<p>Yvon Chouinard, the founder of outdoor clothing business, Patagonia, is giving away the ownership of his US$3 billion company to fight climate change. A reluctant businessman and an even more shy billionaire, Chouinard looked at the different options to transition the company he founded to new ownership.</p>
<p>Going public was one option, however, public companies out of their duty to shareholders, often chase short term goals over environmental responsibility. The other option was to sell the company and donate the profits, however, both options couldn't safeguard the company values and the livelihoods of the 2736 (LinkedIn estimate) employees.</p>


<p>So Chouinard came up with another option, to transfer the company ownership to a trust and non-profit organisation where all of the profits (estimated at US$100M/year) will to be donated to combat climate change via activist organisations around the world.</p>


<p>Whilst on a 4WD trip in 2021 from Noosa to Margaret River around the remote Northern Australia, I had plenty of time driving the immense distances to listen to audio books. One of my favourite was &quot;Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman&quot; by Yvon Chouinard. The book details the founding of Patagonia and the infusion of environmental causes, mountain climbing and sustainability into the company culture.</p>
<p>The book provided inspiration for the WhereNext Experiences mission and prompted us to join the 1% Percent for the Planet organisation where 1% of gross revenue is donated to approved charities. This simple and audited metric prevents the &quot;greenwashing&quot; that sometimes occurs with environmental missions. The book also explains the philosophy and company culture that Chouinard created and how a for profit business can provide a positive impact on the environment.</p>
<h2>Read the book at:</h2>


Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman available at Amazon in multiple formats

thumbnail_let-my-people-go-surfing.jpg

let-my-people-go-surfing.jpg

<p>For more information on the 1% for the Planet organisation please visit their website below. 1% for the Planet represents a global network of businesses, individuals and environmental organizations tackling our planet's most pressing environmental issues.</p>
<h2>Join 1% for the Planet</h2>


1% for the Planet is a global movement inspiring businesses and individuals to support environmental solutions through memberships and everyday actions.

thumbnail_1_for_the_planet_Logo.jpg

1_for_the_planet_Logo.jpg

<h2>Read the statement by Yvon Chouinard</h2>


Earth is now our only shareholder.

If we have any hope of a thriving planet—much less a business—it is going to take all of us doing what we can with the resources we have.
This is what we can do.

By Yvon Chouinard

thumbnail_yvon-chouinard-patagonia-thumb.jpg

yvon-chouinard-patagonia-thumb.jpg

<h2>Further reading/watching</h2>
<p>Read more at the New York Times and watch the brief interview on YouTube about this inspirational entrepreneur.</p>


Yvon Chouinard has forfeited ownership of the company he founded 49 years ago. The profits will now be used to fight climate change.

thumbnail_nytimes-patagonia.jpeg

nytimes-patagonia.jpeg

Yvon Chouinard, an inspirational company leader. 

thumbnail_yvon-chouinard-patagonia-metamedia.jpg

yvon-chouinard-patagonia-metamedia.jpg

thumbnail_yvon-chouinard-patagonia-small.jpg

yvon-chouinard-patagonia-small.jpg

Los Glaciares National Park is located in the Southwest of Santa Cruz Province in the Argentine part of Patagonia.

thumbnail_los-glaciares-large.jpg

los-glaciares-large.jpg

thumbnail_los-glaciares-small.jpg

los-glaciares-small.jpg

The famous brand started in 1973 by Yvon Chouinard in 1973 catering for climbers

thumbnail_patagonia-large.jpg

patagonia-large.jpg

thumbnail_patagonia-small.jpg

patagonia-small.jpg

Yvon Chouinard, the founder of outdoor clothing business Patagonia, is giving away the ownership of his US$3 billion company to fight climate change.

Explore North America, understand the COVID-19 entry requirements and volunteering, internships, teaching and animal conservation experiences available.



large_north-america-meta-media.jpg

medium_north-america-meta-media.jpg

small_north-america-meta-media.jpg

thumbnail_north-america-meta-media.jpg

north-america-meta-media.jpg

WhereNext | North America

thumbnail_patagonia-metamedia.jpg

patagonia-metamedia.jpg

Patagonia's owner donates company to fight climate change

Patagonia's owner donates company

Nagano City is the highest prefectural capital in Japan, with an altitude of 371.4 meters

thumbnail_japan-nagano-large.jpg

thumbnail_japan-nagano-small.jpg

Shibuya Crossing is the world's busiest pedestrian crossing, with as many as 3,000 people crossing at a time

large_japan-shibuya-tokyo-large.jpg

medium_japan-shibuya-tokyo-large.jpg

small_japan-shibuya-tokyo-large.jpg

thumbnail_japan-shibuya-tokyo-large.jpg

thumbnail_japan-shibuya-tokyo-small.jpg

Known for receiving the world's best powder snow throughout winter

thumbnail_japan-niseko-large.jpg

thumbnail_japan-niseko-small.jpg

Japan reopens for tourism, tourist visa, accepted Covid-19 vaccines and other border rules for tourists visiting Japan – effective October 11

Japan reopens for Tourism

Saved from the brink of extinction since 2009

thumbnail_nepal-tiger-large.jpg

thumbnail_nepal-tiger-small.jpg

Ecotourism has been a key driver to increase tiger populations

thumbnail_nepal-tiger-park-large.jpg

thumbnail_nepal-tiger-park-small.jpg

Wild tigers in Nepal have clawed their way back from the brink of extinction. There are now almost three times as many wild tigers in the country as there were in 2009, according to the Nepalese government.

Tiger Populations Tripled in Nepal

Volunteering at Soi Dog Foundation supports their work in fighting the Asian dog meat trade

thumbnail_soi-dog-large.jpg

thumbnail_soi-dog-small.jpg

Soi Dog also looks after the stray cats of Phuket

thumbnail_soi-vet-large.jpg

thumbnail_soi-vet-small.jpg

This dog is being cared for and nursed back to health

thumbnail_soi-dog-dog-large.jpg

thumbnail_soi-dog-dog-small.jpg

Volunteering at Soi Dog Foundation (Soi Dog) supports their work in fighting the Asian dog meat trade. They do this through a holistic approach of rescuing stray dogs and cats, sterilization, vaccination, medical treatment, shelter, and finally adoption.

Help End the Asian Dog Meat Trade

thumbnail_cambodia-house-large.jpg

thumbnail_cambodia-house-small.jpg

Cutting beams to size for building the house frame

thumbnail_cambodia-cutting-large.jpg

thumbnail_cambodia-cutting-small.jpg

thumbnail_cambodia-story-large.jpg

thumbnail_cambodia-story-small.jpg

thumbnail_cambodia-angkor-wat-large.jpg

thumbnail_cambodia-angkor-wat-small.jpg

thumbnail_cambodia-david-large.jpg

thumbnail_cambodia-david-small.jpg

thumbnail_cambodia-angkor-wat-reflection-large.jpg

thumbnail_cambodia-angkor-wat-reflection-small.jpg

Giving back to the community and team building for the Twilio APAC and Japan leadership organization

Building Houses (and Teams) in Cambodia

This volunteer experience assists Womb Stomp Wildlife who focus on rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing wombats and kangaroos around the Windellama area in NSW.


large_wombat-large.jpg

medium_wombat-large.jpg

small_wombat-large.jpg

thumbnail_wombat-large.jpg

thumbnail_wombat-small.jpg

The young wombat on the left was born on Halloween, so her name is Boo, and her mother is called Poppy.

large_wombat-eating-large.jpg

medium_wombat-eating-large.jpg

small_wombat-eating-large.jpg

thumbnail_wombat-eating-large.jpg

thumbnail_wombat-eating-small.jpg

A volunteer (VTO) experience to help protect wombats in NSW

Protecting Wombats in Australia

large_story-mt-kilimanjaro-large.jpg

medium_story-mt-kilimanjaro-large.jpg

small_story-mt-kilimanjaro-large.jpg

thumbnail_story-mt-kilimanjaro-large.jpg

thumbnail_story-mt-kilimanjaro-small.jpg

large_kilimanjaro-tents-large.jpg

medium_kilimanjaro-tents-large.jpg

small_kilimanjaro-tents-large.jpg

thumbnail_kilimanjaro-tents-large.jpg

thumbnail_kilimanjaro-tents-small.jpg

large_kilimanjaro-summit-large.jpg

medium_kilimanjaro-summit-large.jpg

small_kilimanjaro-summit-large.jpg

thumbnail_kilimanjaro-summit-large.jpg

thumbnail_kilimanjaro-summit-small.jpg

In 2019 the Salesforce UK channel and alliances arranged a trip up Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise funds for WorldReader, a fantastic charity dedicated to helping children through reading, technology and programming. 

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

The kids staying at Asha Nepal during a celebration lunch

large_nepal-asha-kids-large.jpg

medium_nepal-asha-kids-large.jpg

small_nepal-asha-kids-large.jpg

thumbnail_nepal-asha-kids-large.jpg

thumbnail_nepal-asha-kids-small.jpg

Scenic shot of the valley outside of Asha Nepal with the snow capped mountains in the distance.


large_nepal-mountainside-large.jpg

medium_nepal-mountainside-large.jpg

small_nepal-mountainside-large.jpg

thumbnail_nepal-mountainside-large.jpg

thumbnail_nepal-mountainside-small.jpg

A group shot of the volunteers before heading back to our home countries.

large_nepal-group-large.jpg

medium_nepal-group-large.jpg

small_nepal-group-large.jpg

thumbnail_nepal-group-large.jpg

thumbnail_nepal-group-small.jpg

A volunteer (VTO) experience where a group of Salesforce staff and friends travel to Nepal to help disadvantaged people live a better life

The Badi Project in Nepal

A baby pufferfish travels through a wondrous, microworld full of fantastical creatures as he searches for a home on the Great Barrier Reef.


large_puff-hero-large.jpg

medium_puff-hero-large.jpg

small_puff-hero-large.jpg

thumbnail_puff-hero-large.jpg

thumbnail_puff-hero-small.jpg

Puff, the sharp-nosed Pufferfish, is shown to be beginning his life in the Great Barrier Reef. Here, a world exists that’s smaller than our thumb. We see the intricate workings of nature.

large_puff-divers-large.jpg

medium_puff-divers-large.jpg

small_puff-divers-large.jpg

thumbnail_puff-divers-large.jpg

thumbnail_puff-divers-small.jpg

A baby pufferfish travels through a wondrous, microworld full of fantastical creatures as he searches for a home on the Great Barrier Reef.

Puff: Wonders of the Reef by Netflix

A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON GLOBAL REFORESTATION


large_one-tree-planted-large.jpeg

medium_one-tree-planted-large.jpeg

small_one-tree-planted-large.jpeg

thumbnail_one-tree-planted-large.jpeg

thumbnail_one-tree-planted-small.jpg

Planting 23 MILLION Trees 

Baby panda cubs in the nursery at the Bifengxia Panda Centre!

large_panda-baby-large.jpg

medium_panda-baby-large.jpg

small_panda-baby-large.jpg

thumbnail_panda-baby-large.jpg

thumbnail_panda-baby-small.jpg

In China's Sichuan province a round of hot pot that simultaneously burns and numbs the tongue.

large_china-hotpot-dinner-large.jpg

medium_china-hotpot-dinner-large.jpg

small_china-hotpot-dinner-large.jpg

thumbnail_china-hotpot-dinner-large.jpg

thumbnail_china-hotpot-dinner-small.jpg

A group shot of the volunteers for the week

large_panda-volunteer-trip-group-shot-large.jpg

medium_panda-volunteer-trip-group-shot-large.jpg

small_panda-volunteer-trip-group-shot-large.jpg

thumbnail_panda-volunteer-trip-group-shot-large.jpg

thumbnail_panda-volunteer-trip-group-shot-small.jpg

A volunteer experience working on Panda conservation in rural China. This trip was part of a Volunteer Time Off (VTO) project with Salesforce. 

Volunteering with Pandas in rural China

Orphan getting treatment at the The Orangutan Project facilities 

large_borneo-orangutan-large.jpg

medium_borneo-orangutan-large.jpg

small_borneo-orangutan-large.jpg

thumbnail_borneo-orangutan-large.jpg

thumbnail_borneo-orangutan-small.jpg

Views of the sunset from a canoe ride down the river

large_borneo-boat-large.jpg

medium_borneo-boat-large.jpg

small_borneo-boat-large.jpg

thumbnail_borneo-boat-large.jpg

thumbnail_borneo-boat-small.jpg

Orphaned orangutan baby at Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) centre

large_borneo-organutan-large.jpg

medium_borneo-organutan-large.jpg

small_borneo-organutan-large.jpg

A group of us from work have just spent a week in the jungles of Borneo, immersed in the world of orangutan and forest conservation.

WhereNext Experiences

Regions

Africa

Asia

Caribbean

Central America

Europe

Middle East

North America

Oceania

South America

Featured Destinations

Patagonia clothing

Patagonia's owner donates company

Inspiration for the brand name

Patagonia clothing

Patagonia's owner donates company

Inspiration for the brand name

Patagonia clothing

Patagonia's owner donates company

Rob Holliday
Founder, WhereNext Experiences

Rob is a passionate traveler, with a surname of "Holliday" it was inevitable. His goal is to deliver meaningful experiences while providing a positive impact on sustainability initiatives and animal conservation efforts.

Recommended Reading

For business

Our charities

For business

Our charities

Our partners

WhereNext Experiences

Regions

Featured Destinations

Patagonia's owner donates company

Patagonia's owner donates company

Rob HollidayFounder, WhereNext Experiences

Rob is a passionate traveler, with a surname of "Holliday" it was inevitable. His goal is to deliver meaningful experiences while providing a positive impact on sustainability initiatives and animal conservation efforts.

Recommended Reading

For business

Our charities

For business

Our charities

Our partners

Rob Holliday
Founder, WhereNext Experiences