This year marks our second anniversary as business members of the 1% for the Planet movement! 1% for the Planet was started by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies. Its premise is straightforward: businesses impact our planet’s natural environments and resources daily – so, businesses should be a committed part of the solution to protect our collective resources. As a member, this means devoting 1% of annual sales, not just profits, to give back to environmental organizations.
Earth Day Every Day
Early members of the movement, beyond Patagonia and Blue Ribbon Flies, include record label Brushfire Records and Klean Kanteen, the first US reusable stainless steel water bottle company. Every year as tax season ends, business members like us complete and certify their donations to global environmental causes. In the words of 1% for the Planet, these causes include four key impact areas:
- rights to nature
- just economies
- conservation and restoration
- and resilient communities
Throughout each year, our nonprofit partners do amazing work for the benefit of our collective future. To date, we have chosen to donate to nonprofit partners who conserve, restore, enable community participation in, and advocate for Pacific Coast forests, mountains, and watersheds. The efforts of our partners relate to the resources we use in our wood products and manufacturing services. These partners also give back to our neighbors and the communities where we operate most – Santa Cruz, the Monterey Bay, the San Francisco Bay Area, and up and down the West Coast.
Elkhorn Slough Foundation • @elkhornslough_org
- Accredited Land Trust
- Protects 4,200 acres in the Elkhorn watershed
- In 2023, these and much more…
- Hosted: 4,000 students, 27,000 visitors
- Planted: 6,500 native plates at reserve restoration sites
- Planted: 100,000 baby oysters in reserve waters
- Discovered: 3 new native species on ESF lands
Learn more at elkhornslough.org
Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship • @santacruztrails
- Builds and maintains sustainable trail systems
- Connects communities to nature
- Hosts public and private volunteer trail events
- Educates outdoor enthusiasts about sustainable trail principles
Learn more at santacruztrails.org
Pacific Forest Trust • @pacific_forest_trust
- Accredited land trust
- Safeguards forests and forest economies, including over 270,000 acres of regional forests
- Advocates for resilient Pacific Coast landscapes
Learn more at pacificforest.org
1% for the Planet • @1percentftp
- Supports simplified environmental giving by businesses and individuals alike
- $620 million+ in total certified giving
- Leverages a global network for increased local impact
Learn more at onepercentfortheplanet.org
If 1% for the Planet is new to you, start to keep an eye out for businesses that participate! Engage them to learn where 1% of your purchases go to help steward our global future. Members could be anyone from your local wedding photographer or family-owned grocery store, to a food product manufacturer you find at national chains, a medical practice, or a global marketing consultancy. This diverse community includes business members across 65+ countries and nonprofit partners from 90+ countries. You can actually search for businesses and environmental partners in the 1% for the Planet Directory.
Giving back takes a multitude of forms. One small challenge we offer you is to identify one nonprofit organization in your local area that helps to care for the people and/or places you care about. Find out one way you can help them or get involved this year! One little action can turn into so much more in unpredictable ways.
Happy Earth Day (every day)!
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For relevant reads on the JOHI blog, visit:
- 2023: Celebrating Our Environmental Partners
- 2022: Sourcing and Using our First Monterey Cypress Slabs
- 2021: Study the Trees: Koa Reforestation
Mahalo for being a part of our world here at JOHI. We're always grateful to be a part of yours!
Post by Holly Apau Badr-El-Din • President & Co-Lead