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  • September 2023
  • Teaching Note
  • HBS Case Collection

Patagonia: 'Earth Is Now Our Only Shareholder'

By: Brian Trelstad, Nien-hê Hsieh, Michael Norris and Susan Pinckney
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:20
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Abstract

Teaching Note for HBS Case No. 323-057. Patagonia’s change of ownership from a privately held company to a perpetual purpose trust and 501(c)(4) nonprofit in order to use the company’s profit to fight the environmental crisis and be a model for future businesses.

Keywords

Trusts; Business Ventures; Business Organization; Family Business; Restructuring; Change; Disruption; Transition; Decision Making; Ethics; Values and Beliefs; Finance; Financial Management; Governance; Corporate Governance; Investment Activism; Innovation Leadership; Labor; Law; Common Law; Management; Goals and Objectives; Organizations; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Organizational Change and Adaptation; Organizational Culture; Ownership; Ownership Type; Family Ownership; Private Ownership; Social Enterprise; Nonprofit Organizations; Society; Social Issues; Wealth and Poverty; Value; Value Creation; Apparel and Accessories Industry; United States

Citation

Trelstad, Brian, Nien-hê Hsieh, Michael Norris, and Susan Pinckney. "Patagonia: 'Earth Is Now Our Only Shareholder'." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 324-003, September 2023.
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About The Authors

Brian L. Trelstad

General Management
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Nien-he Hsieh

General Management
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More from the Authors
  • Upstream USA By: Brian Trelstad and Alexis Lefort
  • Social Enterprise in Latin America By: Brian L. Trelstad and Karina Souza
  • Arla Foods: Data-Driven Decarbonization (A) and (B) PowerPoint Supplement By: Michael Parzen, Michael W. Toffel and Susan Pinckney
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