagonia’s stated purpose is “We’re in business to save our home planet.” This declaration serves as the company’s core purpose, defining its fundamental reason for existence beyond commerce.
The Meaning of the Statement
This purpose statement is an active and unconventional declaration that positions the entire business as a tool for environmental activism. Founder Yvon Chouinard updated the company’s mission to this more direct and urgent statement to reflect that every aspect of the business should contribute to solving the environmental crisis. It frames profit-making not as an end, but as a means to fund environmental protection and advocacy.
This core purpose drives every strategic decision at Patagonia, from product design and material sourcing to marketing campaigns and political engagement.
Distinguishing from Other Options
To build the best quality products (Option A) is a component of Patagonia’s original, longer mission statement (“Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm…”). While creating high-quality, durable products is a key tactic that reduces consumerism, it is the method, not the ultimate purpose.
To protect the environment (Option B) is a correct summary of the company’s ethos, but it is not the official, stated purpose. The actual statement is more specific and active, framing the business itself as an instrument for “saving” the planet, which implies a more urgent and interventionist role.
To maximize retail profits (Option D) is directly contrary to Patagonia’s philosophy. The company’s structure was changed to a purpose trust to ensure that all profits not reinvested in the business are used to fight climate change, fundamentally separating it from a profit-maximization model.
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