U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Launches Streamlined Three-Year Enrollment
June 6, 2022 The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is implementing a streamlined, three-year grower enrollment for the 2022 through 2024 crops. The new process is designed to be quick, easy, and efficient to allow grower member cotton to enter the supply chain sooner.
The Trust Protocol’s mission is to bring quantifiable, verifiable goals and measurement to key sustainability metrics of U.S. cotton production such as full transparency and continuous improvement to reduce cotton’s environmental footprint. The program’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.
“We understand that demands on a grower’s time are high, and, after listening to their feedback, the Trust Protocol has implemented a more streamlined and efficient enrollment process,” said Dr. Gary Adams, President of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “We thank the growers who helped double program participation in 2021. As supply chain membership continues to increase, we need to collectively ensure there is enough participation in the program to meet demand and that the U.S. remains a leading producer of sustainable cotton to markets around the world.”
Under the new enrollment process, growers should be able to complete all requirements in one sitting. The new process will also allow participating growers’ production to be more easily identified and uploaded into the Protocol platform, paving the way for a potential redistribution of program revenue. As before, all data entered into the program is secure and remains confidential, only being used in aggregate form.
To assist with enrollment, crop consultants can be authorized to enter information and ensure accuracy on a growers’ behalf. Additionally, the John Deere Operations Center can pre-populate up to 40% of the data needed to complete the Fieldprint analysis for those who utilize the platform.
The Trust Protocol has welcomed more than 700 brand, retailer, mill, and manufacturer members since its launch in 2020, including J.Crew, Madewell, Levi Strauss & Co., Gap Inc., and global apparel manufacturer Gildan. The program is aligned with the UN 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. The program has also been recognized and published in the ITC Standards Map.
To learn more or begin enrollment, visit TrustUSCotton.org or reach out to the Grower Help Desk at growers@trustuscotton.org.
Based on information provided by the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
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