We remain committed to ending climate change. Our future depends on it.
Chip Bergh
Former President and CEO, Levi Strauss & Co. (Retired); Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School
At Levi Strauss & Co. we’re acutely aware that climate change, if left unchecked, will have devastating effects on our business, the communities in which we operate, and the world at large. That’s why, when the Paris talks were underway in December 2015, I joined leaders of several global apparel companies, including those from some of our biggest competitors, in asking world leaders to sign a strong global climate deal.
Our world leaders met that call, and nearly 200 countries signed an historic agreement to address climate change. Now the United States is backing out of that agreement. At Levi Strauss & Co., we think that’s a big mistake. Leaving the Paris Accord puts us – and our U.S. peers – at a huge disadvantage.
I’ve been asked by employees, partners and prospective employees what we plan to do now. As the leader of a global company with a longstanding reputation for never choosing easy over right, I can say that Levi Strauss & Co. will continue to drive efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and combat the effects of climate change. The Administration’s decision to back out of the Paris Accord will not change Levi Strauss & Co.’s commitment to reducing our impact on the environment; and we will continue to pursue technologies that can reduce the apparel industry’s environmental impact.
As we see it, mitigating climate change and transitioning to a low-carbon future are vital to the health and well-being of the people who make and wear our products, as well as to the future availability of the materials we use to manufacture our products. Pulling out of the Paris agreement is a step backward.
At LS&Co., we’re committed to reducing our emissions by 25 percent and using 20 percent renewable energy by 2020. We’re also working to significantly decrease our water footprint by increasing the percentage of our products made with our water-saving Water<Less finishing techniques to 80 percent by 2020; and migrating to 100 percent sustainable cotton by 2020.
Climate change is one of the most important issues of our time. I believe we are faced today with a choice – we either act responsibly and move to address the damage we’ve done to our planet, or we act irresponsibly by failing to ensure a climate-resilient future. At Levi Strauss & Co., we will choose responsibility, and I hope that other business leaders will stand with us. Our future depends on it.
MBA at PAF College Sargodha
5 年Sir cong to getting start stock exchange business again.
Interesting that this article would read as a political statement when it's really about humanity, the speed at which we are causing species to go extinct at alarming rates and the threat to our global economy. There are no 'sides' we are all in this together.
Helping Manufacturing Employers Find Top Talent—At No Cost | Recruitment, Screening/Interviewing & Workforce Development
5 年With going public, will this change Levi's ability to make environmentally friendly decisions, Chip Bergh?
Unlock your Human Advantage to Grow through Change with Power-Pausing | Global Keynote & 3 x TEDx Speaker | Workplace Performance, Wellbeing & Future of Work Culture Strategist | Author of The Self-Care Mindset?
6 年I love that you position the company as a brand that not only cares, but also takes action to make a difference - thank you for that.?
Quotation Specialist -Customer Account Mgr. Aerospace & Defense Industry
6 年What is Levi's doing at the manufacturing level of your entire product line to improve the environment. For example the dyes,inks and process to produce your products, Are the materials Earth Friendly? Are all the workers safe? Please let us all aware of the production methods used by your company and your sub contractors,please provide all your environmentally safe methods online.