Levi Strauss & Co., the US-based denim manufacturer, unveiled its first climate transition plan in October to address its environmental impact. This ambitious plan aims to support limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, in line with the Paris Agreement and with climate science. Joining other major denim manufacturers like Diesel and Gap, Levi aims to achieve net-zero emissions across its supply chain by 2050.
The transition roadmap focuses on reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2025, compared to a 2016 baseline, through investments in energy-efficient technology and renewable energy solutions. Scope 1 covers direct greenhouse gas emissions from owned or controlled sources, whereas Scope 2 includes indirect emissions from purchased electricity, steam, heating, and cooling.
Levi’s has pledged to operate all company-operated facilities on renewable energy by 2025. Additionally, they are committed to reducing Scope 3 emissions by 42% by 2030, compared to a 2022 baseline. Furthermore, Levi’s plans to cut freshwater use in their manufacturing process in regions with high water stress by 50% by next year, compared to 2018 levels. Scope 3 encompasses all other indirect emissions that occur in a company’s value chain, including both upstream and downstream activities.
Levi’s climate transition plan aligns with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure’s framework. In 2018, Levi introduced science-based targets on emissions, advocating for US climate policies. “Our climate transition plan embodies our commitment to doing our part, reaching our targets, and working with partners across our value chain to enable collective action to address climate change,” said Jeffrey Hogue, the company’s Chief Sustainability Officer.
In June 2014, Levi’s became the first brand to have products made with U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and to be included in Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly program. This program collaborates with third-party companies and Amazon-owned certifications to help consumers identify sustainable products.
The denim powerhouse, which also houses brands such as Dockers and Beyond Yoga, has expressed its intention to revise its climate transition plan every three years to “maintain an accurate focus on climate risks and opportunities and to ensure alignment with prevailing and internationally accepted frameworks.” While Levi’s rival brands Wrangler and Lee have not pledged a mid-century goal, they have made efforts to create more eco-friendly denim.
