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A Travel Buddy for Everyone!

Pio the Pioneering Penguin is a lovable plush penguin who will be the perfect little travel companion for anyone! Solo adventurers can find a partner, families can have an encouraging presence for their kids, and groups can have a little buddy to steal the show!

Derrick, founder and creator of Pio, holding a prototype Pio plush in front of a lake and mountain (out of focus)

Who Created 븄?

My name is Derrick, and I created Pio The Pioneering Penguin!

I am a photographer based in Hayward, CA! While I am in the San Francisco Bay Area, I really like to go out and explore the world around me, however big or small the radius.

One of my favorite things to do is to take my camera out and shoot some pretty sights, and I also wanted to have a little buddy to go with me, so I came up with the idea of making myself a plush travel companion! After some overthinking and ambitious intent, in April 2024 the whole "adventure" to make Pio began!

Meet the Pio Plush!
Pio looking out to Half Dome in Yosemite

Go exploring with 븃

Get to know Pio by seeing all the adventures he's been on, and see where all his friends have taken him!

See Where Pio's Been!
x Front View of the Pio the Pioneering Penguin Plush Left Angle View of the Pio the Pioneering Penguin Plush

Pio the Pioneering Penguin (8in Plush)

$25.00
$25.00 $30.00
x National Park Pin - Pio The Pioneering Penguin

Yosemite Pio National Park Pin

$10.00
$10.00 $12.50

Timeline

Timeline of the development of Pio

Everything 븄 is made with the world in mind!

Pio is, has always been, and always will be about inspiring wonder about the world we live in and advocating for environmental conservation and nature accessibility. By teaching this generation how to explore and care for the environment, and by fostering the imagination of the next generation, we can shape a brighter, safer, and happier future for everyone!

Pio represents the wonder of exploration. Curiosity fuels his ambition, and his friends are the ones that can make his adventures bigger than ever! The fibers of his being are designed to not only be travel-ready, but also eco-friendly!

  • Pio is made from organic cotton that requires less water and energy to produce than conventionally sourced cotton.
  • That same organic cotton is grown without pesticides, which are harmful to both the planet and the hardworking people who grow the cotton.
  • No polyester means no risk for microplastics in your cuddly penguin plush! Pio being made completely of cotton also means that he’s biodegradable and kinder to the Earth.
  • Non-toxic pigments, ensuring the safety of the workers who bring this adorable penguin to life.

In addition to the care put into Pio's production, Pio is also proudly Made in the USA (with imported materials), meaning Pio supports jobs here at home and lowers the need for overseas shipping, cutting down on overall shipping emissions.

But that’s not all—Pio is on a mission to give back! We’re proud to partner with 1% for the Planet and donate a portion of our revenue to support environmental causes and improve accessibility to the outdoors for everyone.

By bringing Pio into your home, you’re not just getting a cuddly friend; you’re supporting a brighter, greener future for all. Thank you for being part of this adventure with us!

Learn More about Pio's Mission

Pio the Pioneering Penguin (8in Plush)

$25.00
$25.00 $30.00 17% Off
Back Pio on Kickstarter!
  • Front View of the Pio the Pioneering Penguin Plush
  • Left Angle View of the Pio the Pioneering Penguin Plush
  • Right Angle View of the Pio the Pioneering Penguin Plush
  • Left Rear Angle View of the Pio the Pioneering Penguin Plush
  • Right Rear Angle View of the Pio the Pioneering Penguin Plush

Have questions about Pio the Pioneering Penguin LLC? Here are some answers!

Where is the company based?

Pio the Pioneering Penguin LLC is based in Hayward, CA, here in the United States.

The company's manufacturing process is not based Hayward, CA at this time, and the company's manufacturing partners are not affiliated with the Pio the Pioneering Penguin brand. Pio's partners are chosen for their specific capabilities, and Pio takes advantage of their climate- and people-friendly capabilities.

What is your policy on AI?

Pio does not use AI in any end-product. Pio works with artist around the world to help bring the Pio vision to life, and Pio not only supports artists making original artwork, but also prohibits the use of AI in the art-making process.

In the spirit of transparency, AI might be used in internal non-artistic documents that will not normally see a consumer. As Pio grows (and experts are brought in) the use of AI in technical/clerical internal documents will be eliminated.

What are the company's sustainability efforts?

Pio the Pioneering Penguin has been a 1% for the Planet member since the company's beginning. However, donating is just the beginning.

While donating to important causes (like sustainability, climate education, and accessibility) helps fund the experts who have been working in their respective spaces, reversing damage is always a slower process than stopping further damage from happening. That's why all of Pio's cloth products (plush, shirts) are made from organic cotton!

Organic cotton

  • is a renewable resource
  • sheds no microplastics, as it is not made of plastic and is therefore all safe organic material
  • uses less water and less power than conventionally sourced cotton
  • uses no pesticides, which is a leading cause of chemical damage to the lands cotton is harvested from
  • has a lower carbon footprint than conventionally virgin polyester and recycled polyester
  • is recyclable and compostable, not that you'd want to discard a Pio plush or shirt! But in the case of damage, you don't have to worry about PIo ending up in a landfill damaging the planet for hundreds of years!