Brand Overview - Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi is an outdoor brand that has attained certified B Corporation status. There are several components of their business that make them an interesting social enterprise to follow:
Their product lineup includes some very unique items
Their giving model and the foundation they have setup have partnered with some organizations making really meaningful contributions to the causes they support
Employee Culture and benefits
They’ve created a festival around exploring with friends called Questival
Their Products and supply chain
Cotopaxi has committed to ensuring fair labor practices throughout their supply chain and has an entire line of product dedicated to reusing scrap fabric that would otherwise be wasted. The Del Dia line is manufactured in Bataan, Phillipines and is made using waste fabric from other brands who use the same facilities. Because of this, every Del Dia product is unique and has a unique colorway. The decisions for how the packs look are left to the sewers. This approach leads to a lot of really interesting items and a sense of urgency if you happen across a pack with a color pattern you just can’t live without. Once it’s gone, that’s it. There is only one like it.
The Giving Model
1% of revenue is given to the Cotopaxi Foundation which in turn works with a number of leading non-profits. This has allowed them to award 42 grants across 6 countries to date. In the past they’ve contributed funds to organizations such as Wholives which supported a project for a portable drill to create jobs and provide access to water in rural Philippines, and Nothing but Nets which helps prevent the spread of Malaria by providing mosquito nets to refugee families. They have recently helped Nothing but Nets expand their reach from Africa to Ecuador and other parts of Latin America.
“Some of the most incredible moments in history have taken place when humanity united to solve a problem.”
-Lindsey Kneuven, Chief Impact Officer - Cotopaxi, in their 2015 Impact Report
The Culture
The company really puts an emphasis on the adventure and service lifestyle. Quarterly team offsite adventure trips, $1000 adventure bucket list stipend after 18 months with the company, and 10% “in the wild” time (work time outdoor adventure or doing service projects) are just a few of the stated benefits of working for Cotopaxi that are geared at fostering that adventurous spirit. Oh, also, their mascot is a llama.
Questival
Questival is billed as an adventure scavenger hunt like no other. Teams of up to 6 spend 24 hours completing as many challenges as they can. The event starts with a kick-off festival followed by 24 hours of adventure and service. Everything about Questival is completely infused by the adventurous spirit of the company. Dates and locations for 2020 haven’t been announced yet, but check in here to keep updated: https://www.cotopaxi.com/products/questival-2020