The U.S. produces some of the most sustainable cotton in the world though family farms, precision agriculture, regulations, monitoring and quantifiable goals. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has recently been added to Textile Exchange’s list of preferred fibers and materials. The objective of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is to set a new standard that brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to the issue of sustainable cotton production that drives continuous improvement in key sustainability metrics. It underpins and verifies U.S. cotton’s progress with the help of sophisticated data collection and independent third-party verification. Brands choosing to be a member of the Trust Protocol will be provided with data that gives critical assurances necessary that the cotton fiber element of their supply chain is more sustainable. These brands will be given access to U.S. cotton with sustainability credentials.
According to the Textile Exchange, a preferred fiber or material is defined as one which results in improved environmental and/or social sustainability outcomes and impacts in comparison to conventional production. The Textile Exchange updates its master list of preferred fibers and materials over time as sustainability innovations prove themselves.
Ken Burton, the executive director of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol said that, “We are pleased to see the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol recognized on Textile Exchange’s list of preferred fibers and materials. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is an industry-wide system that will guide U.S. cotton growers to continuously improve and reduce their environmental footprint. We will provide brands and retailers with aggregate data that track the efforts of U.S. cotton growers to improve water and soil conservation and reduce greenhouse gases. These data will support the fashion and retail industries in their efforts to demonstrate progress toward sustainability goals.”
La Rhea Pepper, the Managing Director of Textile Exchange said, “We’re pleased to add Trust Protocol cotton to our list of preferred fiber and materials, which will give brands and retailers another option to source sustainable cotton as they integrate preferred fibers into their business strategy.”
The Textile Exchange encourages companies to accelerate their use of preferred fibers, and acknowledges and honors companies that recognize the importance of integrating a preferred fiber and materials strategy into their business practices.
For more information, kindly visit www.cottonusa.org and www.trustuscotton.org or you can drop your questions to Kraipob Pangsapa at kpangsapa@cotton.org