THE LIFE CYCLE
Understanding the environmental impact
of a pair of Levi’s
®
501
®
jeans
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
OF A JEAN
This Lifecycle Assessment uses data, assumptions and inputs from
2015 and earlier and should only be used as an example for the
stated timeframe.
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) conducted the apparel industry’s first lifecycle assessment (LCA) study in 2007 to assess
the entire lifecycle impact of a core set of products. The study focused primarily on the company’s U.S. operations and
uncovered that the greatest water and energy impact was in two areas: cotton cultivation and consumer care.
Since then, LS&Co. has made tremendous progress addressing areas within its control, leading to more than one
billion liters of water saved to date through the Levi’s
®
Water<Less
™
process and implementation of the apparel
industry’s first water recycle/reuse standard in its supply chain. The company has also taken bold steps to reduce the
environmental impact of its products in the areas outside its direct control. This includes educating consumers through
its
Care Tag for the Planet initiative that encourages consumers to adopt care methods that use less energy and water.
LS&Co. also joined the Better Cotton Initiative
®
to invest in cotton that uses less water and chemicals and improves
farmer livelihoods.
In an effort to dig even deeper into the ways it can reduce its global impact, LS&Co. conducted a new global lifecycle
assessment study to understand consumer behaviors by market and cotton agriculture globally.
BACKGROUND
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
The new study, initiated in 2013, looked at three LS&Co. products: a pair of Levi’s
®
501
®
jeans, a pair of Levi’s
®
Women’s jeans,
and a pair of Dockers
®
Signature Khakis. This latest study benefited from the latest advancements in LCA scientific methods,
tools and data collection processes and gives greater insight into the two biggest impact areas by expanding the scope of data
collected.
This presentation dives deeply into the findings related to a pair of Levi’s
®
501
®
medium stone wash jeans. The goal is that
these findings will help LS&Co. and others in the apparel sector take more effective and holistic approaches to our industry’s
environmental impact.
BACKGROUND
WHAT IS
AN ENVIRONMENTAL
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSEMENT?
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
• An LCA is a systems-based, quantitative method for evaluating the environmental
impact of a product.*
• It is a tool used to assess the stages and impact of a product’s entire life,
from raw material extraction (cradle) to waste treatment (grave).
• An LCA typically does not include:
– Social impacts
– Economic impacts
LIFECYCLE ASSESSMENT DEFINITION
*LS&Co. used the ISO 14040 Series as a basis for its LCA which details the requirements for conducting and administering a Life Cycle Assessment
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
LIFECYCLE ASSESSMENT BENEFITS
• Allows us to focus on the most
significant environmental impacts as
we develop and evaluate sustainability
programs and policies
• Informs product decisions to reduce
the environmental impact from design,
materials, and manufacturing
• Supports engagement with external
stakeholders to reduce the impact of
materials and consumer care
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
• United States
• India
• Pakistan
• Brazil
• China
• Australia
NEW AREAS STUDIED:
GLOBAL COTTON CULTIVATION AND NEW CONSUMER MARKETS
FUNCTIONAL UNIT
Levi’s® 501® jeans & other
core LS&Co. products
PRIMARY DATA SOURCES
• LS&Co.
• 11 supplier factories
• 6 fabric mills
STUDY CONDUCTED BY: Industrial Ecology Consultants and LS&Co.
EVERY ASPECT ANALYZED
• Cotton production
• Fabric production
• Garment manufacturing
• Packaging
• Sundries
• Transportation & distribution
• Consumer care
• End of life
LEVI’S® 501®
PRODUCT ATTRIBUTES STUDIED
• 5 fabrics
• 8 finishes (low to high
complexity; highest volume)
• 2012 production year
MULTIPLE CONSUMER
MARKETS INCLUDED
• United States
• United Kingdom
• France
• China
WORLD’S PRIMARY COTTON
PRODUCING COUNTRIES STUDIED
STUDY BASED ON
LS&Co.’s product lifecycle categories and the required impact
categories of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Product Category
Rule guidance
PANEL REVIEWED: Conforms with ISO 14040 and 14044 standards
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
THE LEVI’S
®
501
®
LIFECYCLE
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
THE LIFECYCLE OF A LEVI’S
®
501
®
JEAN
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
CATEGORY DESCRIPTION UNITS
CLIMATE CHANGE Global warming potential of greenhouse gases released to the environment
kg CO
2
-e
WATER INTAKE Freshwater taken from the environment
liters
WATER CONSUMPTION Net freshwater taken from the environment minus water returned
to the same watershed at the same quality or better
liters
EUTROPHICATION Oxygen depletion as a result of nitrogen and phosphorous deposit
into freshwater or marine environments
g PO
4
-e
LAND OCCUPATION Total land occupied to support the product system assessed
m
2
-yr
ABIOTIC DEPLETION A measure of the depletion of non-renewable resources that includes
fossil energy, metals and minerals
mg Sb-e
SEVERAL IMPACT CATEGORIES RELEVANT TO APPAREL WERE ANALYZED
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
IMPACT PHASE ANALYSIS SPANNED AREAS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OUR DIRECT CONTROL
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
OF OUR FINDINGS
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
CONSUMER CARE AND COTTON CULTIVATION
REMAIN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AREAS
CONSUMER CARE COTTON CULTIVATION
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
General Findings:
• Water Consumption: Fiber production,
predominantly cotton, contributes by a wide margin
to water consumption.
• Climate Change: Consumer care and fabric
production are the most significant phases for
climate change impact and energy.
• Expanded Scope: By expanding our scope to
include the leading cotton-producing countries,
we’ve seen the water consumption from cotton
cultivation increase to 68% of the total impact.
COTTON AND CONSUMER HABITS HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON WATER AND ENERGY USE
Consumer Use Findings:
• Washing every 10 times a product is worn instead of
every 2 times reduces energy use, climate change impact,
and water intake by up to 80%.
• Significant differences between regions:
‐ Consumers in China are leading the pack: when it comes to
laundering their jeans, they mostly wash in cold water and air dry
‐ American consumers had the highest water intake and use of
non-renewable energy. The good news is that Americans more
prevalently use cold water
‐ Consumers in the UK and France mostly air dry their jeans
but they use more hot water than American or Chinese
consumers
‐ Consumers in the USA, UK and France wash their jeans more
frequently than in China
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
Materials, Production and other findings:
• Fabric assembly, which includes yarn spinning, dyeing, weaving, and fabric finishing had notable contributions related
to climate change impact and non-renewable energy consumption.
• Life cycle stages that had minimal contribution to impact include: fabric transport, product transport, packaging,
production wastes, distribution, retail, and end of life waste.
OTHER STAGES STILL HAVE AN IMPACT, BUT TO LESSER DEGREES
ON ‘AUTO PILOT’ WHEN IT COMES TO
WASHING YOUR JEANS?
IT’S TIME TO WASH LESS AND LINE DRY.
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
LEVI’S
®
501
®
JEAN LIFECYCLE IMPACT
Climate Change:
33.4 kg CO
2
-e…
Water Consumed:
3,781 liters…
Eutrophication:
48.9 g PO
4
-e…
• 69 miles driven by the average US car
• 246 hours of TV on a plasma big-screen
3 days worth of one US household’s total water needs
The total amount of phosphorous found in 1,700 tomatoes
The entire lifecycle of one pair of Levi’s® 501® jeans equates to:
Land Occupation:
12 m
2
/year…
Seven people standing with arms outstretched, fingertips
touching, would form one side of a square this size
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
CONSUMER WATER CONSUMPTION VARIES
DEPENDING ON WASHING FREQUENCY AND EQUIPMENT
Note: analysis is for one pair of pants worn by the average American consumer
CONVENTIONAL WASHING MACHINE
WASHING
WEEKLY
WASHING
BI-WEEKLY
WASHING
MONTHLY
958
479
221
Liters
EFFICIENT WASHING MACHINE
WASHING
WEEKLY
WASHING
BI-WEEKLY
WASHING
MONTHLY
659
330
152
Liters
WATER INTAKE OVER ONE YEAR OF CARE
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
EFFICIENT WASHING MACHINE
THE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT OF CONSUMERS WASHING AND DRYING THEIR JEANS
VARIES GREATLY DEPENDING ON WASHING FREQUENCY, METHODS, AND EQUIPMENT
Note: for one pair of pants worn by the average American consumer
CONVENTIONAL WASHING MACHINE
WASHING WEEKLY
WASHING BI-WEEKLY
WASHING MONTHLY
14.58
7.29
Kg CO
2
e
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT FROM ONE YEAR OF CARE
3.36
WASH IN WARM WASH IN COLD
USE DRYER LINE DRY USE DRYER LINE DRY
7.55
3.77
1.74
10.31
5.15
2.38
3.28
1.64
.76
9.92
4.96
Kg CO
2
e
2.29
WASH IN WARM WASH IN COLD
USE DRYER LINE DRY USE DRYER LINE DRY
4.51
2.25
1.04
7.99
3.99
1.84
2.58
1.29
.60
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
CONSUMER CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT VARIES DEPENDING ON WATER TEMPERATURE
AND MACHINE EFFICIENCY
ONE DAY OF WASHING AROUND THE GLOBE
Kg CO
2
e
CONVENTIONAL WASHER
U.S.
EFFICIENT WASHER CONVENTIONAL WASHER
U.K./FRANCE
EFFICIENT WASHER CONVENTIONAL WASHER
CHINA
EFFICIENT WASHER
WARM WATER WASH
COLD WATER WASH
.28
.20
.19
.15
.25
.20
.20
.15
.58
.31
.49
.28
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
LEVI’S® 501® JEANS: WATER CONSUMPTION
Fiber production, predominantly cotton, contributes by a wide margin to water consumption.
CRADLE TO GRAVE WATER CONSUMPTION
PERCENTAGE BY PHASE
CONSUMER CARE
23%
FIBER
68%
*END OF LIFE AND TRANSPORT, LOGISTICS, RETAIL HAVE NEGLIGIBLE CONSUMPTION
SUNDRIES & PKGNG
2%
CUT, SEW, FINISH
1%
FABRIC
PRODUCTION
6%
CRADLE TO GRAVE WATER CONSUMPTION
AMOUNT BY PHASE (LITERS)
FIBER FABRIC CUT,
SEW,
FINISH
SUNDRIES
& PKG
CONSUMER
CARE
2,565
236
34
77
860
21
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
LEVI’S® 501® JEANS: CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT
Consumer Care phase dominates the climate change impact area (driven by high use of non-renewable energy).
CRADLE TO GRAVE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT
PERCENTAGE BY PHASE
FABRIC
PRODUCTION
27%
CONSUMER CARE
37%
TRANSPORT,
LOGISTICS, RETAIL
11%
FIBER
9%
SUNDRIES & PKGNG
5%
END OF LIFE
3%
CUT, SEW, FINISH
8%
CRADLE TO GRAVE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS
AMOUNT BY PHASE (kg CO
2
-e)
FIBER FABRIC CUT,
SEW,
FINISH
SUNDRIES
& PKG
TRANS.,
LOGISTICS,
RETAIL
CONSUMER
CARE
END OF
LIFE
2.9
9.0
2.6
1.7
3.8
12.5
.9
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
LEVI’S® 501® JEANS:
EUTROPHICATION (NITROGEN AND PHOSPHOROUS DEPOSIT)
Fiber production, predominantly cotton, contributes by a wide margin to eutrophication impact.
CRADLE TO GRAVE EUTROPHICATION
PERCENTAGE BY PHASE
FIBER
37%
CONSUMER CARE
16%
TRANSPORT,
LOGISTICS, RETAIL
7%
SUNDRIES & PKGNG
16%
END OF LIFE
7%
CUT, SEW, FINISH
6%
CRADLE TO GRAVE EUTROPHICATION
AMOUNT BY PHASE (g PO
4
-e)
FIBER FABRIC CUT,
SEW,
FINISH
SUNDRIES
& PKG
TRANS.,
LOGISTICS,
RETAIL
CONSUMER
CARE
END OF
LIFE
18
5.5
2.9
7.9
3.1
7.9
3.5
FABRIC
PRODUCTION
11%
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
LEVI’S® 501® JEANS: LAND OCCUPATION
Fiber production, predominantly cotton, contributes by a wide margin to land occupation impact.
CRADLE TO GRAVE LAND OCCUPATION
PERCENTAGE BY PHASE
FABRIC
PRODUCTION
2%
CONSUMER CARE
14%
TRANSPORT,
LOGISTICS, RETAIL
11%
FIBER
78%
SUNDRIES & PKGNG
4%
CRADLE TO GRAVE LAND OCCUPATION
AMOUNT BY PHASE (m2/year)
FIBER FABRIC SUNDRIES
& PKG
TRANS.,
LOGISTICS,
RETAIL
CONSUMER
CARE
9.3
0.2
0.5
0.3
1.7
*END OF LIFE AND TRANSPORT, LOGISTICS, RETAIL HAVE NEGLIGIBLE CONSUMPTION
©2015
CONSUMER HABITS
VARY BY COUNTRY
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
ON AVERAGE, AMERICANS USE MORE WATER AND ENERGY TO WASH THEIR JEANS
For sources and additional consumer use data, please see the Appendix.
LIFETIME CONSUMER USE
NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY (kwh)
U.S. U.K./FRANCE CHINA
60
53
17
LIFETIME CONSUMER USE
WATER INTAKE (liters)
U.S. U.K./FRANCE CHINA
1,049
619
679
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
ON AVERAGE, CONSUMERS IN CHINA WASH LESS FREQUENTLY
AVERAGE WASH FREQUENCY BY COUNTRY
Wears Between
Washes
U.S. U.K./FRANCE
CHINA
2.3
2.5
3.9
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
IN AMERICA:
WEARING JEANS 10X BEFORE WASHING COULD REDUCE WATER USAGE BY 77%
AMERICA: LIFETIME WATER INTAKE
Note: Analysis is for one pair of pants worn by the average American consumer over the typical product lifetime
U.S. AVERAGE
WASH EVERY TIME
YOU WEAR
WASH EVERY 2x
WASH EVERY 5x WASH EVERY 10x
Liters
1,106
2,543
1,272
509
254
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
IN THE UK/FRANCE:
WEARING JEANS 10X BEFORE WASHING COULD REDUCE WATER USAGE BY 75%
Note: Analysis is for one pair of pants worn by the average European consumer over the typical product lifetime
UK/FRANCE: LIFETIME WATER INTAKE
U.K./FRANCE AVERAGE
WASH EVERY TIME
YOU WEAR
WASH EVERY 2x
WASH EVERY 5x WASH EVERY 10x
Liters
659
1,647.74
823.87
329.55
164.77
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
IN CHINA:
WEARING JEANS 10X BEFORE WASHING COULD REDUCE WATER USAGE BY 61%
Note: Analysis is for one pair of pants worn by the average Asian consumer over the typical product lifetime
CHINA: LIFETIME WATER INTAKE
CHINA AVERAGE
WASH EVERY TIME
YOU WEAR
WASH EVERY 2x
WASH EVERY 5x WASH EVERY 10x
Liters
697
2,543
1,272
509
254
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
IN AMERICA:
WEARING JEANS 10X BEFORE WASHING COULD REDUCE ENERGY USAGE BY 77%
Note: Analysis is for one pair of pants worn by the average American consumer over the typical product lifetime
AMERICA: LIFETIME CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT
U.S.
AVERAGE
Kg CO
2
-e
WASH
EVERY TIME
YOU WEAR
WASH
EVERY 2x
WASH
EVERY 5x
WASH
EVERY 10x
AMERICA: LIFETIME NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY USE
U.S.
AVERAGE
Kilowatt Hours
WASH
EVERY TIME
YOU WEAR
WASH
EVERY 2x
WASH
EVERY 5x
WASH
EVERY 10x
13.38
30.77
15.38
6.15
3.08
60.99
140.28
70.14
28.05
14.03
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
IN UK/FRANCE:
WEARING JEANS 10X BEFORE WASHING COULD REDUCE ENERGY USAGE BY 75%
Note: Analysis is for one pair of pants worn by the average American consumer over the typical product lifetime
UK/FRANCE: LIFETIME CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT
VARIANCE BY WASHING FREQUENCY
UK/FRANCE
AVERAGE
Kg CO
2
-e
WASH
EVERY TIME
YOU WEAR
WASH
EVERY 2x
WASH
EVERY 5x
WASH
EVERY 10x
UK/FRANCE: LIFETIME NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY USE
VARIANCE BY WASHING FREQUENCY
UK/FRANCE
AVERAGE
Kilowatt Hours
WASH
EVERY TIME
YOU WEAR
WASH
EVERY 2x
WASH
EVERY 5x
WASH
EVERY 10x
11.17
27.92
13.96
5.58
2.79
61.2
153.1
76.5
30.6
15.3
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
IN CHINA:
WEARING JEANS 10X BEFORE WASHING COULD REDUCE ENERGY USAGE BY 61%
Note: Analysis is for one pair of pants worn by the average Asian consumer over the typical product lifetime
CHINA: LIFETIME CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT
VARIANCE BY WASHING FREQUENCY
CHINA
AVERAGE
Kg CO
2
-e
WASH
EVERY TIME
YOU WEAR
WASH
EVERY 2x
WASH
EVERY 5x
WASH
EVERY 10x
CHINA: LIFETIME NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY USE
BY WASHING FREQUENCY
CHINA
AVERAGE
Kilowatt Hours
WASH
EVERY TIME
YOU WEAR
WASH
EVERY 2x
WASH
EVERY 5x
WASH
EVERY 10x
11.83
46.14
23.07
9.23
4.61
33.4
130.2
65.1
26
13
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
For sources and additional consumer use data, please see the Appendix.
CONSUMERS WHO WASH IN COLD
U.S. U.K./FRANCE CHINA
65%
51%
84%
CONSUMERS WHO WASH IN WARM
U.S. U.K./FRANCE CHINA
35%
49%
16%
WASH IN COLD VS. WARM BY COUNTRY
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
IN AMERICA: WASHING IN COLD INSTEAD OF WARM REDUCES NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY
USE BY 21% AND CLIMATE IMPACT BY 24%
Note: analysis is representative for the average American consumer, with a typical product lifetime, with average wash frequency and equipment
AMERICA: LIFETIME CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT
AVERAGE 100%
COLD WASH
100%
WARM
WASH
13.4
12.1
15.9
KgCO
2
e
AMERICA: LIFETIME NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY USE
61
56.1
70.9
Kilowatt-Hours
AVERAGE 100%
COLD WASH
100%
WARM
WASH
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
IN U.K./FRANCE: WASHING IN COLD INSTEAD OF WARM REDUCES NON-RENEWABLE
ENERGY USE BY 20% AND CLIMATE IMPACT BY 21%
Note: analysis is representative for the average European consumer, with a typical product lifetime, with average wash frequency and equipment
UK/FRANCE: LIFETIME CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT
AVERAGE 100%
COLD WASH
100%
WARM
WASH
.21
.16
KgCO
2
e
UK/FRANCE: LIFETIME NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY USE
1.13
.90
Kilowatt-Hours
AVERAGE 100%
COLD WASH
100%
WARM
WASH
.21 1.13
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
IN CHINA: WASHING IN COLD INSTEAD OF WARM REDUCES NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY
USE BY 59% AND CLIMATE IMPACT BY 69%
Note: analysis is representative for the average Asian consumer, with a typical product lifetime,
with average wash frequency and equipment
CHINA: LIFETIME CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT
AVERAGE 100%
COLD WASH
100%
WARM
WASH
.16
.12
.38
KgCO
2
e
CHINA: LIFETIME NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY USE
.54
.44
1.07
Kilowatt-Hours
AVERAGE 100%
COLD WASH
100%
WARM
WASH
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
CONSUMERS WHO LINE DRY
U.S. U.K./FRANCE CHINA
18%
68%
88%
CONSUMERS WHO USE A DRYER
U.S. U.K./FRANCE CHINA
82%
32%
12%
LINE DRY VS. DRYER BY COUNTRY
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
IN AMERICA: LINE DRYING INSTEAD OF USING A DRYER REDUCES NON-RENEWABLE
ENERGY USE BY 64% AND CLIMATE IMPACT BY 67%
Note: analysis is representative for the average American consumer, with a typical product lifetime,
with average wash frequency and equipment
AMERICA: LIFETIME CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT
KgCO
2
e
AMERICA
AVERAGE
LINE DRY LINE DRY
& IRON
DRYER DRYER
& IRON
AMERICA: LIFETIME NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY USE
Kilowatt-Hours
AMERICA
AVERAGE
LINE DRY LINE DRY
& IRON
DRYER DRYER
& IRON
13.84
4.61
10.94
13.84
20.17
62.7
22.3
51.4
62.7
91.9
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
IN UK/FRANCE: LINE DRYING INSTEAD OF USING A DRYER REDUCES NON-RENEWABLE
ENERGY USE BY 65% AND CLIMATE IMPACT BY 66%
Note: analysis is representative for the average UK/French consumer, with a typical product lifetime,
with average wash frequency and equipment
UK/FRANCE: LIFETIME CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT
KgCO
2
e
UK/FRANCE
AVERAGE
LINE DRY LINE DRY
& IRON
DRYER DRYER
& IRON
UK/FRANCE: LIFETIME NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY USE
UK/FRANCE
AVERAGE
LINE DRY LINE DRY
& IRON
DRYER DRYER
& IRON
9.7
4.4
9.5
12.9
18.0
53.3
24.5
52.5
70.7
98.9
Kilowatt-Hours
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
IN CHINA: LINE DRYING INSTEAD OF USING A DRYER REDUCES NON-RENEWABLE
ENERGY USE BY 62% AND CLIMATE IMPACT BY 65%
Note: analysis is representative for the average Chinese consumer, with a typical product lifetime,
with average wash frequency and equipment
CHINA: LIFETIME CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT
KgCO
2
e
CHINA
AVERAGE
LINE DRY LINE DRY
& IRON
DRYER DRYER
& IRON
CHINA: LIFETIME NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY USE
CHINA
AVERAGE
LINE DRY LINE DRY
& IRON
DRYER DRYER
& IRON
5.1
4.1
10.3
11.9
18.1
17.3
14.3
33.3
37.3
56.3
Kilowatt-Hours
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
©2015
OUR NEXT STEPS
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
CONTINUE TO LEAD, EDUCATE CONSUMERS & EXPAND THE BETTER COTTON INITIATIVE
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
CONTINUE TO LEAD, EDUCATE CONSUMERS & EXPAND THE BETTER COTTON INITIATIVE
Call to action to Levi’s® fans around the world:
1. Take the quiz to understand your impact and pledge to wash less
2. If you have to wash, use cold water and try our tips
3. Line dry
4. Donate your old jeans to give them a new life
Call to action to our global apparel industry peers:
1. Understand your impact and take actions to reduce your impact on
the environment
2. Use your marketing muscle to educate consumers on how they can
reduce their impact by washing less, line drying and donating
3. Influence your global supply chain partners to procure Better Cotton
Initiative cotton and adopt water recycling and reuse standards
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
WHEN LS&CO. LEADS, OTHERS FOLLOW
LS&Co. water stewardship programs:
1. Water<Less™
2. Water Recycling & Reuse Standard
3. Global Effluent Guidelines
4. Better Cotton Initiative
5. CEO Water Mandate
LS&Co. sustainable product development:
1. Terms of Engagement
2. Chemical Management Programs
3. Responsible Sourcing Initiative
4. Wellthread™: Holistic approach to sustainable product design
& manufacturing
5. Waste<Less™: Uses at least 20% post-consumer waste in each
product
APPENDIX
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
FIBER
FABRIC
ASSEMBLY
CUT, SEW,
FINISH
SUNDRIES &
PACKAGING
TRANSPORT,
LOGISTICS,
RETAIL
CONSUMER CARE END OF LIFE TOTAL
CLIMATE CHANGE
(kg CO
2
-e)
2.9 9.0 2.6 1.7 3.8 12.5 0.9 33.4
9% 27% 8% 5% 11% 37% 3% 100%
WATER CONSUMPTION (liters)
2,565 236 34 77 10 860 0 3,781
68% 6% 1% 2% 0% 23% 0% 100%
EUTROPHICATION (g PO
4
-e)
18.0 5.5 2.9 7.9 3.1 7.9 3.5 48.9
37% 11% 6% 16% 6% 16% 7% 100%
LAND OCCUPATION (m
2
/year)
9.3 0.2 0.0 0.5 0.3 1.7 0.0 12.0
78% 1% 0% 4% 2% 14% 0% 100%
ABIOTIC DEPLETION (mg Sb-e)
19.9 7.2 1.9 118.5 4.4 17.9 0.1 29.1
12% 4% 1% 70% 3% 11% 0%
100%
LEVI’S
®
501
®
JEAN LIFECYCLE IMPACT
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
DATA WAS COLLECTED FROM SEVERAL SOURCES IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN
PHASE PRODUCT DATA FACILITY OR GENERAL DATA
SPINNING
Fiber Type
Fiber Country of Origin
Transport Mode and Distance
Fiber Loss
Energy
Water
Packaging
Waste
DYE, WEAVE, FINISH
Fiber Loss
Chemical Use &
Transport Mode & Distance
CUT & SEW
Transport Mode & Distance
Cutting Efficiency
Material Use
Sundry Material and Weight
Packaging Material and Weight
GARMENT FINISH
Chemical Use
Transport Mode & Distance
DISTRIBUTION CENTERS N/A
PRODUCT TRANSPORT Transport Mode & Distance
RETAIL N/A
Energy
CONSUMER CARE N/A
Consumer washing habits
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
CHANGE MEASURED IMPACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON WATER CONSUMPTION
FABRIC LOSS
± 10% ± 3.8% ± 7.4%
FIBER LOSS
± 10% ± 2.6% ± 6.7%
FREQUENCY OF CARE
± 10% ± 3.8% ± 2.3%
PRODUCT TRANSPORT
± 50% ± 1.0% ± 0.0%
CARE TRANSPORT
± 50% ± 0.3% ± 0.0%
SENSITIVITY: FABRIC LOSS, FIBER LOSS, AND WASH AND DRY FREQUENCY
ARE IMPORTANT TO THE FINAL RESULTS
• Fabric loss and fiber loss are both very important to measure because they have a significant impact on the final results
• Differences in transport distances have very little impact on the overall product results
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
END OF LIFE CONSUMER
SALES CHANNEL
DISTRIBUTION
CENTER
CUT, SEW, FINISHING
SPINNING,
WEAVE, DYE
COTTON SOURCES
LEVI’S
®
501
®
JEAN GLOBAL PRODUCTION FOOTPRINT
United
States
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico
Haiti
Egypt
US Distribution
Nevada
Kentucky
Mississisppi
United States Retail
United States
Wholesale
United States
Consumer
Landfill
Incineration
United States E-Commerce
Poland
Turkey
United
States
Brazil
China
Greece
China
Poland
Europe
Distribution
France
United Kingdom
Spain
Europe Retail
Europe Wholesale
Europe
Consumer
Landfill
Incineration
Europe E-Commerce
Turkey
Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Asia
Distribution
Japan
China
Asia Retail
China
Consumer
Landfill
Incineration
Poland
LEVI STRAUSS & CO. © 2015
References for consumer use habits:
• Cotton Council International (2013) Survey of US Laundry Practices, unpublished document, Washington, DC.
• Cotton Council International (2013) Survey of Chinese Laundry Practices, unpublished document, Washington, DC.
• LS&Co. Consumer Surveys (2012)
References for Wash, Dry, and Ironing Impacts:
• Biermayer, P.J., J. Lin (2004) Clothes Washer Standards in China: The Problem of Water and Energy Trade-offs in Establishing Efficiency Standards, Doc. LBNL-5515. Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley California. Proceedings of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) 2004 ACEEE Summer Study, May 19th.
http://eaei.lbl.gov/publications/clothes-washer-standards-china-proble
• European Committee of Domestic Equipment Manufacturers (CECED) (2013) I prefer 30 degrees - Substantiation Dossier. Chesire, UK. http://www.iprefer30.eu/en
• Denkenberger, D., C. Calwell, N. Beck, B. Trimboli, D. Driscoll, C. Wold (2013) Analysis of Potential Energy Savings from Heat Pump Clothes Dryers in North America, CLASP,
Washington DC. http://clasponline.org/en.aspx
• Department of Energy (DOE) “Energy Star Savings Calculator” (EPA & DOE 2010) and supplemented with data from the 2010 DOE Energy Conservation Program for Consumer
Products (75 Federal Register 182) and AATCC standards (AATCC 2011). Clothes Washer Update 6.1, February 1, 2013.
http://www.energystar.gov/buildings/facility-owners-and-managers/existing-buildings/save-energy/purchase-energy-saving-products
• Department of Energy, consumer energy conservation. Accessed June 14, 2014.
http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/estimating-appliance-and-home-electronic-energy-use
LCA SOURCE DATA
