Denim giant, Levi, Strauss & Co, pledged to reduce 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain by 2025, on Tuesday.

The announcement will allow Levi’s to quickly reduce its carbon footprint in its entire supply chain, including its overseas factories, with adequate commitments that will help the company meet or beat the reduction standards laid out in the UN Paris Agreement on climate change. By reducing air pollution around its factories and helping slow climate change, this move from Levi’s will also literally save lives.

Levi’s had previously pledged to reduce its emissions by 25% and use 20% renewable energy by 2020 — but those goals were for its direct operations only. Levi’s direct operations account for a mere 1% of its total climate pollution, with the remaining 99% of its climate pollution in its supply chain.

Too Dirty to Wear

Stand.earth launched its “Too Dirty to Wear” campaign against Levi’s in December 2017, calling on the company to clean up the climate pollution throughout its supply chain. In April 2018, the group released its “Too Deadly to Wear” report, detailing the fashion industry’s and Levi’s outsized role in the deadly impacts of climate change and air pollution across the globe.

The group called on Levi’s for a leadership-level climate commitment that would:

• Meet or beat the targets of the UN Paris Agreement on climate change — which Levi’s publicly supports — with a 40% absolute reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 for its full supply chain.
• Transition its entire supply chain to renewable energy, with a minimum of 50% of energy sourced through renewables by 2035.
• Commit to a long-term carbon emission reduction of at least 66% by 2050 for the entire supply chain.
• Become a vocal advocate for full climate action within the industry, working to bring other big brands and their supply chains on board.