Our Story

The world was changing. Brands and consumers were demanding more sustainable practices, and U.S. cotton growers needed a way to show they were already leading the way. We brought everyone to the table – from those in academia, research, and the entire supply chain from the fields to the store shelves – to build a program to prove, measure and verify responsible growing practices while driving innovation and supporting growers with insights and resources. In 2020, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol was launched.

Our Beginnings

The world was changing. Brands and consumers were demanding more sustainable practices, and U.S. cotton growers needed a way to show they were already leading the way. We brought everyone to the table – from those in academia, research, and the entire supply chain from the fields to the store shelves – to build a program to prove, measure and verify responsible growing practices while driving innovation and supporting growers with insights and resources. In 2020, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol was launched.

Our Progress

The Trust Protocol tracks progress against measurable environmental goals with verified data. We focus on what matters: land use, soil health, water, emissions, and energy – the very areas where improvements can drive both efficiency and farm profitability. Our traceability solution, the Protocol Consumption Management Solution (PCMS), enables tracking cotton from farms to finished product, providing data-driven insights for responsible sourcing.

The U.S. cotton industry has experienced an everchanging environment, marked by increased sustainability demands, calls for greater traceability and transparency, concerns around a changing environment, and global competition. However, these pressure points also create an opportunity for every member of the cotton supply chain to come together and create meaningful change.

Our program provides the supply chain with the assurance to confidently include U.S. Cotton in their responsible sourcing strategies, while simultaneously supporting growers in their continuous improvement efforts and risk mitigation practices.

Strauss product tag on Strauss cotton shirt

Our Progress

The Trust Protocol tracks progress against measurable environmental goals with verified data. We focus on what matters: land use, soil health, water, emissions, and energy – the very areas where improvements can drive both efficiency and farm profitability. Our traceability solution, the Protocol Consumption Management Solution (PCMS), enables tracking cotton from farms to finished product, providing data-driven insights for responsible sourcing.

The U.S. cotton industry has experienced an everchanging environment, marked by increased sustainability demands, calls for greater traceability and transparency, concerns around a changing environment, and global competition. However, these pressure points also create an opportunity for every member of the cotton supply chain to come together and create meaningful change.

Our program provides the supply chain with the assurance to confidently include U.S. Cotton in their responsible sourcing strategies, while simultaneously supporting growers in their continuous improvement efforts and risk mitigation practices.

Read more about our progress in the 2023/24 Annual Report

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