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U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol®

Smarter Cotton Future

In a period of ever greater supply chain scrutiny and U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol consultant board member.
a growing demand for transparency and traceability,
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (Trust Protocol) sets a “In terms of cotton production, we are focused on
new standard for more sustainably grown cotton. It reducing water, chemical usage and carbon
brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and emissions. The Trust Protocol’s year-on-year data will
measurement to sustainable cotton production and be so useful as we make progress in showing those
drives continuous improvement in key sustainability reductions.” Joe Little, Head of Technical: Fabric,
metrics. Choosing Trust Protocol cotton gives you the Color, Sustainability & Garment Technology, Tesco;
critical assurances you need that the cotton fiber U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol consultant board member.
element of your supply chain is more sustainably
grown with lower environmental and social risk. “By capturing data directly from U.S. growers, the
U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol will monitor and report
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol helps the apparel progress against clearly defined environmental goals.
industry to measure its sustainability commitments to its Whether it’s water usage or biodiversity, this data will
customers, to its broader stakeholders, and to itself. be a valuable tool for brands as they look to
demonstrate the quantifiable impact of their sourcing
The 16,000 cotton farms in the United States have decisions.” Tara Luckman, Former Head of Sustainable
been committed to continuous improvement for Sourcing, ASOS; advisor, U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
decades. Over the past 35 years, U.S. cotton consultant.
production has used less water per bale and reduced
greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, “Through the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, growers
all while reducing land use per bale. The adoption of have committed to reduce water use by an additional
practices such as minimal tillage, GPS and 18% by 2025. I believe that the Trust Protocol will be
sensor-driven precision agriculture, and the growing an important tool to guarantee that cotton growers
of winter cover crops have further improved soil continue on the path towards zero-impact farming.”
health, reducing loss and erosion and increasing soil Melissa Ho, Senior Vice President, Fresh Water and
carbon levels. Food, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), board member, U.S.
Cotton Trust Protocol.
The Trust Protocol underpins and verifies U.S.
cotton’s sustainability progress through sophisticated Aligned with the UN SDGs and other industry goals
data collection and independent third-party The Trust Protocol helps companies achieve their
verification. Brands and retailers will gain access to sustainability commitments. The Trust Protocol is
U.S. cotton with sustainability credentials proven via setting a new standard for more sustainable cotton
Field-to-Market, measured via the Fieldprint production. Trust Protocol growers are stewards of
Calculator and verified with Control Union the land, committed to raising the bar for responsible
Certifications. The Trust Protocol is a complement to farming methods and improving the environment for
existing sustainability programs which cater for future generations.
cotton grown in developing countries. It is designed Performance metrics: Each member of the Trust Independent verification: Control Union Certifications
from the ground up to fit the unique cotton growing The Trust Protocol also contributes to seven of the Protocol will be granted access to third-party verified is implementing independent, third-party verification
environment of the United States. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set in 2015 sustainability performance metrics as well as to give brands and retailers assurance that the Trust
by the United Nations General Assembly. aggregated grower-sourced data pertaining to six key Protocol is meeting the highest standards of
“We are in strong support of the introduction of sustainability elements. sustainability.
standards – including the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol – Benefits to brands and retailers
that champion sustainably grown cotton and drive Supply chain: The Trust Protocol is needed to help Sustainability reporting: The published metrics and Consumer facing assets: Logo and materials that can
wider adoption over the long-term of sustainable brands and retailors better track the cotton entering associated data can be used by members for be used at point-of-sale to give consumers
cultivation practices.” Liza Schillo, Senior Manager, their supply chain and to further quantify and report sustainability reporting, ESG audits and GRI confidence they are buying responsibly
Global Sustainability Integration, Levi Strauss & Co.; on their individual sustainability goals and objectives. standards, among other uses. sourced content.

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