Join the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol®
In today’s evolving textile landscape, sustainability and transparency are no longer optional – they’re essential. All stakeholders are demanding greater accountability throughout the supply chain, and raw material sourcing is under intense scrutiny. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is the voluntary sustainability program for U.S. cotton growers and traceability platform for all U.S. Cotton. The Trust Protocol provides the data, resources, and traceability members need to succeed.
The Trust Protocol is the only sustainable cotton fiber program offering quantifiable measurement across six key sustainability metrics and the first to offer article-level traceability driving environmental data, supply chain transparency, and continuous improvement for U.S. Cotton.
Sign up today and help us drive continuous improvements in responsible growing.
Mill & Manufacturer Membership Benefits
- Enhanced Brand Recognition and Preference: Gain visibility as a key partner in a transparent supply chain, attracting brands and retailers committed to responsible U.S. cotton sourcing and increasing business opportunities.
- Driving Traceability and Transparency Within the Cotton Supply Chain: Enable article-level traceability to the finished product through the program’s proprietary solution, assuring brands of the fiber’s origin and sustainability.
- Marketing and Communication Tools: Leverage the Trust Protocol logo and marketing materials to showcase sustainability commitment, resonate with eco-conscious customers, and build stakeholder trust.
- Website Recognition and Visibility: Connect with a global network of brands, retailers, and other industry leaders and strengthen your reputation as a sustainable partner through recognition on the Trust Protocol website.
- Complimentary Technical Support: U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol members that meet a minimum volume requirement receive complimentary access to a specialized package of technical support.
Connect with a representative to see how a membership can benefit your company.
Brand & Retailer Membership Benefits
- Comprehensive Technology Access: Gain full access to our technology platforms, empowering you to track and verify your responsible cotton sourcing throughout the supply chain.
- Support Transparency & Corporate Reporting: Meet increasing demands for transparency and sustainability reporting with ease. The Trust Protocol empowers informed decision-making with data-driven insights to measure progress, set ambitious goals, support corporate reporting, and facilitate responsible brand and product marketing.
- Collective Impact & Continuous Improvement: Be part of a collaborative effort to transform the cotton industry, working alongside like-minded organizations committed to sustainability. Benefit from our continuous improvement model, ensuring you stay at the forefront of sustainable sourcing practices and adapt to evolving industry standards.
- Transparent & Streamlined Pricing: Brand and retailer members pay an annual membership fee based on their total cotton consumption. A variable Volume-Based Fee is also included based on claimed PCCUs.
- Communicate Effectively: Leverage a comprehensive toolkit, brand visibility on our platforms, expert insights, strategic communications opportunities, and exclusive data to effectively communicate your commitment to sourcing responsible cotton.
Connect with a representative to see how a membership can benefit your company.
Membership and Alignments
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has been recognized and published in the ITC Standards Map and has been approved as a standard for sustainable cotton by the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and as an ISEAL Community Member. The Trust Protocol is also recognized by Textile Exchange and Forum for the Future, and is part of Cascale.
Sustainability Goals and Progress
We’re setting our sustainability goals higher.
The U.S. cotton industry is building upon the strong environmental gains already achieved over the past 35 years. The aim is to help members meet their current needs while continuously improving. In 2025, Trust Protocol growers have met or exceeded 5 out of 6 of the ambitious 2025 National Goals set against the 2015 baseline.
Compared to the 2015 baseline goals, Trust Protocol growers have:
- Increased water use efficiency by 87%
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 25%
- Increased land use efficiency by 15%
- Decreased energy use by 28%
- Reduced soil erosion by 89%
- Soil Carbon has shifted from a net loss in 2015 to actively building healthier soils.
PROGRESS, TRANSPARENCY, AND TRUST
Five years of field-level data makes the Trust Protocol the only sustainable cotton fiber program to provide this level of measurable outcomes and impact. Trust Protocol data demonstrates that sustainable practices are not just theoretical; they deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, resilience, and environmental outcomes at scale.