Levi Strauss & Co. has joined the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, a farm-level, science-based program that is setting a new standard for more sustainably grown cotton in the U.S. More than 90% of Levi Strauss & Co. products are cotton-based, which makes it critically important for the brand to find more sustainable, more resilient sources for that cotton while at the same time continuing to investigate the possibilities around alternative fibers.
The Trust Protocol offers three crucial opportunities for us to drive more sustainable and transparent cotton cultivation: First, it focuses on ongoing efforts to make U.S. cotton production more sustainable. Second, it offers measurable, verified data for brands and retailers in six key sustainability metrics, such as carbon emissions and water use. And third, it provides a fully transparent cotton supply chain for all members. This promises to help us track progress toward our water and climate targets and communicate the impact of this work to consumers and key accounts.
“Joining the Trust Protocol is one step in a larger process, but it’s a very important step. It shows meaningful action in and of itself while also serving to reiterate our larger commitment to drive more sustainable and traceable cotton sourcing in pursuit of our goals,” said Jeff Hogue, LS&Co. Chief Sustainability Officer, “At the same time, we continue to look at other programs involving more sustainable cotton sources, including organic and recycled. And we are, as we’ve talked about before, also working to scale the use of alternative fibers such as cottoned hemp, that incredible innovation that came out of the WellThread® line and is now being used across much of our mainline product.”
