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, The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol® sets a new standard for more sustainably grown cotton. Aligned with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, the Trust Protocol brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to more 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 the Trust Protocol cotton will provide 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 risk.
Launched in the summer of 2020, the Trust Protocol is voluntary for U.S. cotton producers and allows us to report on six key sustainability metrics from the farm-level. Firmly rooted in their established principles of continuous improvement, this initiative will help drive all U.S. cotton production towards their 2025 sustainability targets and beyond.
Improved Sustainability and Reduced Risk
Benefits for Members
By joining the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol®, members can be sure that they are sourcing responsibly produced, quality fiber, and reducing environmental and social risk in their field-to-mill supply chain.
Aligned with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, the Trust Protocol brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to more 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.
Want to get involved?
Episode 1 of Smarter Conversations
Cotton Sustainability Protocols
There is broad agreement that you can’t measure improvements without data, something that the Trust Protocol can help its members receive. Allison Thomson from Field to Market gives practical examples of field measurement and Cotton Grower Kellon Lee gives his experience in this episode.
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