Levi Strauss & Co. Unveils 2030 Water Strategy to Strengthen Climate and Community Resilience
Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.), one of the world’s most recognized denim and apparel brands, has announced its ambitious 2030 Water Strategy – “Beyond the Blue”, a comprehensive roadmap to safeguard water resources and enhance resilience across its global supply chain and communities. The initiative, part of the company’s broader Climate Transition Plan, reinforces LS&Co.’s long-standing leadership in water stewardship and environmental sustainability.
A Commitment to Water and Climate Resilience
Water has long been at the heart of LS&Co.’s sustainability journey. From its pioneering Water<Less® manufacturing techniques to supplier engagement programs, the company has consistently aimed to minimize its water footprint. The 2030 Water Strategy elevates these efforts, positioning water as both a shared resource and a key factor in climate resilience.
“We know climate change is the existential challenge of our time—and water is where many of its impacts are felt most acutely,” said Michelle Gass, President and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. “Our 2030 Water Strategy outlines how we’ll continue to lead on water stewardship, not just by reducing our own impact, but by helping build resilience in the places that need it most.”
The new strategy acknowledges that water scarcity, pollution, and inequitable access are escalating threats worldwide—particularly in regions that play a critical role in textile and apparel manufacturing. LS&Co. aims to address these issues through collaborative, science-based actions that deliver measurable outcomes.
Three Pillars for a Water-Resilient Future
At the core of Beyond the Blue are three strategic pillars: Improve Our Foundation, Reduce Our Impact, and Foster Resilience. Each pillar aligns with LS&Co.’s broader environmental goals and contributes to industry-wide transformation.
1. Improve Our Foundation
This first pillar focuses on strengthening the company’s understanding of how its operations and supply chain interact with water and nature. LS&Co. will use science-based assessments to identify and prioritize actions in areas experiencing high water stress.
The company plans to deepen its data-driven insights into water usage, pollution, and dependencies throughout the value chain—from cotton cultivation to fabric dyeing and finishing. By refining its methodologies and expanding transparency, LS&Co. aims to ensure that every decision contributes to long-term water security and ecosystem health.
2. Reduce Our Impact
Building on years of progress, LS&Co. has set measurable 2030 targets to significantly reduce freshwater consumption and pollution:
- 15% reduction in absolute freshwater use across apparel and textile manufacturing suppliers, compared to a 2022 baseline.
- 40% of all water used in manufacturing will be recycled or reused, marking a major step toward circular water management.
- The company will publish an open-source industry guide on best practices for water recycling and reuse, empowering others in the apparel sector to adopt similar solutions.
- 100% of direct discharge supplier facilities will achieve at least the “Foundational” level of water pollution compliance, and 25% will reach the “Progressive” level as defined by the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Foundation.
These goals demonstrate LS&Co.’s commitment not only to internal efficiency but also to raising industry standards. By sharing its tools and knowledge, the company hopes to inspire collective progress toward cleaner production and more sustainable water use.
3. Foster Resilience
Recognizing that true water stewardship extends beyond factory walls, LS&Co. is expanding its efforts to support communities and ecosystems most vulnerable to water stress.
Through this pillar, the company will:
- Provide training and resources to suppliers to enhance their ability to manage water-related risks and adapt to climate change.
- Invest in watershed restoration projects in key regions such as the Sutlej and Indus basins in Pakistan and the Meghna basin in Bangladesh, aligning with its 2030 biodiversity goals.
- Strengthen access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services through partnerships like the WaterAid Women + Water Collaborative in India. This initiative aims to reach 150,000 people with access to clean water within its first two years.
These initiatives reflect LS&Co.’s understanding that water challenges are local and require collaboration with governments, NGOs, and communities to create lasting impact.
Collaboration and Shared Responsibility
WaterAid America, a key partner in LS&Co.’s community engagement efforts, praised the company’s continued leadership in addressing the global water crisis.
“A reliable supply of clean water is essential for health, dignity, and a life full of opportunity,” said Kelly Parsons, CEO of WaterAid America. “But 2.2 billion people in the world still do not have access to that life-saving resource. In Levi Strauss & Co., we’ve found a partner that values the power of collaboration to address the water crisis—one of the most challenging, yet solvable, problems of our generation.”
This partnership underscores the growing recognition that corporate sustainability must extend beyond business operations to include shared environmental responsibility.
Building on a Legacy of Leadership
Levi Strauss & Co. has a long history of environmental innovation. From introducing Water<Less® techniques that saved billions of liters of water in denim finishing to implementing supplier engagement programs through the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, LS&Co. has consistently advanced industry-wide progress.
The 2030 Water Strategy – Beyond the Blue represents the next evolution of that journey. It combines data-driven insights, science-based targets, and community-focused action to create a model for holistic water stewardship.
As global climate impacts intensify, LS&Co.’s approach highlights a crucial truth: protecting water is not only essential for manufacturing and supply chain continuity—it is fundamental to human well-being and ecological balance.
Through its 2030 Water Strategy, Levi Strauss & Co. aims to ensure that the world’s most essential resource remains available, clean, and resilient for generations to come—truly going beyond the blue.