We believe everyone has a role to play in the environmental movement. Whether an individual, an elected official, a company or a CEO, we all have the opportunity and responsibility to leave this world a better place than we found it.
Enter Cotopaxi: a B Corp, outdoor gear brand founded in 2014. A recent signatory of The Climate Pledge’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions, they’re taking corporate social responsibility seriously by expanding their mission to center environmental justice and investing in programs and organizations that support frontline communities.
Our conversation with Annie Agle, Cotopaxi’s Senior Director of Impact + Sustainability:
Intersectional Environmentalist: What is Cotopaxi?
Agle: We believe the products that get us exploring can make a positive impact in other people’s lives. That’s why we create sustainably designed outdoor gear that fuels both adventure and global change, by dedicating a percentage of our revenues to nonprofits working to improve the human condition. Our mission is to find sustainable means to eradicate poverty in our lifetimes.
Intersectional Environmentalist: Can you tell us a bit about the meaning behind your name?
Agle: One of the world's highest active volcanoes, Cotopaxi (pronounced koh-toh-PAHK-see) is a mountain in Ecuador sacred to native Quechuans. Growing up in its shadow, the volcano loomed large in our founder/CEO Davis Smith's life—even his school was named for it—and its glacial streams, wild llamas, and countless trails instilled the spirit of adventure and gratitude that would inspire his entrepreneurship. So when Davis needed a name to best represent his outdoor company’s aspirations, only one mountain came to mind.