Restricted Substances
We were the first company in our industry to establish a Restricted Substances 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. The RSL provides up-to-date information to our business partners, including direct sources and licensees, on product compliance with international consumer products regulations, to the best of our knowledge. The RSL must be shared with all sources of materials, parts and chemicals that are used in making our products, and these sources must declare that they are in compliance.
Our Commitment
Building on our RSL, Levi Strauss & Co. joined the Joint Roadmap Towards Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals [ZDHC], an apparel industry collaboration to drive systemic change with a goal of zero discharge of hazardous chemicals by 2020. Based on our years of experience with the RSL and supply chain compliance, we believe this collaborative approach to chemicals management is the most effective way to achieve the scope and scale necessary to meet the goal of zero discharge in the apparel industry. Read our commitment to zero discharge here.
We are also supporting our goal of zero discharge by 2020 through a specific company action plan, which you can read more about here.
Implementation Practices
We enforce adherence to our Restricted Substance List by performing and implementing rigorous training, auditing and testing in collaboration with other brands and retailers to ensure that chemicals are used responsibly from product design to development, manufacturing and distribution. Our Social and Environmental Sustainability Guidebook explains our requirements for proper chemical management.
