Levi Strauss sustainability score: 45/100

Levi Strauss reports Scope 1 & 2 emissions via GHG Protocol with third-party verification for fuel-and-energy activities. 2024 Scope 2 location-based: 44,490 tCO2e. Achieved 81% reduction from 2016 baseline through 2024. Broader sustainability report lacks full third-party assurance, capping the score.

Full Scope 3 mapping across all categories; FY2024 net-zero boundary emissions 2,495k tCO2e. Category 1 (Purchased Goods & Services) = 72% of Scope 3. LEAP energy accelerator and IFC partnerships active. Agricultural emissions accounting and supplier primary data collection remain works in progress.

Scope 1+2: 81% absolute reduction 2016–2024, narrowly missing 90% by 2025 target. Scope 3 Category 1: 8% reduction 2022–2023, far short of 42% by 2030 target. Total emissions 3.7M tCO2e in FY2023 remains massive; trajectory misaligned with climate ambition.

Reached 100% renewable electricity across all company-operated facilities by 2025, up from 93% (FY2023). On-site solar, RECs/EACs, and grid renewables deployed. New Dorsten distribution centre uses solar and geothermal. Unbundled REC reliance in some markets limits score; natural gas and diesel exposure remains.

First Biodiversity Impact Assessment (2023) identified cotton = 97% of freshwater impact. 2030 target: protect/restore 30% of raw material footprint (~50k hectares), zero deforestation for high-risk materials, three watershed projects. FSC cellulosic sourcing and Amazon leather exclusion confirmed. Cotton dominance (88% of fibers) carries inherent biodiversity risk; outcomes not yet quantified.

Henderson DC: 95.2% waste diversion (TRUE certified); Northampton: 90.8%. Zero-waste-to-landfill target for owned facilities by 2030. SecondHand resale: 21k units in 2024—negligible relative to production. WellThread and Circulose fibre demonstrate circular intent; durability design positive but production volumes remain vast.

Annual freshwater use: ~250B litres; 70% from cotton. Water<Less finishing reduced by up to 96% per garment. Freshwater at key wet-finishing suppliers fell 27% from 2018—short of 50% target. 2030 strategy targets 15% absolute reduction, 40% recycled/reused water. ZDHC wastewater compliance tracked; watershed projects planned Pakistan/Bangladesh.

2050 net-zero approved by SBTi (2024), 1.5°C aligned. Near-term: 90% Scope 1+2 reduction by 2025 (2016 baseline—will narrowly miss), 42% Scope 3 reduction by 2030 (2022 baseline). All targets absolute, zero offsets. Climate Transition Plan published October 2024 with detailed roadmap.

Annual Sustainability Goals & Metrics reports; CDP disclosure; Climate Transition Plan (2024). TCFD/IFRS S2 alignment. CSO reports through operations to CEO; Board oversight ≥2x annually. Sustainability report explicitly 'unaudited, no third-party assurance.' Verification covers only Scope 1, 2, and Category 3. No executive compensation tied to sustainability.

Stand.earth's 'Too Deadly to Wear' (2018) cited supply chain pollution causing health harms—credible NGO criticism. Greenpeace's 2012 Toxic Threads report named Levi's Mexico water pollution; company subsequently achieved ZDHC elimination—resolved. Founding member BICEP/Ceres, LEAD on Climate advocate for climate policy. No active lawsuits, fines, or greenwashing rulings identified.