The brand's collection of "Earth Usage Fees" sparks controversy! Netizens are arguing fiercely

Recently, the U.S. outdoor brand Patagonia (Patagonia) launched a “Earth Usage Fee” campaign, sparking controversy.

In short, starting in April, after consumers purchase clothing at the brand’s official flagship store, a first item will be charged a shipping fee of 15 yuan; for each additional item, an extra 5 yuan will be charged. If the customer does not return the goods, the store will refund the fees. If the customer returns/exchanges the goods, 15 yuan in shipping fees will be deducted, and all delivery charges that are not refunded will be donated to environmental public welfare projects.

Taking the purchase of 2 products as an example, you will pay 20 yuan in shipping fees. If, in the end, you return/exchange both items, the shipping fees will not be refunded. If, in the end, you return/exchange 1 item, you will be refunded 5 yuan in shipping fees. If no return/exchange occurs, you will be refunded 20 yuan in shipping fees. For 2 items and above, it works the same way, and so on.

The brand posted 14 pages of content on social media to explain the “Earth Usage Fee.” It mentioned that during the 2025 Double 11 period, the return rate was as high as 69.7%. In 2023–2025, Patagonia’s Tmall flagship store in mainland China produced 190.36 tons of carbon emissions due to shipments, and the deliveries generated by returns produced 40.9 tons of carbon emissions……

In the end, the brand also said that this is not a cold, emotionless notice about shipping fee adjustments, but an invitation for consumers to purchase after thinking it through— and to think it through before returning as well.

It is reported that Patagonia is a well-known U.S. outdoor gear brand founded in 1973 by Yvon Chouinard, focusing on producing high-performance outdoor equipment such as surfing, climbing, and mountaineering. The brand is known for its simple and practical design and environmental philosophy.

In response, many netizens said they couldn’t understand it:

Dreamyao Struggles: Isn’t the reflection that the high return rate is caused by problems with the product itself?

Yumoo: When did the Earth get contracted by it?

Sun Fengren: “We make clothes, and doing so itself consumes resources.” If that’s the case, then don’t make them—be the most eco-friendly. If you have sincerity, then take out real money and use part of your profits for environmental protection—take from the Earth and use it on the Earth.

Some netizens also agreed with this brand’s design philosophy:

Slow and steady for you: The design philosophy is pretty good— we need to protect the environment.

Lanxing Blue: Patagonia’s Earth Usage Fee can also be accepted, I guess. They’ve always had the idea of protecting the environment, and the clothes are also good. Protecting the ecosystem! The carbon emissions from e-commerce packaging when returning items are really outrageous, and the brand using this kind of method is also calling on everyone to consume rationally.

Patagonia customer service reply

According to the Tianyancha App, Patagonia’s associated company Shanghai Bata Outdoor Products Co., Ltd. was established in March 2016. Worth noting is that the company was once punished twice by the Market Supervision Administration of the Pudong New Area, Shanghai, with a total fine of 40,000 yuan, for two offenses: misleading false publicity about products and failing to indicate the patent number and patent type in ads related to patents.

【Source: Guizhou Network Radio and Television_Tfinance】