Trust in a Smarter Cotton Future
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol™ sets a new standard for more sustainably grown cotton.
It brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to sustainable cotton production and drives continuous improvement in key sustainability metrics.
What is it?
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol™ is Setting a New Standard for More Sustainably Grown Cotton
In a period of ever greater supply chain scrutiny and a growing demand for transparency and traceability, The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol™ sets a new standard for more sustainably grown cotton. Aligned with the U.N. Sustainability Goals, the Trust Protocol brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to sustainable cotton production and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics – land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency.
The Trust Protocol underpins and verifies U.S. cotton’s sustainability progress through sophisticated data collection and independent third-party verification. Choosing Trust Protocol cotton will give brands and retailers the critical assurances they need that the cotton fiber element of their supply chain is more sustainably grown with lower environmental and social risks. Brands and retailers will gain access to U.S. cotton with sustainability credentials proven via Field to Market, measured via the Fieldprint® Calculator and verified with Control Union Certifications.
About
Continuous Improvement
Over the past 35 years, U.S. cotton production has used 82% less water per bale and 38% less energy, reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 30%, all while reducing land use per bale by 31%. The adoption of practices such as minimal tillage, GPS and sensor-driven precision agriculture, and the growing of winter cover crops have further improved soil health, reducing loss and erosion by 44% per acre and increasing soil carbon levels.
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Data-driven Analysis and Trusted Verification
To meet the ever-increasing demands of apparel brands to demonstrate their environmental credentials, the environmental performance of Trust Protocol cotton is measured and analyzed at the field-level. The Fieldprint® Calculator, devised by Trust Protocol data partner, Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, powered by The Seam, illustrates in graphic form the progress of Trust Protocol growers which optimizes yield, minimizes water and chemical inputs, and leaves healthy soil for future seasons and generations.
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Trust Protocol Grower Metrics
Trust Protocol members will have access to aggregate sustainability metrics based on self-assessment questionnaires of participating growers. In addition, members receive customized reporting based on national environmental metrics for six key sustainability indicators – land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency.
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Trusted Verification Methodologies
In addition, the Trust Protocol incorporates a comprehensive program of verification against Trust Protocol benchmarks, in the form of both second-party and independent third-party audits of grower performance through Control Union Certifications – the latter through allocated on-site visits.
Control Union Certifications has certified over 150 industry standards programs worldwide, including working as a key partner in the early development and piloting phases of Field to Market’s Impact Claim Verification Protocol.
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Industry-wide regulation and quality control
Source U.S. cotton with confidence, knowing that the United States has one of the most comprehensive and strict regulatory environments to ensure responsible growing practices as well as cotton traceability and quality-control, making it a safe and more sustainable choice:
- The U.S. regulatory framework
- The Permanent Bale Identification system
- The USDA cotton classification system
Improved Sustainability and Reduced Risk
Benefits for Members
By joining the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol®, members can be sure that they are demanding responsibly produced, quality fiber, and reducing environmental and social risk in their field-to-mill supply chain.
Aligned with the U.N. Sustainability Goals, the Trust Protocol brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to sustainable cotton production and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics – land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency.
Put simply: The Trust Protocol helps measure sustainability commitments for members, broader stakeholders, and to itself.
Our Partners
We are proud to work with the following cotton industry members.
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