To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth day the legendary denim brand Lee recently announced their first-ever global sustainability goals. Established under their recently launched global sustainability platform ‘For a World That Works’ Lee’s goals are all about achieving more sustainable solutions for their clothing development and production.
“At Lee, we are committed to doing our part to help lead our industry toward a better future,” said Chris Waldeck, EVP, global brand president of Lee. “Our global sustainability goals will guide our actions and help accelerate our commitment to providing products that drive positive changes for our environment and communities, while delivering the quality and style consumers expect from Lee.”
Lee’s four global sustainability goals are:
Power 100 percent of all owned and operated facilities with renewable energy by 2025.
Utilize more than 50 percent sustainable synthetics by 2025.
Source 100 percent sustainably-grown or recycled cotton by 2025.
Increase Indigood dyed products every year through 2025.
Conveying Lee’s global commitment to integrating sustainable solutions into the brand’s design and manufacturing processes whilst reducing environmental and social impacts. They also build on Lee’s latest sustainably focused product launches and partnerships including:
- Indigood Denim: Launched this Spring, Indigood is an amazing signature product line that reduces the amount of water required by 100 percent, the energy required by 60 percent and the waste produced by 60 percent by replacing the traditional water vats and chemical baths of conventional indigo dyeing with a foam dye applicator.
- Back to Nature: Lee’s range of biodegradable ‘Back to Nature’ denim is made from 100 percent cotton and when the jeans and jackets reach the end of their useful life, the metal buttons can be unscrewed and reused. Whilst the remaining component products can be composted at home.
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Jeans Redesign: In 2019, the brand signed on to the Foundation’s Jean’s Redesign Guidelines, which set minimum requirements on durability, material health, recyclability and are based on the principles of a circular economy.
“With these targets, we are raising the bar on what consumers can expect from Lee in terms of environmental sustainability,” said Roian Atwood, senior director of sustainable business, Lee. “For A World That Works is fueled by a sense of urgency and responsibility. As we look ahead, we must continually challenge ourselves to redefine how we operate, so that we can help create a brighter future for our planet and our industry.”
You can discover more about Lee’s sustainability goals and ‘For A World That Works’ over at Lee.com now.
