The cotton in the clothes you wear? It’s just getting better and better.
Earlier this week, Levi Strauss & Co. and 12 other companies came together to sign a pledge to use 100 percent sustainable cotton by the year 2025. That aligns with our ongoing commitment to use 100 percent sustainable cotton by 2020, including 95 percent from the Better Cotton Initiative, plus a mix of organic cotton and recycled cotton.
The commitment was organized by the Prince of Wales’ International Sustainability Unit, which was formed to facilitate consensus on how to resolve key environmental challenges around the world, in collaboration with Marks & Spencer and The Soil Association. Other brands that signed onto the commitment included ASOS, EILEEN FISHER, H&M, and Nike.
Cotton is an important natural fiber widely used in the apparel industry, and its production supports the livelihoods of more than 350 million people around the globe. But it also comes with a number of environmental and social challenges – including the over-use of pesticides and significant water consumption.
The good news is that there are several efforts to produce more sustainably farmed cotton – reducing pesticide and water use and improving the livelihoods for cotton farmers. This includes the Better Cotton Initiative, which already comprises 21 percent of the cotton that LS&Co. uses.
“We know that cotton is the most resource-intensive stage in the lifecycle of a pair of jeans. We’re focused on partnering with others in the industry to reduce that impact and protect the future of our planet,” said Liz O’Neill, senior vice president and chief supply chain officer, Levi Strauss & Co. “We’re proud to join this group as part of the global effort to build an even more sustainable cotton sector.”
This partnership represents a significant step toward making sustainable cotton the norm in the apparel and textile industries.
