Trust US Cotton Protocol https://trustuscotton.org/ Trust in a Smarter Cotton Future Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:08:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://trustuscotton.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/USCTP_site_icon.png Trust US Cotton Protocol https://trustuscotton.org/ 32 32 U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Achieves Record Growth, Reinforcing Commitment to Sustainable Practices and Traceability  https://trustuscotton.org/u-s-cotton-trust-protocol-achieves-record-growth-reinforcing-commitment-to-sustainable-practices-and-traceability/ Thu, 24 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://trustuscotton.org/?p=22929 U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Achieves Record Growth, Reinforcing Commitment to Sustainable Practices and Traceability

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MEMPHIS, TN (October 24, 2024) – The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, a leading program for responsibly grown cotton, today released its 2023/24 Annual Report, showcasing record grower participation and notable strides in environmental stewardship. The report highlights the program’s progress in driving transparency and continuous improvement across the cotton supply chain, even amidst a challenging economic climate for growers.  

“This year’s report demonstrates the unwavering commitment of U.S. cotton growers to continuous improvement, even in the face of significant challenges,” said Dr. Gary Adams, President of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “The Trust Protocol is proud to support their efforts by providing the tools, resources, and market opportunities needed to build a more resilient and sustainable future for U.S. Cotton.”  

Key highlights from the 2023/24 Annual Report include:  

  • Record Grower Enrollment: Planted acreage enrolled in the Trust Protocol grew to 2.1 million acres, a 31% increase from the previous year, demonstrating a strong industry commitment to responsible production.  
  • Tangible Environmental Gains: Trust Protocol growers continued to outperform national averages, achieving a 14% improvement in yield and making significant reductions in water use (14%), energy use (27%), greenhouse gas emissions (21%), and soil loss (79%) compared to a 2015 baseline.  
  • Climate Smart Cotton Program Expansion: The program, designed to help growers adopt climate-smart practices, saw growth with 1,427 U.S. farming entities enrolled, including 282 from historically underserved communities.  
  • Traceability Platform Advancements: The Trust Protocol made noteworthy progress in scaling its Protocol Consumption Management Solution (PCMS), recording 1.2k shipments of cotton fiber (equivalent to 3.4 million bales of U.S. Cotton and 636,000 bales of Protocol Cotton).  
  • Enhanced Governance and Collaboration: The Trust Protocol expanded its Board of Directors to include greater international representation and joined the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network, underscoring its commitment to global collaboration.  

“It’s not always easy to take risks when you’re a farmer, especially financial risks,” said Alyssa Cain, a Trust Protocol grower from Texas. “This program gives us the support to try new things, to build a better system for the long haul. That not only provides peace of mind but a farm with healthier soil, cleaner water, a system that works with nature, not against it.”   

The 2023/24 Annual Report also details the Trust Protocol’s efforts to enhance its data collection and analysis processes, expand its Climate Smart Cotton Program, and strengthen its traceability platform to meet the evolving needs of brands and retailers.  

“This year’s report highlights both the progress our growers have made and the operational improvements within the Trust Protocol,” said Daren Abney, Executive Director of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “We’ve streamlined systems to make participation easier for all and introduced a new consumption-based membership model launching in 2025 to support companies of all sizes in responsible sourcing.”  

The complete U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol 2023/24 Annual Report is available at https://report.trustuscotton.org/.  

About the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol  

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is the voluntary sustainability program for U.S. cotton growers and traceability platform for all U.S. Cotton. It brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to the issue of responsible cotton production and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability areas: land use, soil health, water management, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and fiber quality. The Trust Protocol underpins and verifies U.S. cotton’s sustainability progress through sophisticated data collection and independent third-party verification.    

Media Contact:   
Andrea Miles   
Email: Andrea.Miles@hillandknowlton.com   
Phone: +1 213-371-6829   

For more information, visit: TrustUSCotton.org   

Follow us at:    
https://x.com/trustuscotton    
https://www.facebook.com/trustuscotton/    
https://www.instagram.com/trustuscotton/    
https://www.linkedin.com/company/responsibleuscotton/    

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]]> U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Strategic Plan https://trustuscotton.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/USCottonTrustProtocol_Strategic-Plan-2024.pdf#new_tab Mon, 14 Oct 2024 20:25:29 +0000 https://trustuscotton.org/?p=22873 The post U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Strategic Plan appeared first on Trust US Cotton Protocol.

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]]> Trust Protocol 2023/24 Annual Report Key Findings https://trustuscotton.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/U.S.-Cotton-Trust-Protocol-2023_24-Annual-Report-Key-Findings-doc_Final-October-2024.pdf#new_tab Sun, 13 Oct 2024 21:59:50 +0000 https://trustuscotton.org/?p=22941 The post Trust Protocol 2023/24 Annual Report Key Findings appeared first on Trust US Cotton Protocol.

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]]> U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Announces Enhanced Membership Structure https://trustuscotton.org/u-s-cotton-trust-protocol-announces-enhanced-membership-structure/ Tue, 01 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://trustuscotton.org/?p=22627 New Membership Fee Structure Aims to Boost Responsible Sourcing and Deliver Greater Value MEMPHIS, TENN (September 17, 2024) – The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol today announced a revised membership structure for brands and retailers that will be implemented in 2025 based on cotton consumption, updating the previous revenue-based system. This adjustment promotes greater accessibility and […]

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New Membership Fee Structure Aims to Boost Responsible Sourcing and Deliver Greater Value

MEMPHIS, TENN (September 17, 2024) – The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol today announced a revised membership structure for brands and retailers that will be implemented in 2025 based on cotton consumption, updating the previous revenue-based system. This adjustment promotes greater accessibility and participation for companies of all sizes committed to responsible sourcing.

“The Trust Protocol is evolving our membership structure to emphasize our intent as a responsible sourcing program for the global textile supply chain,” said Daren Abney, Executive Director of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “The goal is to drive value to cotton growers who are demonstrating verified environmental impacts, with a fully traceable cotton fiber.”

Key changes to the membership structure include:

Brand Membership Fees: Annual membership fees will be determined by total cotton consumption, ensuring equitable participation across the industry.

Adjusted Volume-Based Fees: The tiered pricing structure for Volume-Based Fees will now offer discounts for higher consumption volumes based on the new sourcing requirements, making the program even more beneficial for companies committed to sourcing responsible cotton.

New Supporting Member Category: A new category has been created for organizations outside the traditional textile supply chain that wish to support the Trust Protocol’s mission and vision.

Additionally, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol provides brands and retailers with numerous benefits, including:

  • Traceability: The Protocol Consumption Management Solution (PCMS) is the program’s traceability and transparency solution that allows the tracking of cotton specifically grown on Protocol producers’ farms, as well as any U.S. Cotton. The result for brand and retailer members is complete visibility of each stage of production, as well as absolute validation of the origin of the cotton fiber tracked into their finished products.
  • Environmental Data: Access quantifiable, verifiable data against science-based goals for sustainably grown cotton, demonstrating a commitment to continuous environmental improvement.

About the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol 

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is the voluntary sustainability program for U.S. cotton growers and traceability platform for all U.S. Cotton. It is the only system that provides quantifiable, verifiable goals and measurement and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics – land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency. It is also the world’s first sustainable cotton fiber program to offer article-level supply chain transparency to all members.

The Trust Protocol is also proud to lead the U.S. Climate Smart Cotton Program, a 5-year, collaborative initiative that presents a transformative opportunity for cotton growers to enhance their profitability, operations, and environmental stewardship, all while contributing to the long-term viability of the U.S. cotton industry. 

Media Contact:
Andrea Miles
Andrea.Miles@hillandknowlton.com
+1 (213) 300-1507

Visit us online at: TrustUSCotton.org

Follow us at: 
https://x.com/trustuscotton https://www.facebook.com/trustuscotton/ 
https://www.instagram.com/trustuscotton/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/responsibleuscotton/ 

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]]> Trust Protocol Cost Projection Tool https://trustuscotton.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Trust-Protocol-Cost-Projection-Tool-2024-1.xlsx#new_tab Thu, 26 Sep 2024 18:45:46 +0000 https://trustuscotton.org/?p=22568 The post Trust Protocol Cost Projection Tool appeared first on Trust US Cotton Protocol.

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]]> U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Membership Fees https://trustuscotton.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/U.S.-Cotton-Trust-Protocol-Membership-Fees-as-of-January-2025.pdf#new_tab Thu, 26 Sep 2024 18:36:39 +0000 https://trustuscotton.org/?p=22572 The post U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Membership Fees appeared first on Trust US Cotton Protocol.

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]]> Maximizing Weed Suppression with Cover Crops in Cotton Production https://soilhealthinstitute.org/news-events/maximizing-weed-suppression-with-cover-crops-in-cotton-production/#new_tab Wed, 21 Aug 2024 14:15:32 +0000 https://trustuscotton.org/?p=22487 The post Maximizing Weed Suppression with Cover Crops in Cotton Production appeared first on Trust US Cotton Protocol.

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]]> Trust Protocol Grower Enrollment Climbs for Fifth Straight Year https://trustuscotton.org/trust-protocol-grower-enrollment-climbs-for-fifth-straight-year/ Wed, 24 Jul 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://trustuscotton.org/?p=22375 MEMPHIS, TENN (July 24, 2024) – The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol announced today continued program expansion for the fifth consecutive year – both in enrolled growers and planted acres. Planted cotton acres enrolled increased to 2.1 million acres, up 31% from 2023. This growth is driven by a 35% increase in enrolled growers, demonstrating a strong […]

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  • 2.1 million planted acres enrolled for the 2024 crop year, up 31% from 2023.
  • Grower enrollment increases 35% from the previous year.
  • Continued expansion for fifth consecutive year.

    • MEMPHIS, TENN (July 24, 2024) – The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol announced today continued program expansion for the fifth consecutive year – both in enrolled growers and planted acres. Planted cotton acres enrolled increased to 2.1 million acres, up 31% from 2023. This growth is driven by a 35% increase in enrolled growers, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability within the cotton industry.

    “We are proud to see steady increase in grower enrollment for the Trust Protocol for a fifth consecutive year, reflecting a continued commitment to sustainability within the cotton industry,” said Daren Abney, U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Executive Director. “It is a collective effort that brings more responsibly produced cotton into the market, providing brands and retailers with greater access to sustainable sourcing options.”

    With the increase of 35%, enrollment for 2024 now totals 1,327 growers participating in the Trust Protocol. Enrolled acres for the 2023 crop year resulted in a yield of 1.9. million bales of cotton. The expanded acreage for 2024 will further enhance the availability of sustainable cotton in the market. 

    “We look forward to supporting our brand and retailer members in their increased uptake of Trust Protocol Cotton and driving value back to our growers,” said Abney.

    The Climate Smart Cotton Program also made strides towards its goal of enrolling at least 1,650 farming entities, including 330 from the historically underserved communities. In 2024, 1,340 Trust Protocol farming entities applied for Level 1 of the Climate Smart Cotton Program with 282 from historically underserved communities. These farming entities represent 444,000 acres. 

    Growers who are participating in Level 1 of the Climate Smart Cotton Program can now also apply for participation in Level 2. This provides the opportunity to receive additional financial risk-share for implementing Climate Smart Practices Changes into their operations that will allow for improved soil health, increased drought and flood resilience, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

    The Trust Protocol’s core values include a commitment to U.S. cotton’s legacy of authenticity, innovation and excellence, environmental stewardship, caring of people, and personal and corporate integrity.  The program currently has more than 2,000 supplier members and over 40 companies and their brands including Ralph Lauren, Gap Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., Carhartt and J. Crew. 

    To learn more about the Trust Protocol and how to become a member, visit TrustUSCotton.org. 

    About the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol

    The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is the voluntary sustainability program for U.S. cotton growers and traceability platform for all U.S. cotton. It is the only system that provides quantifiable, verifiable goals and measurement and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics – land use, soil carbon, water measurement, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency. It is also the world’s first sustainable cotton fiber program to offer article-level supply chain transparency to all members.

    The Trust Protocol is also proud to lead the U.S. Climate Smart Cotton Program, a 5-year, collaborative initiative that presents a transformative opportunity for cotton growers to enhance their profitability, operations, and environmental stewardship, all while contributing to the long-term viability of the U.S. cotton industry. 

    Media Contact:   
    Jayci Bishop 
    jayci.bishop@hillandknowlton.com 
    +1 (214) 613-0396  

    Visit us online at: TrustUSCotton.org  

    Follow us at:   
    https://twitter.com/trustuscotton   
    https://www.facebook.com/trustuscotton/   
    https://www.instagram.com/trustuscotton/   
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/responsibleuscotton/   

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    ]]>         Carhartt, Inc. Joins U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol As Part Of Its Strategy To Source More Responsibly Grown Cotton https://trustuscotton.org/carhartt-inc-joins-u-s-cotton-trust-protocol-as-part-of-its-strategy-to-source-more-responsibly-grown-cotton/ Tue, 25 Jun 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://trustuscotton.org/?p=22331 MEMPHIS, TENN (June 25, 2024) – The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has today announced that Carhartt, Inc. is the latest brand to join its sustainable cotton program. Carhartt, known for producing durable gear designed to serve and protect all hardworking people for more than 135 years, has chosen to join the Trust Protocol as part […]

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    MEMPHIS, TENN (June 25, 2024) – The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has today announced that Carhartt, Inc. is the latest brand to join its sustainable cotton program. Carhartt, known for producing durable gear designed to serve and protect all hardworking people for more than 135 years, has chosen to join the Trust Protocol as part of its strategy to source more responsibly grown cotton.  

    “We pride ourselves on a history of manufacturing gear that is built to last from day one with the best and most durable materials available,” said Gretchen R. Valade, Director of Sustainability at Carhartt. “Becoming a member of the Trust Protocol enables us to continue our exploration into more responsibly sourced materials, which is the next step in our mission to leave a better world for the next generation of hardworking people.” 

    Carhartt’s Membership in the Trust Protocol will also provide transparency as the company works to gain greater insight into their supply chain by allowing full traceability of the U.S. cotton in their gear.  

    “Continuous improvement is a key part of our philosophy, which is why we’re eager to help our members work towards greater sustainability by providing measurable and verifiable farm-level data, as well as traceability of the U.S. cotton they are sourcing,” said Daren Abney, Executive Director of the Trust Protocol. “We’re thrilled that we can support Carhartt on their own continuous improvement journey towards sourcing more sustainable cotton.” 

    The Trust Protocol is recognized by Textile Exchange and Forum for the Future, and part of the Cascale, Textile Exchange’s 2025 Sustainable Cotton Challenge, Cotton 2040, and Cotton Up initiatives. It has also been published in the International Trade Centre Standards Map, recognized as a standard for sustainable cotton by the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, approved as a standard for sustainable cotton by German Federal Government, and confirmed as an ISEAL Community Member. 
      
    To learn more about The Trust Protocol, visit TrustUSCotton.org. 

    – END –

    About the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol   

    The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is the voluntary sustainability program for U.S. cotton growers and traceability platform for all U.S. Cotton. It is the only system that provides quantifiable, verifiable goals and measurement and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics – land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency. It is also the world’s first sustainable cotton fiber program to offer article-level supply chain transparency to all members.   

    The Trust Protocol is also proud to lead the U.S. Climate Smart Cotton Program, a 5-year, collaborative initiative that presents a transformative opportunity for cotton growers to enhance their profitability, operations, and environmental stewardship, all while contributing to the long-term viability of the U.S. cotton industry.   

    ABOUT CARHARTT Established in 1889, Carhartt is a global premium workwear brand with a rich heritage of developing rugged products for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, with approximately 3,000 employees worldwide, Carhartt is family-owned and managed by the descendants of the company’s founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit www.carhartt.com.  

     Media Contact:   
    Andrea Miles  
    Andrea.Miles@hillandknowlton.com   
    +1 (213) 300-1507  

    Visit us online at: TrustUSCotton.org  

    Follow us at:   
    https://twitter.com/trustuscotton   
    https://www.facebook.com/trustuscotton/   
    https://www.instagram.com/trustuscotton/   
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/responsibleuscotton/   

     — 

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    ]]>         U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Growers Can Now Apply for the Level 2 Climate Smart Cotton Program  https://trustuscotton.org/u-s-cotton-trust-protocol-growers-can-now-apply-for-the-level-2-climate-smart-cotton-program/ Tue, 18 Jun 2024 13:42:45 +0000 https://trustuscotton.org/?p=22256 Growers can receive financial support for up to three years by participating. MEMPHIS, TENN (June 18, 2024) – The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol announced that U.S. cotton growers can now enroll in Climate Smart Cotton Program Level 2. This program, led by the Trust Protocol, gives Level 1 growers the opportunity to receive additional financial support […]

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    ]]>     Growers can receive financial support for up to three years by participating.

    MEMPHIS, TENN (June 18, 2024) – The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol announced that U.S. cotton growers can now enroll in Climate Smart Cotton Program Level 2. This program, led by the Trust Protocol, gives Level 1 growers the opportunity to receive additional financial support for implementing Climate Smart Practice Changes into their operations. 

    With implementation of Climate Smart Practice Changes, growers can be eligible to receive up to $45 per acre for three years. 

    • Qualify for $35/acre for three years if you plant any cover crop, single or mixed species for the first time in the past three years. 
    • Qualify for $5/acre if you begin to manage a field with no-till or strip-till farming practices for the first time.
    • Qualify for $5/acre if you add your nutrient management plan information in addition to implementing a new cover crop or tillage practice. 

    “Participating in Level 2 of the Climate Smart Cotton Program gives growers the opportunity to de-risk the implementation and adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture practices,” said Charles “Chaz” Holt, U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Director of Field Programs. “Additional practice options were also added this year increasing the number of growers eligible to participate in the level.”

    To qualify for Level 2, growers must meet Level 1 requirements, adopt a new Climate Smart Agriculture practice, verify practice adoption, participate in soil health target setting, and quantify greenhouse gas emissions on all practice change acres.

    Grower Enrollment Specialists are also available to help every step of the way. Email info@trustuscotton.orgto be connected with the representative for your region.

    To learn more, visit https://trustuscotton.org/climate-smart-cotton-program/.

    – END –

    About the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol  

    The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is the voluntary sustainability program for U.S. cotton growers and traceability platform for all U.S. Cotton. It is the only system that provides quantifiable, verifiable goals and measurement and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics – land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency. It is also the world’s first sustainable cotton fiber program to offer article-level supply chain transparency to all members.  

    The Trust Protocol is also proud to lead the U.S. Climate Smart Cotton Program, a 5-year, collaborative initiative that presents a transformative opportunity for cotton growers to enhance their profitability, operations, and environmental stewardship, all while contributing to the long-term viability of the U.S. cotton industry.  

    Media Contact:  
    Jayci Bishop
    jayci.bishop@hillandknowlton.com
    +1 (214) 613-0396 

    Visit us online at: TrustUSCotton.org 

    Follow us at:  
    https://twitter.com/trustuscotton  
    https://www.facebook.com/trustuscotton/  
    https://www.instagram.com/trustuscotton/  
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/responsibleuscotton/  

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