The 2023/24 U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Annual Report reveals a 31% increase in enrolled planted acreage compared to the previous year.
What is the primary goal of the Trust Protocol?
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol was launched in 2020 and 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 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.
What are some of the latest achievements?
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol 2023/24 Annual Report showcases 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. The Trust Protocol Annual Report at https://report.trustuscotton.org/ revealed these specifics:
1) 2.1 million acres were enrolled in the Trust Protocol, a 31% increase from the previous year, demonstrating a strong industry commitment to responsible production;
2) 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;
3) The Climate Smart Cotton 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.
The Trust Protocol has welcomed more than 45 global parent companies and their brands, including some of the largest names in fashion, such as Ralph Lauren, Macy’s and Gap Inc., as well as new members, such as Carhartt, Inc. and Engelbert Strauss, Inc. Additionally, the program has successfully enrolled more than 2,500 mills and manufacturers from 46 countries.
Any other success?
The Trust Protocol made noteworthy strides in scaling its Protocol Consumption Management Solution (PCMS), recording 1.2k shipments of cotton fiber, which is the equivalent to 3.4 million bales of U.S. Cotton and 636,000 bales of Protocol Cotton.
While we celebrate achievements in acreage enrollment, grower participation, and environmental improvements, we recognize that these are challenging times for many in the cotton industry. Declining commodity prices, rising input costs, and the ever-present realities of volatile weather events place immense pressure on our growers. Yet, even in the face of these challenges, the dedication of U.S. cotton growers to sustainability remains strong, as evident in the environmental gains outlined in this report, from improved water and energy use efficiency to enhanced soil health and decreased greenhouse gas emissions.
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol will continue 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.