Levi Strauss CEO to Talk on Sustainable Business, Jan. 25

John Anderson, president and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co., will speak about the apparel company's sustainable business practices at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, in the Wells Fargo Room.

The title of Anderson's talk is "Levi Strauss & Co.: A New Way of Thinking About Companies, Society, and Sustainability." Anderson will address the company's lifecycle approach to sustainability and why Levi's is focused on affecting change beyond its direct corporate footprint. He also will share details about what led to the company's focus on non-traditional aspects of the supply chain as well as consumer education and engagement.

Anderson's talk, which is part of the Dean's Speaker Series, is free and open to the Haas community. Registration is required at http://register.haas.berkeley.edu/JohnAnderson/JohnAnderson.aspx.

In the 1990s, as head of merchandising in the US, Anderson helped pioneer the company's efforts to integrate more sustainable cotton and fabrics into its products, years before most companies began producing “eco” lines.

More recently, Anderson helped lead the extension of the company’s social and environmental requirements to upstream suppliers, including the fabric mills who supply the fabric to manufacturing facilities.

As CEO, Anderson guides sustainability standards throughout the company’s clothing manufacturing chain — standards that govern everything from energy and water to chemicals and cotton. He also established the company's environmental vision: "We are committed to building sustainability."

After beginning his career at Levi Strauss as a product manager in Australia three decades ago, Anderson has held a variety of positions in the company, including president of both the Asia Pacific Division and Global Sourcing Organization.

For Anderson's full biography, visit levistrauss.com/Company/LeaderDetails.aspx?id=2.

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