Patagonia has won the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE) in climate innovation, the company announced yesterday.
The Department of State awards six ACEs annually to U.S. companies operating internationally, focusing on those that show leadership and 鈥渨hose operating practices and decision-making exemplify American values and international best practices,鈥 according to a release. Patagonia was recognized for its conservation work in its namesake region of Patagonia in Argentina and Chile through its support of former Patagonia CEO and current board member Kristine Tompkins鈥 Tompkins Conservation.听
鈥Patagonia has a responsibility to slow the climate crisis because our company and community is affected by it, and every part of our business contributes to it,鈥 Patagonia director of Latin America Alex Perry told 国产吃瓜黑料 Business Journal.听
He added that the company protected nearly 800,000 acres of land and 200,000 acres of sea in Argentina, and hopes the company can replicate similar work in other countries.听
鈥淧atagonia demonstrates exemplary leadership through its work to protect land and sea in Argentina while also reducing carbon emissions and its own energy footprint,鈥 said MaryKay Carlson, charg茅 d鈥檃ffaires at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires. 鈥淧atagonia鈥檚 work makes a difference to local communities and helps create a better environment for the next generation.鈥
Packaged fish purveyor Australis Aquaculture was the other recipient in the 鈥渃limate innovation鈥 category, recognized for its work in sustainable fishing in Vietnam. In the other two ACE categories for 2021, multinational conglomerate 3M and vaccine distributor Zipline Ghana won in the 鈥渉ealth security鈥 category for their respective work related to the pandemic. Mastercard鈥檚 India business and hat maker Purnaa won in the 鈥渆conomic inclusion鈥 category for work related to farmer credit access and long-term employment opportunities in Nepal, respectively.听聽
For the work pertaining to this award, Patagonia was a key part of a campaign that resulted in the provincial government of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina banning salmon farming, which prevented contamination of the Beagle Channel at the country鈥檚 southern tip.听
Additionally, Patagonia partnered with Bureo (a 2016 ACE winner itself) to turn discarded fishing nets recovered from Argentinian waters into hat brims.听
Perry also said the company is working with partners in Europe to establish the continent鈥檚 first wild river park on the Vjosa River in Albania, expand marine protections in Australia, and protect old-growth forest in Alaska, among other efforts.
鈥We urge other business leaders to not only reduce their carbon footprint but also to create the systemic change needed to tackle this existential threat to nature and humanity,鈥 he said. 鈥This award is proof that when local communities, nonprofits, businesses, and government leaders work together for common good, extraordinary outcomes will be recognized.鈥