The US Cotton Trust Protocol sets a standard for more sustainably grown cotton. It provides quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurements about the production of responsibly grown cotton and drives continuous improvement in key sustainability metrics.
For decades, the U.S. cotton industry has focused on sustainability. According to Field to Market data, over the past 35 years, cotton has increased land-use efficiency by 31% while reducing soil loss by 44%, water consumption by 82%, energy expenditure by 38%, and greenhouse gas emissions by 30%. Although the cotton industry has touted its sustainability story and highlighted its diminishing environmental impact, more and more brands and department stores are demanding industry-wide standards and independent verification.
To address this growing concern, the US cotton industry structured and created the US Cotton Trust Protocol, which defines new standards for sustainably grown cotton and the continuous improvement of that sustainability, which will be measured and verified by a third party.
The U.S. cotton industry invests over $100 million annually in scientific research to further develop the most advanced tools needed to reduce its environmental footprint. These technologies help producers save money while protecting and even improving the environment. The Trust Protocol aims to help brands and department stores communicate this progress to end consumers.
The Trust Protocol has a four-step process:
- standards
- Measurement
- Verification
- Facts & figures
The standards are about defining sustainability goals for the cotton industry. By 2025, the North American cotton industry aims to increase land-use efficiency by 13% and soil carbon by 20%, while simultaneously reducing soil loss by 50%, water consumption by 18%, and greenhouse gas emissions by 39%.
The measurement includes the voluntary enrollment of U.S. cotton producers to measure and track their environmental impact. The U.S. cotton industry aims to enroll half of all cotton producers by 2025. Verification will involve internationally recognized external verification organizations to monitor progress toward the goals. Finally, the USCTP will be the only cotton sustainability organization able to provide annual, quantifiable, and verifiable information to track sustainability progress.
Therefore, the Trust Protocol supports and verifies the progress of U.S. cotton through sophisticated data collection and independent third-party verification. Choosing Trust Protocol cotton It provides brands and retailers with the fundamental guarantees they need regarding the cotton fiber element. Its supply chain is cultivated more sustainably with less environmental and social risk.
Finally, the The US Cotton Trust Protocol is overseen by a multi-stakeholder Board of DirectorsIt is comprised of representatives from brands and retailers, civil society, and independent sustainability experts, as well as the cotton farming industry, including producers, ginners, traders, wholesalers, cooperatives, factories, and cotton seed managers.
At GDI Uniforms we are very pleased to join the US Cotton Trust Protocol.
Through this effort, we guarantee that the cotton used in our products comes from a sustainable supply chain. We also comply with environmental, labor, safety, and health regulations for cotton farming in the USA.
