Yvon Chouinard

Fri, Jan 27
7:30 pm
$16

Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, Inc. will speak at 7:30
p.m. in the Unitarian Center. Yvon has used groundbreaking concepts
to affirm a relationship to the environment, including the pledge of
1% of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural
environment with an Earth Tax. His new book Let My People Go
Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman was published in 2005.

Yvon Chouinard is founder and owner of Patagonia, Inc. He began by
designing, manufacturing, and distributing rock climbing equipment in
the late 1950s. Yvon Chouinard is founder and owner of Patagonia,
Inc. His tinkering led to an improved ice ax.

In 1991, facing declining sales, Chouinard applied the Buddhist
principle Ahinsa, or "do no harm," and commissioned an eco-audit of
the company's operations. Following the audit, Chouinard made the
risky decision to use only organic fibers in Patagonia's cotton
products. Sales and profits rebounded. "Every time we've done the
right thing, it's ended up making us more money," Chouinard says.
Patagonia instituted an Earth Tax, pledging 1% of sales to the
preservation and restoration of the natural environment. In 2001,
Chouinard, along with Craig Mathews, owner of Blue Ribbon Flies,
started One Percent For The Planet, an alliance of businesses that
contribute at least 1% of their net annual sales to environmental
organizations.

Preceded by a 6:30 p.m. reception hosted by Greens Restaurant with a
sampling of Fair Trade and organic delectables. By donation; free
for San Francisco Zen Center members.

Venue:

Unitarian Center
1187 Franklin Street
San Francisco
415 863-3790
www.sfzc.org.

1187 Franklin Street at Geary in SF

Additional Info:
Yvon Chouinard
415 863-3790
www.sfzc.org.