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practices are being implemented and followed positively influence bio-sequestration, biodiversity,
throughout the supply chain—CCI left wondering, is it ecotoxicity, climate resilience, water systems,
enough? micronutrients, and ecosystem services.

Regenerative agriculture aims for more Regenerative agriculture builds upon the positive
Sustainability has been a focus of U.S. cotton environmental impacts of sustainable practices,
Regenerative past 35 years, U.S. cotton producers have used 79% sustainability practices.
aiming for a whole systems approach to positive
growers for generations. Case in point, just over the
less water and 54% less energy, reduced greenhouse
U.S. cotton growers are already implementing
gas emissions by 40%, all while reducing land use by
agriculture takes 49%. The adoption of practices such as minimal impactful regenerative agriculture practices, including
using production practices that conserve and protect
tillage, GPS and sensor-driven precision agriculture,
soil health to increase biodiversity and capture carbon
and the growing of winter cover crops have further
in the soil. They’re also focused on nutrient
improved soil health, reducing loss and erosion by
Sustainable Fashion 37% per acre and increasing soil carbon levels. management, to maintain healthy plants and targeted
replacement of nutrients whilst minimizing leaching and
run-off. They practice water stewardship and water use
Yet, U.S. cotton growers understand that they must
efficiency to increase soil water holding capacity.
constantly improve in order to protect and preserve
to the next level the planet—to ultimately help create more Biodiversity is an important part of the mix, and they
sustainable clothing.
employ practices that promote plant, animal and
That’s where regenerative agriculture comes in. It
the land.
goes a step further and aims for net positives, as microorganism biodiversity for more efficient use of
opposed to simply having a neutral impact on the Regenerative agriculture is not a one size fits all
61% of brands and Regenerative agriculture practices aim to manner of farming. Instead, it looks at a combination
environment.
of practices that support resilience, as well as
retailers see better the land. building and nourishing our ecosystem.

When these regenerative practices are implemented
U.S. cotton growers’ efforts towards continuous
increased demand improvement are central to the Trust Protocol and the successfully, the health of the agriculture ecosystem
and farmer economic stability are improved. And
U.S. cotton industry taking sustainability to the next
level. Practices such as conservation tillage and
ultimately brands, retailers, mills and manufacturers
for sustainable growing cover crops have helped soil health and can provide consumers with the verified, data based
sustainable clothing they desire.
increased soil carbon levels.
products from Although U.S. cotton growers have been There is no finish line when it comes to sustainable
practices or regenerative agriculture. Individuals and
implementing these techniques for decades, these
practices have recently been grouped into a manner
organizations continue to develop new technologies,
consumers of farming called regenerative agriculture. processes and research that aid growers in further
implementing new and innovative sustainable
Regenerative agriculture describes farming and
grazing practices that, among other benefits, have a practices. Now more than ever, people care about
the environment and how their clothes are made.
net positive impact by rebuilding soil organic matter And, while the distance from U.S. cotton fields, to the
Today more than ever before, consumers across the sustainably grown cotton, found that 61% of brands and restoring degraded soil biodiversity – resulting in runways of global fashion brands, and consumer
globe want to know that the clothes in their closets and retailers have witnessed increased demand for both carbon drawdown and improving the water closets may seem far, the focus on regenerative
are sustainably sourced. sustainable products from consumers. cycle1. It is a holistic philosophy that aims to agriculture has never been more impactful.

So much so, that research conducted by the U.S. While consumer demand for more sustainable
Cotton Trust Protocol, a farm level, science based fashion is pushing global brands and retailers to
initiative that is setting a new standard in more provide transparency and evidence that sustainable

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