Patagonia, a global leader in sustainable outdoor apparel, has long been committed to environmental and social responsibility. In today’s complex global market, maintaining a transparent and traceable supply chain is not just a matter of brand integrity but also a critical component of regulatory compliance. To navigate the intricate landscape of international regulations and emerging sustainability standards, Patagonia partnered with Fresh Coast for our expertise in sustainable supply chain management. This case study explores how Fresh Coast’s nimble and technical approach helped support Patagonia in staying at the leading edge of supply chain traceability and transparency.
Overview
Patagonia’s commitment to sustainability is woven into the fabric of its products. This includes ensuring its supply chain is fully compliant with international regulations, including the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) and the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). These regulations demand a high level of transparency and traceability, with significant penalties for non-compliance.
Beyond regulatory pressures, Patagonia was also researching the complexities and opportunities inherent in using recycled materials. The company pursues use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) and ocean plastics in its products to reduce environmental impacts and advance circularity goals. However, the market for these materials struggles with incomplete supply chain information and fraudulent claims, making it difficult to verify the authenticity of recycled content. Patagonia needed a robust system to ensure that the materials in its products were genuinely recycled and not virgin materials being passed off as such.
The overarching goal was to achieve a state of radically improved transparency, where Patagonia could confidently and accurately communicate the origin of its raw materials to its customers.
Fresh Coast had previously supported Patagonia regarding supply chain sustainability efforts, developing unique strategies to tackle specific aspects of the traceability challenge. These efforts included:
Software Analysis:
Fresh Coast conducted a market analysis of potential software suppliers to organize Patagonia’s supply chain data. We interviewed, evaluated, and ranked suppliers based on their ability to track sustainability data, manage regulatory compliance, and provide the level of product traceability that Patagonia required. Based on this research and industry-specific expertise, we were able to provide similar consulting services to a Fortune 100 company seeking to align its apparel, food, and wood products supply chain data under one software roof.
The World of Ocean Plastics
Fresh Coast helped Patagonia understand the various standards and certifications that exist for ocean plastics, providing a detailed analysis of the emerging space. This research helped Patagonia understand the risks and key players in the market.
Ensuring the Integrity of Recycled Materials
The challenge of verifying recycled materials like R-PET required a deep dive into the technical aspects of material science. The Fresh Coast team developed a method to assess whether Patagonia’s current verification methods were effective. We conducted research to understand and corroborate the R-PET supply chain, exploring the technical capabilities of various lab testing methods. This included evaluating the use of physical tracers, where markers are embedded in the material at the source and can be detected in the final product. Fresh Coast’s technical expertise gave Patagonia the assurance that its testing methods would provide the necessary corroboration to back up its claims about recycled content.
Patagonia’s commitment to supply chain traceability and transparency is evident in these investments. The new software platform provides Patagonia with a robust framework for managing data and ensuring compliance with complex international regulations. Our research into ocean plastics and R-PET provided tools and knowledge for Patagonia to confidently source and verify recycled materials, reinforcing its commitment to circularity.
One Patagonia employee noted of its collaboration with Fresh Coast: “We always trust you with the really hard to tackle projects.” Fresh Coast brings a nimble, flexible, and technically proficient approach to our collaboration with Patagonia, and we’re proud to support Patagonia in solidifying its position as a leader in sustainable supply chain management.
Whether it’s working with a brand and its supply chain to implement a software solution or conducting a deep-dive technical analysis of a specific material, Fresh Coast has the skills and experience to innovate and address the unique needs of its customers.
