Michael Kobori has led sustainability at Levi Strauss & Co. since 2001. “Under his leadership, the company has been a pioneer on social and environmental sustainability. During Michael’s tenure, sustainability has been integrated into the business of Levi’s. Mr. Kobori has been a strong advocate of industry collaboration driving a race to the top through his leadership on the Better Cotton Initiative, ILO Better Work program, Sustainable Apparel Coalition, and open sourcing the company’s Water<Less® and Worker Well-being programs. “. Excerpted from speaker bio on GreenBiz.
Click here to enjoy Michael Kobori’s moving 10 minute video presentation from September 2016 at Bridges Conference in NYC surveying the history of sustainability at Levi’s. Below are informal notes from Michael’s presentation:
Presentation is about 9 mins, then Q&A.
Reference to Japanese term Pecha Kucha. Very moving references to history of putting people first: depressions shifted workers to fixing and sanding factory; integrating factories including in Virginia, jeans at Berlin Wall, CEO talking about AIDS at HQ: Levis NOT, not sourcing at Bangladesh factory collapse killing 1000 plus people because 20 years ago adopted Code of Conduct.
Key Vendors must implement Worker Well being programs so which are now sustained by supply chain
Ten years ago apparel environmental life cycle evaluation – thought it would be manufacturing, turned out it was cotton – water and lots of chemicals. Joined the better cotton initiative. Water less jeans saved water and cost 5 cents less to make. Last year places recycle bins at all US stores. Helps recycle and increases foot traffic in stores.
8:10 Goal is closed loop supply. Recycled jeans become cotton supply.
Supply Chain Radio interview begins at 10:30