Brands and Retailers
In a period of ever greater supply chain scrutiny and a growing demand for transparency, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is the voluntary sustainability program and traceability platform for U.S. Cotton.
Membership in the Trust Protocol will provide brands and retailers with:
Traceability:
- Opportunity to claim Protocol Consumption Units through the PCMS
- Article-level full supply chain transparency
Environmental Data:
- Quantifiable, verifiable data against science-based goals for sustainably grown cotton
- Ability to demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement regarding environmental impact
- Member Data Report in addition to the program’s Annual Report
Communications:
- Toolkit for communications, storytelling and marketing
- Opportunity to hear from experts within sustainable agriculture and cotton production
- Membership showcased on Trust Protocol website and within communications about the program, including on social
- Option to participate in strategic external communication opportunities
Benefits
- Turnkey, transparent pricing structure with no additional fees
- Includes use of TextileGenesis system and Protocol Platform as well as the scaling phase **
- Membership fee based on company annual revenue
- Consumption fee based on rate determined by the member’s forecasted consumption for the current Protocol Year. Reviewed quarterly
- Streamlined pricing structure and single market will most likely mean lower costs than any other cotton sustainability program
The Protocol Consumption Management Solution (PCMS) is our traceability and transparency solution that allows the tracking of U.S. Cotton and cotton specifically grown on Protocol producers’ farms.
The result for brand and retailer members complete visibility of each stage of production, as well as absolute validation of the origin of the cotton fiber tracked into their finished products.
membership fees starting in 2025
Annual Membership Fees
Brand and retailer members are required to pay an annual membership fee, which is based on their total cotton consumption. Companies with sub-brands under a single parent entity will pay one consolidated annual membership fee that equals total cotton consumption for all the brands. Venture capital (VC) owned companies with multiple distinct brands under the same VC ownership will pay separate annual membership fees for each individual brand. This structure aims to accommodate the varying organizational framework of our members while maintaining equitable program support.
Less than
20,000
Total Cotton Consumption (MT)
20,001
< 50,000
Total Cotton Consumption (MT)
50,001
< 125,000
Total Cotton Consumption (MT)
125,001+
Total Cotton Consumption (MT)
Volume Based Fees (VBFs)
1 PCCU = 1 KG of Protocol Cotton
| Annual Cotton Consumption (MT) | 0 - 10% | 11 - 25% | 26 - 74% | 75+% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 20,000 | $11.00 | $9.00 | $8.00 | $7.25 |
| 20,001 - 50,000 | $9.00 | $8.00 | $7.00 | $6.00 |
| 50,001 - 125,000 | $8.00 | $6.50 | $6.00 | $5.25 |
| 125,001 + | $6.50 | $4.50 | $3.75 | $3.25 |
Sourcing Requirements
Upon joining, brands and retailers must take measures to ensure they meet mandatory sourcing requirements, via the Trust Protocol system;
- 5% of total cotton consumption within 2 years of joining
- 10% of total cotton consumption within 5 years of joining
The Trust Protocol offers a suite of tools and resources to help brand and retailers achieve these sourcing requirements.
