Iconic global luxury brand Ralph Lauren has joined the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol to scale sustainable practices in U.S. cotton production. Launched in 2020, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is aligned with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, recognized by Textile Exchange and Forum for the Future, and part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cotton 2025 Sustainable Cotton Challenge, Cotton 2040, and Cotton Up initiatives.
Dr. Gary Adams, President of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, said, “We are proud to welcome Ralph Lauren as a new member and aid in their efforts to advance better sustainability practices within the industry. Ralph Lauren’s Timeless by Design strategy emphasizes the importance of respecting the planet and adopting science-based practices that help protect natural resources, both of which are key pillars of the Trust Protocol. The program was designed to improve soil health and better management of natural resources by supporting the transition to more sustainable and responsible techniques.”
The Trust Protocol drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability areas-land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency. The Trust Protocol integrates these sustainability metrics from Field to Market’s Fieldprint Platform, enabling enrolled growers to measure the environmental impacts of their operation and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. The program is designed to improve soil health and better management of natural resources.
The Trust Protocol was recently awarded funding as one of those selected as part of the USDA Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities pilot projects to build markets for climate-smart cotton and provide technical and financial assistance to over 1,000 U.S. cotton farmers to advance the adoption of climate-smart practices on than one million acres. The project is a multi-stakeholder initiative that includes the Soil Health Institute, which the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation supports through the U.S. Regenerative Cotton Fund.
