3.3) By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases
Since 1983, Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) has contributed more than $70 million in grants to HIV/AIDS organizations in more than 40 countries, making the company the longest continuous corporate supporter in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In addition, LS&Co. has long supported HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs in the workplace, dating back to the early 1980s. In 2008, LS&Co. formally launched the LS&Co. HIV/AIDS Prevention Treatment and Care Program to provide innovative and interactive in-person prevention education and offer free voluntary and confidential HIV testing for employees, as well as free HIV/AIDS treatment and care for employees and dependents in need. From office to retail to factory employees, LS&Co. is ensuring access to life-saving information, testing and care for its global workforce.
6.4) By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity
Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) knows that water is critical to its business, the planet and people around the globe, and that the planet’s usable water is becoming increasingly scarce. For decades, LS&Co. has worked to reduce its water impact, change how the industry uses and thinks about water and educate its consumers about the important role they play. To minimize water use in the production of apparel, LS&Co. designers challenged themselves to create the same great styles their consumers love using far less water. The result was a series of innovative finishing techniques called Water<Less™, which can save up to 96% of the water in the denim finishing process. Since launching the Water<Less™ processes in 2011, Levi Strauss & Co. has saved more than 1 billion liters of water in the manufacturing of LS&Co. products. More recently, LS&Co. has taken its commitment to reducing water use in the apparel industry a step further by making its water reduction standards and tools, including its Water<Less™ innovations, publicly available to others within and outside our industry, and encouraging other denim companies – large and small – to use them in their production. LS&Co.’s goal is to increase the percentage of its products made with Water<Less™ techniques to 80 percent by 2020, up from 30 percent today.
8.8) Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment
There are a number of actions LS&Co. takes to ensure its suppliers meet and exceed its standards, including: maintaining a comprehensive monitoring program, and integrating TOE into the business by assigning every LS&Co. supplier a TOE rating that, weighted with other key factors, is used in considering which suppliers to use and how much production to give them. In addition, LS&Co. recognized an opportunity to go beyond compliance, and, in 2011, launched the Worker Well-being initiative as part of the company’s commitment to creating a more sustainable supply chain. Through thisinitiative, LS&Co. partners with its suppliers and local organizations to implement worker programs focused on worker needs, including financial empowerment, health and family well-being and equality and acceptance. Since 2011, the program has expanded to 17 countries and reached 200,000 workers.