Earth Day and the New Footprint Chronicles

Happy Earth Day to the Cleanest Line masses. Today we launched a new version of the Footprint Chronicles, the place where we share information on how and where our products are manufactured, what the environmental costs are and how we think the process can be improved.

There are a number of new features in today's Footprint update but the highlight is a documentary short our video team produced on social responsibility and offshore manufacturing. Entitled What's Done in Our Name?, the 15-minute video is the first in a three-part series investigating the issues of social and environmental responsibility and product quality.

Watch What's Done in Our Name?

Make the jump for a full list of features we added to the new Footprint Chronicles and a few words about some special guests who visited Patagonia today.

New features in the Footprint Chronicles:

• Explore the redesigned site to trace the production path from source materials to store shelves. Easier navigation and improved interactivity provides a more complete story.
• Measure manufacturing impacts more thoroughly, with updated information on water consumption as well as energy use, waste, carbon emissions and distance traveled for chronicled products.
• Investigate the Footprints of three new products: Wavefarer Board Shorts, R2 Jacket and Kamala Top.
• See Product Footprint data for more than 150 products on Patagonia.com. Look for the "Product Footprint" tab next to the "Product Information" tab on the product pages of Patagonia.com.
• Join the discussion by commenting directly on the Footprint Chroniclesmini-site. We'll collect your comments and post them right here on TheCleanest Line to keep the conversation flowing.

Launch the Footprint Chronicles

On another note, we're excited to have John Sterling and Krissy Moehl from the Conservation Alliance visiting Patagonia HQ today. John and Krissy gave an inspiring talk to the employees in Ventura this morning. They touched on the history of the Alliance, their recent success stories and an online community they've created called ConservationNEXT, part of which includes a blog.

The Conservation Alliance is rooted in business. Member companies pay dues which are then granted to grassroots enviro groups to help fund their critical work. Note: membership in the Conservation Alliance is limitedto the outdoor industry; businesses from other sectors can join 1% For the Planet. Since its inception, Conservation Alliance grants have helped protectmore than 39 million acres of land, stop or remove 27 dams and preserveaccess to thousands of miles of rivers and several climbing areas. Patagonia was one of the founding members of the Conservation Allianceback in 1989 along with REI, The North Face and Kelty. Today theAlliance is comprised of more than 160 member companies from the outdoor industry.

The Footprint Chronicles and the Conservation Alliance – taking responsibility and giving back – two ways that businesses can, as our mission statement says, inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.

[With thanks to all of the kids in daycare for their rendition of "Happy Earth Dayto You," sung with gusto over the office intercom this morning.