From Patagonia to Terry: Why Business Can, and Must, Be a Force for Good

In a world where profit often outweighs purpose, Yvon Chouinard's decision to give away Patagonia made headlines; not for the billions involved, but for what it meant. As National Geographic recently shared, the iconic founder didn’t just run a company; he lived his values. From wearing worn-out shirts to driving a beat-up Toyota, Chouinard showed that doing less harm can be a company philosophy, and a personal one too.

But perhaps the most powerful part of his story? He gave Patagonia away. Literally. To protect the planet. “Earth is now our only shareholder,” he said.

It’s not just about generosity. It’s about responsibility.

And that’s exactly what inspired us to create Terry.

While we’re still early in our journey, the goal is simple: make climate action accessible to everyone. Where Patagonia proves that even billion-dollar businesses can put planet over profit, Terry is built to let you do the same: through something as simple as your daily shopping.

Every time you order a meal, buy a train ticket, or shop online through Terry, a portion of the revenue goes straight to restoring forests, protecting biodiversity, and building climate resilience. No extra cost. Real-world impact.

It’s not charity. It’s a better way of doing business.

Just like Chouinard’s belief that Patagonia’s donations weren’t generosity, but the “cost of doing business,” we believe that climate action shouldn’t be a separate budget line: it should be baked into how the economy works.

And here’s the thing: you don’t need to own a billion-dollar brand to make a difference.

• Support platforms that embed impact, like Terry.

• Choose brands that value sustainability over short-term gain.

• Think twice before every new product: could it be secondhand, or not bought at all?

We may not all be able to give away a company, but we can choose every day to give back through our actions, our money, and our mindset.

At Terry, we’re building a new standard where doing good is the default, not the exception.

Let’s turn everyday transactions into climate action.

Let’s make it the norm.

Sources:

• Yvon Chouinard on why he gave away Patagonia – National Geographic

• Terry's mission and how it works

• Project Drawdown