The US Cotton Trust Protocol announced that cotton growers’ participation in the program has doubled in 2021/22 since its launch last year. The Trust Protocol aims to bring quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to the key sustainability metrics of US cotton production.
The initiative aims to set a new standard in sustainable cotton production where full transparency is a reality and continuous improvement to reduce our environmental footprint is the central goal. The program’s core values include a commitment to U.S. cotton’s legacy of authenticity, innovation and excellence, environmental stewardship, caring of people, and personal and corporate integrity.
Virtually all the top 100 global brands and retailers have created lists of sustainable raw materials and publicly committed that 100% of their sourcing will come from these lists over the next 5-10 years. The Trust Protocol was designed to meet and exceed the rigorous criteria for these lists.
The Trust Protocol has welcomed more than 600 brands, retailers, mills and manufacturer members since its launch in 2020. This includes J Crew, Madewell, Levi Strauss & Co and Gap Incas well as global apparel manufacturer Gildan.
The US Cotton Trust Protocol aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, recognized by Textile Exchange and Forum for the Future. It is a part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cotton 2025 Sustainable Cotton Challenge, Cotton 2040 and Cotton Up initiatives. The program has also been recognized and published in the ITC Standards Map.
