• Visit our brand sites
  • Levi's®
  • Dockers®
  • Levi Strauss Signature®

• HIV/AIDS
• Product Sourcing Practices
• Community Involvement
• Public Policy
• Environmental Sustainability
  • Energy
  • Water
  • Resource Efficiency
  • Chemicals
  • Cotton
  • What you can do
  • Timeline
  • Learn More
• Diversity
• Levi Strauss Foundation
• Recognition
• Red Tab Foundation

Chemical Responsibility

From pesticides and fertilizers used in cotton production to dyes found in the manufacturing process, chemicals touch the clothes we produce in multiple ways. Once a customer has taken home our clothes, they are cared for with detergents, fabric softeners, and other chemicals. While we won’t be able to eliminate the use of chemicals in the foreseeable future, we are committed to minimizing their impact on the environment.

We focus on the responsible use of chemicals across our product design, development, manufacturing, and distribution processes. We were one of the first in our industry to establish a Restricted Substance List (RSL) identifying the chemicals we will not allow to be used in our products or in the production process due to their potential impact on consumers, workers, and the environment. Currently, we are working to phase out five chemicals potentially used in our production cycle, including PVC, that carry a higher environmental impact.

We support our chemical policies with strong training, auditing, and testing, ensuring that they are applied consistently across our vast supply chain. By co-founding the Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management (AFIRM) group, we furthered our commitment to reducing the use and impact of harmful substances throughout our industry.

• Restricted Substance List. We develop and implement the chemical restrictions described in the RSL for all of our products, including accessories, sundries, and packaging.
• EHS Handbook. This document supplements our labor standards and provides specific tools and requirements on environment, health, and safety standards, including chemical management.
• Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management (AFIRM). As a founding member of AFIRM, we work with other member companies to reduce the use and impact of harmful substances throughout our industry.
• American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA). We participate with the American Apparel and Footwear Association to develop and publish an industry Restricted Substances List.