Why plastics?

Plastics are essential for making durable, high-performance products. But they're also accelerating the environmental crisis, both because of the fossil fuels used to make plastic and the pollution that accumulates when it's disposed of. Discover why we still use plastic, what we're doing to reduce our impact, and why we need to take action at the individual, corporate, and governmental levels to address this problem.

Our cupboards are full of fossil fuels.

Plastic fibers (also known as synthetics) are literally the threads that link the clothing industry to the oil and gas industries. Most plastic fibers begin as crude oil, which is distilled into chemicals like acetylene, which are then heated and transformed into everything we use, from single-use plastic bottles to clothing fibers like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyester. The United Nations estimates that 60% of clothing is made from these types of plastics. By 2030, that figure is expected to reach 73%. That's good news for Big Oil and Gas. As transportation shifts away from fossil fuels, experts say plastic will become a lucrative way for the industry to meet demand.

But the problem goes even further than using oil as a raw material. Burning fossil fuels to create these synthetic materials is a major contributor to greenhouse gases. These emissions warm the planet, increase ocean acidification, and release harmful, and sometimes toxic, pollutants into the air.

Every single piece of plastic that has ever been made is still on the planet.

Plastic persists indefinitely in our environment unless it has been incinerated or launched into space on a satellite or spacecraft. Less than 10% of plastic in the United States is currently recycled, 16% is burned, and the rest accumulates in landfills, releasing greenhouse gases, impacting wildlife habitats, and threatening air and water quality.

We are creating new products from old plastics

The plastics in clothing maintain durability and offer fundamental technical factors, sometimes the difference between life and death, such as waterproofing and moisture absorption; that's why we use plastics in our products.

But we've been focused on reducing our reliance on virgin plastics since 1993, when we started making fleece from recycled plastic bottles, becoming the first outdoor clothing manufacturer to transform trash into clothing. Now we're moving away from those well-established, yet broken, recycled waste streams and thinking more systematically.

We're investing in urgently needed new infrastructure to enable products to be made with plastics that would otherwise have ended up in landfills or waterways. That's what led us to invest in Bureo in 2014, a California-based company that repurposes discarded plastic fishing nets into NetPlus™ material. Through this partnership, we've diverted more than 525 tons of nets from the ocean and used that plastic in the visors of our hats, jackets, and shorts.

The future of plastics in Patagonia

Our goal is to keep synthetics only in the most durable and resilient products, so they stay relevant longer, whether in your closet or a friend's. This concept of circularity is what inspired us to launch Worn Wear® and has created a platform to repair, reuse, and exchange old gear (made of both synthetic materials and natural fibers), so we can rely less on virgin resources and make better use of what's already been made.

By 2025, we expect that at least half of our materials will be synthetic using secondary waste streams (materials obtained from textile waste, plastic waste in the ocean, or bottle collection programs from regions without waste management systems).

We also have new partnerships in the works that will divert plastic waste from landfills and oceans, prioritize traceable and socially equitable supply chains, and support circular economies.

Reducing our dependence

We know that recycling isn't a magic bullet; it consumes energy and generates its own carbon footprint. There are also some synthetic alternatives for situations where appropriate recycling solutions aren't yet available. That's why, to truly address the global plastics problem, more than just recycling is needed.

We need to rethink how much plastic we use and find new solutions to move away from the oil and gas supply chain. By aligning with science-based targets, we plan to stop sourcing virgin oil for products and instead use preferred materials by 2025, including organic and regenerative organic cotton, recycled polyester, and recycled nylon.

How can we generate significant change?

We've made progress in reducing our reliance on virgin plastics and are taking further steps regarding the plastics we use in our products, but we can't do it alone. Changing industry practices requires action at the individual, corporate, and government levels. Here are some ways you can help:

What you can do Simply put, buy less and demand more. Reject the concept of fast fashion, buy durable and responsibly made equipment only when necessary, and if possible, buy it used, use it, repair it, and pass it on to someone else when you no longer need it.

But activism doesn't end with your wardrobe. Ask your favorite brands what they're thinking about their plastic use and what they're going to do to mitigate it. Will they switch to renewable energy sources? Will they prioritize recycled materials? Will they be transparent about their supply chain and carbon footprint?

And when elections come around, use the power of your vote. Elect leaders committed to tackling the climate crisis with concrete actions, such as eliminating fossil fuel subsidies and investing in clean energy.

What businesses can do Changing an entire industry requires collaboration. We share the names of many of our supply chain partners so other companies can invest in those secondary waste streams and amplify the effort. Other tangible steps include eliminating virgin oil sources from products, aligning with business partners committed to a global energy transition, and supporting grassroots organizations whose communities are hardest hit by the climate crisis.

What governments can do Developing and expanding broader, more meaningful laws and regulations is essential to creating systemic change in how our clothing is manufactured, transported, and treated after use. Measures such as reducing tariffs on organic and recycled materials, documenting and disclosing supply chains (where and by whom clothing is made), and incentivizing companies that adopt materials from organic or recycled inputs would not only create transparency. These laws and regulations would hold companies accountable for their impact and drive the urgent changes the industry needs.