Columbia Sportswear Company is one of the largest manufacturers of outdoor apparel, footwear, and equipment which simultaneously has openly stated its commitment to sustainability, which makes it relevant for comparing with Patagonia. Columbia, despite being a well-established brand in the outdoor fashion industry, still recognizes its social responsibility in many areas, including its impact on the environment. As a result, the company recently outlined its target to reduce its manufacturing carbon footprint by 30% by 2030 (“2020 Corporate responsibility,” 2021). Such a plan will enable Columbia to embrace a more conscious way of producing its good and make the first step toward the circular economy. Additionally, Columbia already has achieved certain progress in the sustainable manufacturing realm and increased renewable energy usage across its supply chain by 36% from 2019 to 2020 (“2020 Corporate responsibility,” 2021). Essentially, Columbia is similar to Patagonia in its desire to make its production compliant with the highest standards of sustainability.
Moreover, Columbia also utilizes the principles of circular economy in its approach to recycling. For instance, the company has increased the share of recyclable material in shipping boxes to 98% (“2020 Corporate responsibility,” 2021). It also recycles 69% of the polyester it produces, which also positively contributes to the company’s circular economy initiative (“2020 Corporate responsibility,” 2021). Still, the company is constantly innovating and designing new ways to integrate circular methods into its operations. Recently, the company launched its ReThreads program in the United States, which lets people bring their used clothes to Columbia’s stores for further recycling or distribution through the second-hand market (“ReThreads,” n.d.). Thus, the contribution of Columbia to sustainability is clearly visible, and it is fully committed to embracing a circular economy which makes its approach particularly similar to that of Patagonia.
References
2020 Corporate responsibility report. (2021). Columbia Sportswear Company. Web.
ReThreads. (n.d.). Columbia. Web.