Landmark five-year report confirms Trust Protocol growers surpass five of six ambitious national continuous improvement targets, setting a new standard for sustainable sourcing 

MEMPHIS, TN (November 18, 2025) – The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, the leading program for responsibly grown U.S. Cotton, today released its 2024/25 Annual Report, a pivotal five-year milestone confirming its more than 1,500 grower members have achieved meaningful gains across all six of its sustainability metrics against a 2015 baseline. This comprehensive data set establishes the Trust Protocol as the first sustainable cotton fiber program to offer such robust, verifiable evidence of its effectiveness, solidifying its growers as leaders in sustainable cotton production and offering unparalleled assurance to the global supply chain. 

Protocol growers have met or exceeded five of the six ambitious 2025 National Goals for Continuous Improvement, demonstrating tangible progress that is critical for brands and retailers committed to environmental stewardship and responsible sourcing: 

• 15% reduction in land use needed to grow one pound of cotton, meeting the 2025 goal a year early, with Protocol growers producing 20% more cotton per acre than the U.S. average; 

• 87% improvement in water use efficiency, producing the same amount of cotton with 47% less irrigation water despite droughts, exceeding the 2025 goal; 

• 28% reduction in energy footprint, contributing to lower Scope 3 emissions for downstream partners, exceeding the 2025 goal; 

• 89% reduction in soil loss, preserving vital topsoil, bringing erosion levels well below USDA thresholds, exceeding the 2025 goal; 

• A meaningful achievement in soil health, with growers on 71% of acres now actively building healthier soils that store carbon, meeting the 2025 goal; and 

• 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, achieved through optimized nitrogen use efficiency and precision irrigation technologies. 

“This year’s annual report unequivocally demonstrates that sustainable practices deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, resilience, and environmental outcomes that can directly impact the supply chain,” said Dr. Gary Adams, President of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “This report is a testament to the dedication of our growers, whose commitment has resulted in tangible environmental gains, meeting or exceeding five of the six 2025 goals. It proves that sustainable practices can deliver measurable impact at scale, providing brands with credible data to back their sustainability claims.” 

Key Highlights for Sourcing and Sustainability Professionals from the 2024/25 Annual Report: 

• Traceability at Scale: The Trust Protocol’s advanced traceability solution, providing article-level information to brands and retailers, experienced exponential growth. A  413% year-over-year increase in Protocol Consumption Unit (PCCU) uptake  saw  20 brands track 126,000 tons of Trust Protocol fiber, translating to an astounding 690 million finished products. This robust system offers unprecedented transparency, enabling brands to confidently verify their U.S. cotton origins and meet increasing consumer and regulatory demands for supply chain visibility. 

• Widespread Use of Regenerative Agriculture Practices:  Trust Protocol growers continue to deploy regenerative agriculture practices, with almost two-thirds (63%) planting cover crops  and more than half (57%) of acres under no-till or conservation tillage. These practices are vital for enhancing soil health, actively sequestering carbon, thereby offering a critical pathway for brands to support nature-positive sourcing. 

• Record Grower Enrollment – Expanding Sustainable Sourcing Options: For the sixth consecutive year, participation grew despite challenging farming conditions. Enrolled acreage increased 18% to 2.58 million acres, with grower membership rising 14% to 1,512. This expansion ensures a growing, reliable supply of sustainably produced U.S. cotton for the global market. 

• New Regenerative Cotton Pilot: Innovating for the Future: In 2025, the Trust Protocol launched a pilot program to formally recognize and verify regenerative practices, providing brands and retailers with an innovative new sourcing option for traceable, regenerative U.S. Cotton. 

“With emerging regulations like the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and growing stakeholder scrutiny, the need for verifiable, robust data has never been more important for brands and retailers,” said Daren Abney, Executive Director of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “Our program helps deliver that assurance. The expanded use and scale of our traceability system clearly demonstrate that the supply chain is embracing this new level of transparency. We are providing the essential tools for brands to track cotton to the finished product, enabling them to communicate their sourcing strategies with greater accuracy, confidence, and compliance.” 

The complete Annual Report, offering in-depth data and insights crucial for sustainable sourcing strategies, is available at report.trustuscotton.org. 

About the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol  

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is the voluntary sustainability program for U.S. cotton growers and traceability platform for all U.S. Cotton. It brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to responsible cotton production and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability areas: land use, soil health, water management, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and fiber quality. 

U.S. Media Contact:   

Megan McKinstry 

Email: Megan.McKinstry@hillandknowlton.com  

Marjory Walker 

Email: mwalker@cotton.org  
 

UK Media Contact: 

Ryan Seller 

Email: Ryan.Seller@bursonglobal.com 

For more information, visit trustuscotton.org

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