Levi’s, Marks & Spencer launch a collaborative effort to get fashion suppliers on renewable energy

When it comes to making the fashion industry more sustainable, there’s only so much a brand can change about its own actions. Around 70% of the industry’s total emissions come from upstream activities in supply chains, like fiber and fabric production. That means for fashion brands to really meet their climate goals, they have to help their suppliers become more sustainable, too. Now, Levi Strauss & Co. and Marks & Spencer are launching an effort to do just that, called the Fashion Renewable Collaborative. The program, in partnership with Schneider Electric’s SE Advisory Services, aims to get multiple brands on board to help fashion suppliers switch to renewable energy—a key step to decarbonizing the apparel sector. [Screenshot: Resource Advisor+ for Supply Chain] Shared supply chains The Fashion Renewable Collaborative is similar to a program Levi’s launched itself last year, called Levi Energy Accelerator Program, or LEAP. Also in partnership with Schneider Electric, LEAP focused on helping the brand’s garment manufacturers in India learn about and access resources for renewable energy procurement. Levi’s soon learned that British retailer Marks & Spencer was doing something sim…