Founded in 2020, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol® was designed to set a new standard for more sustainably grown cotton, ensuring that it contributes to the protection and preservation of the planet by using the most sustainable and responsible techniques. It is the only science-based program at the crop level that provides quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurements on six key sustainability metrics, as well as item-level supply chain transparency.
The Trust Protocol is overseen by a Board of Directors comprised of representatives from brands and retailers, civil society, independent sustainability experts, and the cotton industry, including producers, ginners, traders, wholesalers and cooperatives, mills, and cotton handlers.
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol®, established by trusted standard holder COTTON USA™, sets a rigorous standard for sustainably grown cotton. The protocol guarantees measurable and verifiable goals to ensure sustainable cotton production and advocates for continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics: Land Use, Soil Carbon, Water Management, Soil Loss, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Energy Efficiency.
The Trust Protocol is overseen by a multi-stakeholder Board of Directors composed of representatives from brands and retailers, civil society and independent sustainability experts, and the cotton growing industry, including growers, ginners, traders, wholesalers and cooperatives, mills, and cottonseed processors. The protocol aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and has been recognized by the Textile Exchange.
Tracing 3 Million Kilograms of Sustainable Cotton
The US Cotton Trust Protocol, an international initiative designed to provide increasingly sustainable cotton to the fashion industry, has managed to trace more than 3 million kilos of cotton so far through its PCMS (Protocol Consumption Management Solution) tool.
The textile industry's economic activity is equivalent to the world's seventh largest economy1 and in recent years there have been demands from consumers and the regulatory context for greater responsibility from the sector to improve its environmental impact.
As a result, all eyes are on the sustainability progress of fashion brands who, together with their suppliers, are looking to demonstrate their efforts in this area with credibility and transparency. The Protocol provides a traceability solution for the supply chain and the possibility of verifying the fibers used in garment manufacturing.
Since 2020, in addition to more than 3 million kilograms of cotton, they have managed to trace more than 11 million finished articles, a breakthrough for the young entity and an improvement for the industry.
Using the Latest Technology for a Cross-Cutting Mapping System
The brand applies technology to contribute to the sustainability of the planet and achieve a greener and friendlier world. Blockchain technology allows PCMS to verify the movement of Protocol cotton anywhere in the supply chain (virtually) in real-time. The entity has adhering members at every level of the chain, from farmers in the cotton fields to processing mills.