Patagonia is taking a step beyond in informing its customers about the carbon footprint of their products. The outdoor wear manufacturer has launched The Footprint Chronicles, a new interactive web application that gives consumers a detailed, step-by-step analysis of the production processes involved in their products and the resulting environmental impact.

We learn a Patagonia Eco Rainshell Jacket, for example, is designed in Ventura, California, then the fabric manufacture is done in Matsuyama, Japan. From there the product is shipped to Hanoi, Vietnam for sewing and then gets shipped across the Pacific to Reno, Nevada for distribution in the United States. The production process involves over 14,000 miles of travel, 15 pounds of CO2 emissions, 5 ounces of wate and 18 kwh of energy consumption. The site also gives Patagonia’s impressions of the positives and negatives of the process and asks for user’s ideas on how to improve upon it.

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by Kerry Trueman

The Interfaith Power and Light movement, a coalition of Southern churches, is seeking to inspire its flock to be better stewards of the land. Some churches are screening “An Inconvenient Truth” to their congregations while others are conducting workshops that encourage churchgoers to calculate their carbon footprint and pledge to reduce it by 10%.

The movement is spreading throughout the South as more evangelicals begin to embrace environmental issues. Finally, a faith-based initiative that doesn’t rely on turning a blind eye to science. Hallelujah!