Levi Strauss bares all

Six months after Nike revealed details of its global supplier base, international denimwear company Levi Strauss has followed suit, publishing a list of factories which produce Levi's, Docker's and Levi Strauss Signature branded products.
Nike global sourcing senior vice president David Love said the company believed greater transparency within the supply chain would provide additional momentum for the brand's efforts to improve working conditions in apparel factories worldwide.
"Our hope is that this level of transparency will become standard across the apparel sector, fostering greater collaboration among brands in shared factories. We believe that when brands are working together on issues of compliance with codes of conduct, factory monitoring will ultimately be more effective and less burdensome for suppliers, allowing them to focus time and resources on making improvements that benefit workers."
In addition to publishing its supplier list, the company has updated its web site, making available substantial information on its responsible sourcing program. This includes company efforts to improve working conditions for people making Levi Strauss branded products through its supplier code of conduct, strategic philanthropy and public policy advocacy. The company also published its 70-page Terms of Engagement Guidebook, which details specific factory-level practices and policies, and provides examples of code-of-conduct violations, remediation timeframes and specific steps required to address violations.
In 1991, LS&CO. was the first multinational company to enact a global code of conduct for suppliers. Codes of conduct are now an apparel sector norm and have significantly contributed to improved conditions for workers and the decline in issues such as child and forced labor.
In further news, the company has posted sales of $US1 billion ($A1.3 billion) during the third quarter with operating profit up almost $US11 million ($A14.6 million).