Our Cotton Story
If denim is the lifeblood of our business, cotton is its DNA. In fact, over 95 percent of our clothing is made from cotton. For the past two decades, we’ve been extending our corporate responsibility–symbolized by our groundbreaking Terms of Engagement—into the production, finishing, and recycling of the material that makes up the fabric of most of our clothes.
As early as 1991, our Levi’s® Naturals jeans and jackets incorporated naturally colored cotton. Later, our Levi’s® SilverTab® Elements line would bring together recycled polyester, organic cotton, and naturally colored cotton. Today, Levi’s® eco jeans include the use of organic cotton or recycled denim and they are distributed with recycled packaging. Customers can now go “green with their blues,” directly contributing to environmental sustainability by wearing their favorite jeans.
Most recently, our lifecycle assessment of Levi’s® 501 jeans and Dockers® Original Khakis identified the significant environmental impacts of conventionally grown cotton. From water and energy consumption to the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, these impacts challenge the industry’s capacity for innovation. We don’t purchase cotton directly, but we recognize the significance of cotton to our business and are committed to addressing the far-reaching impacts of cotton agriculture.
Our Cotton Sustainability Group is not only identifying the environmental and social issues associated with cotton production, but also making actionable recommendations. We’ve also joined the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). Through BCI, we will work with farmers, NGOs, and other companies to improve cotton sustainability. As we deepen our knowledge, we will work to assure an affordable, high-quality supply of sustainably grown cotton for the future.