Quote from Patagonia's Director of Philosophy

“Durability (in the design process) has become more important to us. That’s the value that came out of designing climbing equipment because you don’t want to make equipment that doesn’t last. But it also plays out environmentally because there are very few things that we can make that don’t cost the environment more than what we can pay back. Making something to last for a long time to reduce the need for replacement is an environmental value.”

- Interview with Patagonia's Director of Philosophy: http://mibiz.com/item/22453-q-a-vincent-stanley