Animal-Derived Materials
While Lee’s material footprint includes very few animal-derived materials, we believe in treating animals with care and respect and actively promote and pursue further development and use of viable commercial substitutes to animal-derived materials. In cases where we use animal derived materials in our products, we are committed to ensuring the animal’s ethical treatment. Read our policy here.
Back to Nature
A collection of garments designed to biodegrade. After a piece’s useful like ends, just unscrew the buttons and return to the Earth: the rest of the product is made from compostable yarns and no rivets.
Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)
One of the ways Lee plans to meet our sustainable cotton goal is through our partnership with Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). BCI aims to reduce the use of pesticides and promote the use of efficient water use, crop rotation, and fair working conditions. Each year, Lee and our sister brand, Wrangler, increase the volume of sustainable cotton purchased – from 700 MT in 2014 to 21,299 MT in 2020. Better Cotton is sourced via a system of Mass Balance and is not physically traceable to end products. See bettercotton.org/massbalance or details.
Cradle to Cradle Certified™
A globally recognized measure of safer, more sustainable products made for the circular economy, Cradle to Cradle Certified™ products are assess for environmental and social performance across five categories: material health, material reuse, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness.
Crystal Clear
A sustainable, salt-free dyeing technique that reduces water use and cuts down on waste.
For A World That Works™
Our sustainability platform that unites Lee’s legacy of innovation and purpose with a new vision of the future. Through purposeful design, meaningful partnerships, and a commitment to the planet, Lee will bring people together to create more sustainable future.
Forest Derived Materials
We are committed to the responsible use of forest-derived materials. Lee prioritizes the use of certified-sustainable sources, with a preference for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified materials. We also actively reduce virgin material use and increase materials with recycled content, with a priority to include both post-consumer recycled materials and innovative solutions including alternative fiber sources such as agriculture residues. Read our policy here.
Global Compliance Principles
To ensure social responsibility and environmental sustainability within our complex supply chain, we expect our contract supplier factories to comply with our Terms of Engagement and our Global Compliance Principles , which are regularly audited by our internal and third-party auditors. These Principles are brought to life through our Factory Facility Guidelines and Factory Audit Procedures. Our goal is for every supplier factory to operate with the same high standards as our owned manufacturing facilities.
Hemp
Durable, comfortable and natural, Hemp can be cultivated in a way that has a low impact on the environment.
HIGG Index
The HIGG Index Facility Environmental Module is an industry tool that Lee uses to help us measure and reduce the environmental impacts of our internal facilities and our suppliers.
Indigood™ Denim
The Indigood™ mark means radically different dyeing. If you see the Indigood mark on any Lee products, that product was dyed with 90% less water than the conventional dyeing process.
Laser
The newest way to mimic a lived-in look, lasers can be used to create whiskers, holes, or patterns. The advanced process digitizes design and development, easily distressing a pair of Lee jeans in a few minutes.
Make Fashion Circular
Launched by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Make Fashion Circular brings together leaders from across the fashion industry and aims to redesign how clothes are made, and make the industry more circular. Learn more.
Organic Cotton
Cotton certified to have been grown from non-genetically modified seeds, without chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Recycled Cotton
Cotton from validated sources of postindustrial or post-consumer. Recycled cotton prevents additional textile waste and requires fewer resources than virgin cotton.
Recycled Nylon
Nylon made from recycled materials, which may include fabric scraps, fishing nets, or old clothes.
Recycled Polyester
Polyester made from recycled materials, which may include plastic bottles, fabric scraps or old clothes.
Renewable Energy
Our owned and operated facilities will be powered by 100% renewable energy by 2025. Through our parent company, Kontoor Brands, we are in the process of establishing a Science Based Target.
Repreve®
A recycled polyester that is made from recycled plastic bottles, yarns and fabric scraps.
Restricted Substance List
Lee requires our suppliers and business partners to certify their compliance to our Restricted Substance List (RSL). The RSL is an integral part of quality and Manufacturing Control Programs in chemical management. Read our RSL here.
Sustainable Cotton
Lee plans to source 100% sustainable cotton by 2025. We define “sustainable cotton” as (1) traceable fiber with corresponding farm-level data that demonstrates positive environmental outcomes over time, (2) recycled cotton fiber from validated sources of postindustrial and post-consumer recycled cotton or (3) fiber validated from sustainable cotton management frameworks, including BCI, Organic, and BASF’s e3 program. See our goals.
Sustainable Synthetics
Lee plans to source 50% sustainable synthetics by 2025, with the ultimate goal of 100% sustainable synthetics by 2030. We define “sustainable synthetics” as synthetics that include (1) recycled content, (2) bio-based feedstocks, or (3) additives to enhance biodegradability in polyester, nylon or spandex. See our goals.
Virtual Design
Lee has become an industry leader in the world of virtual design. Designing our products virtually drastically reduces the physical prototypes delivered to our designers, significantly cutting the environmental impacts of product development. Over 90% of our products are designed virtually.
