One Percent for the Planet

One Percent for the Planet is an international organization whose members contribute at least one percent of their annual sales to environmental causes.[1] Their mission is to "build, support and activate an alliance of businesses financially committed to creating a healthy planet."[2] One Percent for the Planet members assist nonprofit organizations that protect land, forests, rivers, oceans and also encourage sustainable methods of energy production.[3]

History

One Percent for the Planet was founded by Yvon Chouinard and Craig Mathews in 2002 to “encourage more businesses to donate 1% of sales to environmental groups”.[4] Yvon Chouinard is the founder of the Patagonia clothing company and Craig Mathews is the founder of Blue Ribbon Flies.[4] The organisation now claims over 1200 members in 48 countries.[4]

The first launch of the organization took place in San Francisco at the Patagonia store in 2002.[4] The second launch took place in Denver, Colorado at the “Fly Fishing Retailer show” in 2003.[4] In 2004, Brushfire Records and The Moonshine Conspiracy joined as the 50th members of the organisation.[4]

Let My People Go Surfing was a book authored by Yvon Chouinard in 2005, and discusses the journey of One Percent for the Planet.[4] According to the organisation, 2005 ended with more than 200 company memberships within the organisation.[4]

Making A Difference series hosted by NBC Nightly News showcased One Percent for the Planet in 2006 and resulted in an additional 50 members, according to the organisation.[4] The organisation reached 1000 members in 2009.[4]

In 2010, a digital music album titled 1% for the Planet, The Music, Vol. 1 was released, featuring 40 artists.[4] The album was number one on Amazon's MP3 chart and top-40 overall albums on iTunes.[4]

A media partner program was created in 2011 consisting of “artists, athletes and activists” as ambassadors for the organisation.[4]

In 2012, One Percent for Profit global network claims to have contributed more than $100 million “to environmental preservation”.[4] This year, the organisation created the “High Impact Partnerships” program which aims to enable companies and non-governmental organisations “to identify issues where they share concern and collaborate to do more together than they can alone.”[4]

On April 22, 2020, Yvon Chouinard published an open letter for Earth Day in which he thanked 1% for the planet community for their commitment despite the COVID-19 pandemic and its financial affects on the companies.[5]

On April 24, 2020, 1% for the planets announced the People for the Planet awards.[6]

Contributions

1% of the sales of the member companies are directed to “sustainability-oriented nonprofits” that they choose to support.[3] One Percent for the Planet evaluates the “track record, credibility and impact”[3] of the nonprofit organisation and also verifies the contributions made by the member companies. The following “Issue Categories” are supported by the member companies: alternative transportation, climate change, energy and resource extraction, environmental education, environmental law and justice, environment and human health, food, land, pollution, water and wildlife.[7]

One Percent for the Planet affiliates

One Percent for the Planet offers both corporate memberships and individual memberships.[3] The corporate membership allow companies to contribute 1% of their gross annual sales to non profit organisations that “focus on environmental causes”.[8]

The Canadian Fair Trade Network joined One Percent for the Planet in 2014.[9]

References
  1. "About". 1% Percent for the Planet.
  2. "Mission". 1% for the Planet.
  3. "FAQ". 1% for the Planet.
  4. "History". 1% for the Planet.
  5. Chouinard, Yvon. "A letter from our founder, Yvon Chouinard". www.onepercentfortheplanet.org. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  6. PR, Press Forward. "1% for the Planet Announces People for the Planet Awards". SNEWS. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  7. "Members". 1% for the Planet.
  8. "Klean Kanteen". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  9. "The Canadian Fair Trade Network". Archived from the original on 2014-05-08. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
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