Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) has officially announced the launch of its 2030 Water Strategy i.e. Beyond the Blue, which happens to be a new roadmap, geared towards cutting down on water use, improving water quality, and helping suppliers and communities become more resilient to climate change.
“Levi Strauss & Co’s leadership in advancing water availability, quality, and access for communities shows what’s possible through adoption of the Water Resilience Coalition’s Positive Water Impact framework,” said Jason Morrison, Head, CEO Water Mandate and President, Pacific Institute. “Their 2030 Water Strategy embodies the ambition needed for a water-resilient future.”
Talk about the whole value roadmap on a slightly deeper level, we begin from LS&Co’s focus on leveraging science-based insights to improve its performance, and at the same time, scale up its understanding of the impacts and dependencies on water and nature. More on that would reveal how this whole exercise should tread up a long distance to inform how any company prioritizes actions in the areas of high-water stress, addressing the water impact associated with manufacturing and raw material usage.
Next up, the company will look to reduce absolute freshwater use by 15% across its apparel and textile manufacturing suppliers, compared to a 2022 base year. It will also make a point to ensure that 40% of water used in manufacturing is recycled or reused, while simultaneously publishing an open-source industry guide on water recycling and reuse.
“A reliable supply of clean water is essential for health, dignity and a life full of opportunity. But 2.2 billion people in the world still do not have access to that life-saving resource. In Levi Strauss & Co., we’ve found a partner that values the power of collaboration to address the water crisis, one of the most challenging, but solvable, problems of this generation,” said Kelly Parsons, CEO, WaterAid America.
Another detail worth a mention is rooted in the prospect of getting 100% of direct discharge supplier facilities go achieve the “Foundational” performance level of water pollution compliance, as well as enable 25% to reach “Progressive” level, as defined by the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Foundation.
Hold on, we still have a few bits left to unpack, considering we haven’t yet touched upon the fact that LS&Co. will also steadfastly commit to support suppliers with training and tools to strengthen their water resilience. We also haven’t touched upon the company’s plan to launch watershed restoration projects in areas of high-water stress, something which is complementary of its 2030 biodiversity goal.
Rounding up highlights would be LS&Co’s intention to expand water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects, including its participation in WaterAid’s Women + Water Collaborative, which hopes to help 150,000 people access clean water in its first two years.
Moving forward, the company will also report annually on progress toward its 2030 water goals and continue, all while collaborating with industry peers, NGOs, and local stakeholders to drive systemic change.
Founded in 1853, Levi Strauss & Co’s rise up the ranks stems from designing and marketing jeans, casual wear and related accessories for men, women, and children under the ®, Levi Strauss Signature™ and Beyond Yoga® brands. The company’s excellence in what it does can also be understood once you consider its products are sold, at the moment, in approximately 120 countries worldwide through a combination of chain retailers, department stores, online sites, and a global footprint of approximately 3,200 retail stores and shop-in-shops.
“We know climate change is the existential challenge of our time—and water is where many of its impacts are felt most acutely,” said Michelle Gass, President and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. “Our 2030 Water Strategy outlines how we’ll continue to lead on water stewardship, not just by reducing our own impact, but by helping build resilience in the places that need it most.”
