The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has joined the TextileGenesis platform as the world’s first sustainable cotton fiber to offer full transparency across the supply chain on the platform.
This will enable the protocol, a science-based sustainability program that collects farm-level data against six key sustainability metrics, to enhance the supply chain verification of its Protocol Credit Management System.
“Today, having a holistic view of every step throughout the supply chain is imperative for brands and retailers,” said Dr. Gary Adams, president of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “We are proud to announce our collaboration with TextileGenesis to address this need as the Trust Protocol aims to set a new standard for more sustainable and trackable cotton production.”
In combination with the existing Protocol Platform, developed by Memphis-based technology partner The Seam LLC, the TextileGenesis platform will allow the management system to record and verify the movement of U.S. cotton fiber through the entire process. It also will capture and verify article level transactions among the multiple participants along the supply chain.
Upon receipt of finished products, Trust Protocol brand and retail members will be able to claim Protocol Credits, digital tokens equivalent to the physical cotton produced under the program. They also will be able to make claims related to the environmental metrics and sustainable practices adopted by participating protocol growers.
“We have engineered our platform to leverage the latest technology and industry-specific best-practices, with a heavy emphasis on strong data methodologies,” said Amit Gautam, CEO and founder of TextileGenesis. “Collaborating with the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, with its clear focus on robust data and the strength of its verification practices, creates a powerful solution for brands and retailers worldwide in their search for more sustainable fibers and enhanced visibility in their supply chains.”
The collaboration will result in pilot trials with selected brands and mills in early June, with full deployment of the management system expected in early 2022.
More than 300 brand, retailer, mill and manufacturer members have joined the protocol since its launch in 2020. It also is included on the Textile Exchange’s list of 36 preferred fibers and materials that more than 170 participating brands and retailers can select from as part of exchange’s Material Change Index program.
In addition, the protocol is working to align with existing standards in the cotton industry and is part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, the Forum for the Future Cotton 2040 and the CottonUp guide.
The National Cotton Council contributed this article.