LS&Co. Unzipped
May 25 2010
Cotton. And Climate Change.
Here’s a fact you probably didn’t know: 95 percent of our products are made of cotton. Not surprising, really, for the company that brings you Levi’s® jeans and Dockers® pants.
And that fact is one of the key reasons why we’re concerned about climate change.
Cotton is produced in more than 110 countries around the world, many of which are already feeling the impact of climate change. As temperatures rise and water supplies fall, cotton – like other agricultural commodities – is at risk for crop failure.
Meantime, many of the 45 countries in which our products are manufactured are either already feeling the effects of climate change or will soon.
In India, China and Nicaragua, this means water shortages. In Vietnam and Bangladesh, on the other hand, it means too much water – in the form of flooding.
At risk for us, cotton availability, quality and pricing. Also, long-time sourcing plans. And, ultimately, jobs around the world.
We recognize our operations contribute to climate change. So we can’t just talk about it. We have to act. That’s who we are as a company. “Doing the right thing” has been part of our culture throughout our 150-year history.
It’s one reason we want to be transparent about both what we’re doing to reduce our annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – and the areas where we still have work to do to achieve our goal of operating as a carbon-neutral company. We just published a report that lists GHG emissions in 2009 from our offices and retail buildings around the world, and from employee air travel.
We’ve also partnered with other like-minded companies through BICEP to encourage the United States Congress to take action. Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed comprehensive energy and climate legislation. We hope the U.S. Senate will soon do the same, so President Obama can sign it into law this year.
Strong energy and climate legislation will help transition us to a new energy economy, creating millions of jobs and reducing the carbon pollution that causes climate change.
The longer we wait, the more problems we’ll face – as a company, as people dependent upon jobs that companies like ours create, and as humans living on Planet Earth.
So, while we, understandably, care about the future cotton. The problem of climate change is about so much more.
Posted By: Amy Leonard, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain, Levi Strauss & Co. |
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pramod kumar (not verified) - Sep 26 2012
thanks & Regards (pramod kumar)
emkon (not verified) - Dec 14 2010
India, China and Nicaragua - it's ok. And what about Mexico ?
Editor's note: Thanks for your comment, Emkon. We mentioned those countries only as examples of the larger issue. Certainly the effects of climate change are felt all around the world.
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