LS&Co. Unzipped

Welcome to our blog. Here’s where you’ll find a “behind-the-seams” look at what’s going on with Levi Strauss & Co. You’ll hear from a variety of voices, from both inside and outside the company. And you have the chance to share your thoughts. So read on — and weigh in!

Nov 02 2011

A Better Way to Grow Cotton

Author Robert Louis Stevenson once said: Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.

That’s certainly our philosophy when it comes to our long term commitment to Better Cotton – cotton grown in a way that reduces the environmental impacts of farming and supports the 300 million people engaged in cotton farming around the world.

We’re proud to let you know that more than 2 million pairs of Levi’s® and Denizen™ jeans made with Better Cotton are hitting our retail stores this fall. 

As part of our partnership in the Better Cotton Initiative, we’re working to change how one of the most important commodities in fashion is grown.  We’re doing this in partnership with other leading brands such as H&M, Adidas, IKEA and Marks & Spencer, and non-governmental organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, Solidaridad, and PAN-UK.

Why are we doing this? Because 95% of our products are made from cotton. And Better Cotton is better for the environment and for farmers. The info-graphic below tells you how Better Cotton all comes together. And you'll find more information in this previous LS&Co. Unzipped post.

Click here to download this info-graphic.

Posted By: Michael Kobori, Vice-President, Sustainability, Levi Strauss & Co.

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Tags: Levi Strauss & Co.,Social Responsibility

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Tom Reynolds (not verified) - Dec 15 2011

Advanced cotton production practices and technologies serve the triple-bottom line very nicely. As assitant agronomist of Chemonics INdustries in Phoenix, AZ from 1978-1983, Ihelped deliver scientific irrigation scheduling and nitrogen nutrition management over thousands of acres of fine, upland cotton (in rotation with wheat and alfalfa). Because of our climate, soils, water infrastructure, processing, talented producers with their private-sector advisors and markets, our productivity per acre foot of water was unrivaled anywhere in the world. Today, producers are about only 75% efficient with water. Flood irrigation still persists, not because of the economics. Rather, a "use it or lose it" mentality seems to prevail. Sad really. We've de-volved when we will pump water from the Colorado River, expending significant energy, and pour it on the desert, calling it banked water, so we can supposively pump it back up in so many years, rather than leave it in the main river storage facilities. How silly for me to try to save 15% here, while they're pouring it on the desert over there. Urban dwellers who invest in water conservation technologies for their home landscapes are equally discouraged. They invest $800 - $2,000 in Smart irrigation technologies in year one, Three years later, possibly because conservation is working, water rates go up. Whoppee, they say ! I get to pay twice!

Editor's note: Thanks, Tom, for sharing your experiences -- great examples of the sustainability benefits that advanced agricultural techniques can provide. The Better Cotton Initiative is working to bring some of these to farmers who can benefit from them. You also describe the importance of having the right policies in place to support sustainability, and that's vital.

 

June (not verified) - Nov 29 2011

My daughter has a great blog that she is doing in one of her college classes she has many great ideas regarding your jeans so I was curious about your site and now I think I shall return to my kids blog. She sells your Jean better then this site..

Editor's note: Hi June! You're teasing me. If you're going to tell me about your daughter's great blog, you have to share the link. Please! Thank you for your comment.

molly obrien (not verified) - Nov 06 2011

I couldn't be more disappointed than I am about your closing up shop and taking more of our jobs overseas. I have always been a big Levi fan. I bought so much of your products for myself and my family but no longer. I will not buy your product again and I hope the Occupy Wall Street gang boycotts your products over the Holidays. To move those jobs while we are in this mess is so unpatriotic. Shame on you,.

Editor's note: Hi Molly, and thank you for your comment. In terms of Better Cotton, we are not moving jobs out of the United States. We purchase cotton from suppliers around the world, including in the U.S. And we hope to see U.S. cotton farmers embrace the Better Cotton approach. We do manufacture our products around the world -- including in the U.S. -- to meet the needs of our consumers in 110 countries.

Victoria French (not verified) - Nov 06 2011
I applaude the effort, but I would be much happier if the company would go back to making a larger variety of denim jeans for women in 100% cotton.

Arshad Kayani (not verified) - Nov 03 2011

Dear Sir, I am Arshad Kayani from Pakistan. I have read a article " Levi Strauss tries to minimize its water use" in The New York Times on November 3, 2011. Article says that Levi Strauss through a program teaches farmers in Pakistan regarding better water management and other techniques to grow good quality cotton. I belong to cotton growing area of Pakistan and i am interested to learn about your program, kindly send me the address of your Pakistan chapter. Regards Arshad Kayani

Editor's note: Mr. Kayani, your best bet may be to contact the Better Cotton Initiative. The BCI website provides a number of email addresses and phone numbers.

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