New Membership Fee Structure Aims to Boost Responsible Sourcing and Deliver Greater Value

MEMPHIS, TENN (September 17, 2024) – The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol today announced a revised membership structure for brands and retailers that will be implemented in 2025 based on cotton consumption, updating the previous revenue-based system. This adjustment promotes greater accessibility and participation for companies of all sizes committed to responsible sourcing.

“The Trust Protocol is evolving our membership structure to emphasize our intent as a responsible sourcing program for the global textile supply chain,” said Daren Abney, Executive Director of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “The goal is to drive value to cotton growers who are demonstrating verified environmental impacts, with a fully traceable cotton fiber.”

Key changes to the membership structure include:

Brand Membership Fees: Annual membership fees will be determined by total cotton consumption, ensuring equitable participation across the industry.

Adjusted Volume-Based Fees: The tiered pricing structure for Volume-Based Fees will now offer discounts for higher consumption volumes based on the new sourcing requirements, making the program even more beneficial for companies committed to sourcing responsible cotton.

New Supporting Member Category: A new category has been created for organizations outside the traditional textile supply chain that wish to support the Trust Protocol’s mission and vision.

Additionally, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol provides brands and retailers with numerous benefits, including:

• Traceability: The Protocol Consumption Management Solution (PCMS) is the program’s traceability and transparency solution that allows the tracking of cotton specifically grown on Protocol producers’ farms, as well as any U.S. Cotton. The result for brand and retailer members is complete visibility of each stage of production, as well as absolute validation of the origin of the cotton fiber tracked into their finished products.
• Environmental Data: Access quantifiable, verifiable data against science-based goals for sustainably grown cotton, demonstrating a commitment to continuous environmental improvement.

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 is the only system that provides quantifiable, verifiable goals and measurement and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics – land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency. It is also the world’s first sustainable cotton fiber program to offer article-level supply chain transparency to all members.

The Trust Protocol is also proud to lead the U.S. Climate Smart Cotton Program, a 5-year, collaborative initiative that presents a transformative opportunity for cotton growers to enhance their profitability, operations, and environmental stewardship, all while contributing to the long-term viability of the U.S. cotton industry. 

Media Contact:
Andrea Miles
Andrea.Miles@hillandknowlton.com
+1 (213) 300-1507

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