Patagonia has always been known as a company with a strong environmental ethic. In addition to its internal business operations, since 1985, the Ventura, California-based outdoor sports apparel company has donated 1 percent of its profit to environmental causes annually. And last year, that came to a healthy $3.5 million.  But with a new music site that ties proceeds of songs donated by artists like Pearl Jam, Ziggy Marley and Jack Johnson together with environmental organizations like Conservation International, Jamaica Environment Trust and The Kokua Hawai’i Foundation, respectively, Patagonia hopes to sell about 1 million downloads during the first six months, boosting the company’s charitable contributions by more than 50 percent in one year.

The Patagonia Music Collective project has a simple model with a clear message: “Buy a song, benefit the environment.” Musicians donate an exclusive song which can then only be bought via iTunes for 99 cents.  Environmental groups of the artists’ choosing then get to keep the proceeds (after iTunes takes their cut).

Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard and possible inspiration for Dos Equis’ “Most Interesting Man in the World,” said he hopes fans see their favorite artists supporting the environment and want to get involved themselves.

“The groups these musicians are supporting are the ones that are ultimately going to save the planet,” said Chouinard. “Patagonia’s hopeful other musicians will see that by just donating a song they can easily provide their favorite enviro group with a new stream of financing.”

Although you can purchase them individually, the tracks will also be organized into compilation albums and sold as CDs. Other artists and their environmental organization of choice on the first two compilations include:

Bonnie Raitt and Jon Cleary (Earth Justice), John Scofield (Pesticide Action Network North America),  moe. (water.org), The Bad Plus (Defenders of Wildlife), Zac Brown Band, (Urban Farming), Blitzen Trapper (SOLV), Mason Jennings (Freedom to Roam), Piers Faccini (Environmental Justice Foundation), Brett Dennen (Tuolumne River Trust), Sun Kil Moon (The Ohio River Way), Philip Glass (Sierra Club, Canada), Umphrey’s McGee (Climate Cycle), RaRa Riot, (The Conservation Alliance), Ben Solee (Kentuckians for the Commonwealth), Spoek Mathambo (H.O.P.E Foundation), Toad the Wet Sprocket (South Coast Habitat Restoration), Abigail Washburn (Jane Goodall’s work in China), Brandi Carlile (Honor the Earth) and Maroon 5 (Reverb).

Every week, four new tracks from both newcomers and established artists will be released. Some of those upcoming artists include Drive By Truckers, Disco Biscuits, Los Lobos, and O.A.R.

Hat tip: GOOD