“ As we began to witness the extent of global warming and ecological destruction , and our own contribution to it , Patagonia committed to using our company to change the way business was done ”
using his platform to draw attention to issues such as climate change , biodiversity loss and the importance of protecting wild spaces , partly through his books , including “ Let My People Go Surfing ” and “ The Responsible Company ”.
In recognition of his contributions , Yvon has received numerous awards and honours . In 2013 , he was inducted into the American Marketing Association Hall of Fame for his company ’ s groundbreaking marketing campaigns and in 2019 he received the Inamori Ethics Prize from Case Western Reserve University for his ethical leadership in business .
Yvon sums up his career , saying : “ I never wanted to be a businessman . I started as a craftsman , making climbing gear for my friends and myself , then got into apparel .
“ As we began to witness the extent of global warming and ecological destruction , and our own contribution to it , Patagonia committed to using our company to change the way business was done .
“ If we could do the right thing while making enough to pay the bills , we could influence customers and other businesses , and maybe change the system along the way .
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