Wrangler announced Wednesday that it had hit a milestone of three billion liters of water saved since 2007.
The Greensboro, NC-based jeanswear company also announced a new goal to reduce water usage at its production facilities by 20 percent by the year 2020, by which point the company estimates it will have saved 5.5 billion gallons of water since 2007.
Water plays a significant role in the manufacturing of denim. The finishing steps in producing a pair of jeans typically require multiple water baths. By merging steps, Wrangler says it was able to reduce water usage without compromising quality.
Wrangler says the three billion liters saved equals roughly the annual household water needs of more than 21,000 Americans.
“Wrangler has always had a strong connection to the land, and a commitment to protecting our natural resources for future generations,” said Wrangler President Tom Waldron. “Now, we are expanding our water stewardship program goals to further help reduce our impact and conserve the water resources of the communities where we operate.”
In recent years, Wrangler has introduced a number of initiatives aimed at reducing its carbon footprint. Last year, the company joined the Sustainability Consortium (TSC) in an effort to strengthen its supply chain sustainability.
This fall, Wrangler launched a new digital sustainability page to share information on its key programs, including its latest water reduction goal.
“Our company has a responsibility to play a leading role in moving our industry toward sustainable practices,” said Wrangler Sustainability Director Roian Atwood. “Reducing billions of liters of water usage represents one small part of our efforts to minimize our environmental impact. Our responsible chemistry strategy also safeguards water quality while our sustainable fiber program promotes responsible cotton growing practices concerning the use of water, pesticides and fertilizers.”
