The Responsible Company: What We've Learned From Patagonia's First 40 Years

This was a pretty good sequel to 'Surfing' and just about as inspiring. Choinard reminds us that regardless of what we're doing in our lives we have a responsibility to make it right, whether that be the workers who make our products or the raw materials that go into them. Do we embrace a cradle to grave philosophy in our product lifecycle? Are the people that create and manufacture our products made to feel successful and secure? What about our customers? Does our product satisfy the needs that they were seeking? The book opens our eyes these and other sustainable questions that we might not otherwise think about. Choinard is humble, he admits that in the beginning they (Patagonia) didn't either but are now constantly challenging each other with possible better ways to make their products.What if we were to step back and assess the impact our decisions make on the lives of others and our planet? Would we change our ways? After reading this book (and Surfing) I know I will. I hope you will too.

Would be 5-star, but it's a report of their experience, and so not as actionable as you might hope. Check out Ray C Anderson's work for a similar, but more detailed report on his efforts.

The Responsible Company is surprisingly hard to put down and the antidote to all the discouraging news about corporate America. Simple in concept, it describes clearly and succinctly why we need to revamp our collective business practice before the planet's resources run out, then provides practical checklists for how to go about it. The authors draw on their own experiences at Patagonia, describing some of the moments that "stunned them into consciousness", and also bring news of other companies who have come to the table--DuPont, Nike, and Wal-Mart among them--and some of the surprising and heartening coalitions they've formed. The writing is excellent, the voice that of someone you'd be happy to find yourself seated next to at an interesting dinner party. Despite the credibility of Patagonia--I always think of them as a company that tries to "walk the walk"--the tone is one of humility; there's an inherent conflict between making and selling products that consume resources and create waste and acting responsibly, and Chouinard and Stanley acknowledge it and are candid about how far Patagonia or anyone else is from achieving real sustainability. Still, it's a hopeful book, one I wish everyone would read.

If you are thinking of starting a business, you should read this book. Is a really simple guideline to know what to do if you want to be responsable with the environment, workers and your community.

This book is amazing.As a business owner, I feel that we can make conscious and sustainable choices that still improve our overall bottom line, and the bottom line for the planet.I realize that when businesses win, the environment often loses. That being said, the book encourages us to take a look at all aspects of our business and create a path toward reducing impact and making your business more sustainable in steps. I think this is an important concept and allows for a thoughtful starting point for all businesses. Some choices will be strictly financial to reduce packaging and waste. Others will be need to be driven by larger goals of sustainability.

Great read

Gave me a used book when it say it was new

As I was forced to read this book for a class I had low expectations. I was very surprised on how much I learned from such a short read. This book isn't just about how successful Patagonia is it speaks a lot of truth about their mistakes and them working toward sustainability. Chapter two is quite eye opening. Worth your time.

Love the Patagonia ethos and brand and Yvon Chouinard has a very unique way of putting things into perspective. Well worth the read.

This book and Yvon Chouinard's previous book 'Let my people go surfing' are to books that will change you outlook on the environment, they won't turn you into a raving environmentalist. Instead they will make you think about what your doing on an everyday level and how you can try even in a small way to change your life to a responsible one. If you run a business, read this, think about it and then even if you use one of their ideas it will be a good thing.

Definitely a must read for everyone. Should be mandatory literature in schools and universities. Mr. Chouinard provides depressingly bad information and does not need many words for that. A very good book that shows how things can be done differently. It is not teaching the reader from above. Instead the author states facts and key learnings which he made throughout his live as a founder of Patagonia. After reading this I am questioning my current job and my role in this society which shows that the book did not miss its purpose. Thank you Mr. Chouinard!

Patagonia è un brand che mi ha sempre interessato e questa è una raccolta dei goal e delle strategie che hanno portato questo brand ad avere un gran senso di responsabilità verso i temi dell'ecosostenibilità e dell'ecologia.Scrittura scorrevole e chiara.Spedizione puntuale.

Only wish there was a e version