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                                                       U.S. Cotton



                                                       Trust Protocol



                                                       has tracked




                                                       over 3 million



                                                       kilograms of



                                                       cotton





                                                                                                                                   water management; soil loss; greenhouse gas       preserve our planet and meet the ambitious targets
                                                                                                                                   emissions, and energy efficiency.                 we have set on our journey to build a better world,”
            Dr. Gary Adams                                                                                                                                                           said Mark Rose, SVP, Production and Sourcing, AEO.
            President. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol                                                                              The program captures key environmental and social   “The Trust Protocol will help provide AEO the
                                                                                                                                   data under a farm-level, science-based system and   opportunity to further verify our responsible sourcing
            The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol “Trust Protocol”   terms of the progress that the U.S. Cotton Trust                     reports these annually on an aggregated basis.    practices and demonstrate the progress we’re
            announced that it has now reached a critical      Protocol has achieved in the three short years since                                                                   making toward meeting our environmental targets.”
            milestone of tracking over 3 million kilograms of   its inception”, said Dr. Gary Adams, President of the              U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Welcomes American
            cotton through its proprietary Protocol Consumption   U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “Using the PCMS, brand               Eagle Outfitters, Inc. as a Member                The Trust Protocol is the only sustainable cotton
            Management Solution (PCMS).                       and retailer members can make a variety of claims,                   The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol “Trust Protocol” is   system that provides quantifiable, verifiable goals
                                                              including on-product, that are based on                              pleased to announce the membership of American    and measurement and drives continuous
            This significant milestone was hit during the busiest   data-backed, verified Protocol Consumption Units.”             Eagle Outfitters, Inc. “AEO”. AEO is a leading global   improvement in six key sustainability metrics – land
            fashion month — when all eyes are on the industry                                                                      specialty retailer offering high-quality, on-trend   use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss,
            and the spotlight on its sustainability — during the   “Providing transparency through the supply chain is             clothing, accessories and personal care products   greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency.
            biennial fashion month which opened on February 9   one of the Trust Protocol’s core premises and we’re                through its American Eagle, Aerie, OFFL/NE by Aerie,   The Trust Protocol integrates these sustainability
            with the New York Fashion Week and closes Paris   proud to be the world’s first sustainable cotton fiber               Todd Snyder and Unsubscribed brands.              metrics from Field to Market’s Fieldprint® Platform,
            Fashion Week on March 7.                          program to offer its members article-level                                                                             enabling enrolled growers to measure the
                                                              transparency”, he added.                                             Trust Protocol membership will support AEO in its   environmental impacts of their operation and identify
            As international brands and retailers seek to credibly                                                                 continued efforts to provide greater transparency,   opportunities for continuous improvement.
            and transparently demonstrate their own efforts and   This is possible because the PCMS leverages                      communication and standardized reporting of its
            achievements in driving sustainability in the industry,   blockchain and other digital technologies to record          ESG progress. Underpinned by a focus on optimism,   “The demand for verified data to credibly
            the Trust Protocol’s announcement marks a         and verify the movement of Protocol Cotton and U.S.                  AEO’s Building a Better World ESG strategy is     demonstrate progress on sustainability targets is
            significant achievement in its development since its   Cotton at every stage of the supply chain in near real          centered on three key areas: planet (environment),   representative of a clear need across the retail
            inception in 2020.                                time. This requires all members of the supply chain –                people (social) and practices (governance). Notably,   industry: the Trust Protocol is uniquely positioned to
                                                              including mills and manufacturers – to be a member                   the company has set specific goals to achieve     meet that need and is setting a new standard in
            The verified data released today also shows that a   of the Trust Protocol.                                            carbon neutrality in its owned and operated locations   sustainable cotton production where full transparency
            total of more than 11 million units of finished products                                                               and significantly reduce water use, among other   is a reality,” said Dr. Gary Adams, President of the
            have been tracked through the PCMS system.        The Trust Protocol is also the only system that                      sustainability initiatives.                       U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “We look forward to
                                                              provides quantifiable, verifiable goals and                                                                            working with AEO to demonstrate tangible and
            “Coming in the middle of the world fashion month,   measurement and drives continuous improvement in                   “AEO is excited to partner with the Trust Protocol as   continuous improvement across the six key
            these figures are not only timely, but outstanding in   six key sustainability metrics:  land use; soil carbon;        we work to move our sustainability practices forward,   sustainability metrics we track.”

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