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U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol

Control Union Certifications as

Third-Party Verification Partner

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (Trust Protocol) has soil carbon, water management, soil loss, green-
selected Control Union Certifications North America house gas emissions and energy efficiency.
(CUC) to implement an independent, third-party
verification program for the Trust Protocol system. “We’re excited to work with Control Union as our
CUC was chosen from six applicants following a independent, third-party verification partner,” said
thorough selection process. Ken Burton, Executive Director of the Trust Protocol.
“Control Union’s agriculture standards, experience
Data about Trust Protocol cotton is proven via Field and impeccable reputation will provide brands,
to Market, measured via the Field Calculator and retailers and consumers assurance that the cotton
now will be verified by CUC. fiber sourced through the Trust Protocol is continually
improving.”
Control Union Certifications has certified more than
150 programs worldwide, including working as a The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol will launch in June
key partner in the early development and piloting 2020. Ahead of the June launch date, the Trust
phases of Field to Market’s Impact Claim Verification Protocol was recently added to Textile Exchange’s list
Protocol. CUC has also worked with the Better of preferred fibers and materials. For more informa-
Cotton Initiative (BCI) on its third-party verification tion, please visit https://TrustUsCotton.org.
programs in multiple countries.
About the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
CUC auditors in the U.S. have a long history of In a period of ever greater supply chain scrutiny and
working with corn, soy and canola on standards a growing demand for transparency, the U.S. Cotton
focused on land conversion, irrigation systems, Trust Protocol will set a standard for more sustainably
water, integrated pest management, soil protection, grown cotton. It brings quantifiable and verifiable
crop rotation and conservation practices. goals and measurement to the issue of sustainable
cotton production and drives continuous improve-
U.S. cotton growers will complete self-assessment ment in key sustainability metrics.
of farming practices and share their field data
through Field to Market’s Fieldprint Platform. The The Trust Protocol underpins and verifies U.S.
CUC will verify the Trust Protocol annual data that cotton’s progress through sophisticated data
.
will highlight key sustainability metrics – land use, collection and independent third-party verification.
April/May 2020