“1% for the Planet” exists to build and support an alliance of businesses financially committed to creating a healthy planet.
It’s about businesses recognizing that industry and ecology are inherently connected. It’s about realizing the positive effects of connecting businesses, consumers and nonprofits through philanthropy. And it is understanding that the true cost of doing business can be mitigated by a simple pledge to the planet.
Back in the 1980’s, Patagonia would donate up to 10% of pre-tax profits to environmental causes. Such as Greenpeace and EarthFirst social organization. Founder Yvon Chouinard referred to these contributions to pay the “Earth Tax.”
In 2001, Chouinard and Craig Mathews, owner of the fly fishing company Blue Ribbon Flies, founded the “1% for the Planet” organizatio. Till this day, and regardless of profitability, Patagonia donates 1% of their total sales to environmental causes each year. Over the past twenty years that 1% has added up to upwards of about $22,000,000 in donations.
By November 2009, the “1% for the Planet” organization has over 1700 members worldwide.
CORA joined “1% for the planet” on Oct 25, 2009 to help environmental development in China . We are paying attention to China’s environmental protection causes. CORA has sponsored non-governmental groups (NGOs) and other environmental activitist groups, including Last Descents’ protection of rivers the southwestern province of Yunnan, and Chinese environmentalists Jin Fei Bao’s trekking trips through the Sahara Desert and the Amazon forest to raise awareness.
And we are looking to do more, because there is simply so much to be done!
Find out what we have been working on for the enviornment by checking the “Environment” section of this site.
To learn more about ”1% for the Planet”, please visit
http://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org
