Shop Talk:

Waste Not, Want Not

Contributed By: Heidi Atwal

It’s downright unheard of that a company would encourage its customers to cut down on the needless consumption of its products, but that’s precisely the ethos behind Patagonia‘s Common Threads Initiative. With 11.9 million tons (that’s right, tons) of shoes, clothing, and textiles wastefully discarded per year, the earth is practically drowning in squandered goods.

Adhering to a trash-to-treasure philosophy, the company has partnered with auction mega-site eBay to launch an online marketplace where customers can buy and sell used and/or slightly worn-out Patagonia goods. This commitment to conservation is nothing new for Patagonia: since 2005, the company has turned 34 reclaimed tons of clothing into practically-new, functional threads with donations from their socially aware consumer base. The eBay partnership expands on said eco-altruism, raising awareness about wasteful habits on a larger scale as they turn discarded goods into lasting gear for fans of a sporty lifestyle.

To learn more about Common Threads, visit Patagonia online or shop the eBay microsite. Conscious consumerism: it’s a fresh concept we can all get behind.