Patagonia figured out a way to make wetsuits out of a natural rubber derived from a desert shrub. Needless to say, they were stoked. Then they shared the idea with their competitors. “Instead of holding the manufacturer of the rubber, Yulex, to a yearslong exclusive contract, Patagonia is encouraging its competitors to use the product, hoping to see its use grow and drive down the price.” The NYT’s Diane Cardwell: When the bottom line includes Earth. (I should note that NextDraft is printed on recycled internet.)

+ James Surowiecki on the rise of the B-Corp, for-profit companies that pledge to achieve social goals as well as business ones.