Levi Strauss Water Conservation Plan Targets 15% Cut by 2030

• Plans to cut freshwater use by 15% and recycle 40% of water by 2030.
• Strategy targets key manufacturing stages like dyeing, weaving, and finishing.
• Aligning with ZDHC to improve wastewater treatment and chemical management.
• Part of its long-term plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Levi Strauss & Co. has announced a major update to its sustainability roadmap, unveiling a new strategy focused on Levi Strauss water conservation to reduce freshwater use and enhance recycling across its global operations. The denim leader aims to cut freshwater use by 15% and recycle or reuse 40% of the water consumed in its manufacturing processes by 2030.

The company’s updated approach builds upon earlier sustainability efforts but takes a more science-based and measurable path toward water resilience. The goal applies to key production activities such as cutting, sewing, fabric dyeing, weaving, and laundry — the areas that have the “largest impacts to water and nature,” according to Levi’s. This new Levi Strauss water conservation plan also includes publishing an industry guide to promote water restoration practices across the apparel sector.

Levi’s is aligning its efforts with the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Foundation framework, which helps fashion companies eliminate harmful substances from their supply chains. By 2030, the company expects all its direct discharge supplier facilities to meet the “foundational” ZDHC level, with 25% reaching the more advanced “progressive” level. This tier requires enhanced wastewater treatment and stronger chemical management systems, both key elements of the Levi Strauss water conservation strategy.

The move follows the company’s partial success in meeting its 2019 commitment to reduce freshwater use by 50% in high-water-stress regions by 2025. By the end of 2024, Levi’s achieved only 27% of that goal, prompting the brand to reassess its targets and launch this new, globally integrated plan.

This renewed focus on Levi Strauss water conservation is part of the brand’s broader environmental agenda. In 2024, Levi Strauss introduced its first climate transition plan, committing to net-zero emissions across its supply chain by 2050. That initiative included reducing scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2025 and scope 3 emissions by 42% by 2030, compared to a 2022 baseline.

With this comprehensive water stewardship strategy, Levi Strauss is reinforcing its position as a leader in sustainable fashion. The company’s ongoing investments in Levi Strauss water conservation and eco-friendly production processes signal a clear shift toward a circular, climate-conscious future for the denim industry.