The International Trade Centre has recognized and published the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol as part of the standard mapping process, providing companies and retailers around the world more options when it comes to sourcing sustainably grown cotton.

The ITC Standards Map is the most comprehensive database of sustainability standards in the world. It gives users access to over 300 standards for environmental protection, worker and labor rights, economic development, quality, and food safety, as well as business ethics, all of which are comprehensive, verified, and transparent.

An organization must address at least one pillar of sustainable development (economics, environment, and social) and/or focus on ethics or quality management to be included in the Standards Map. The Trust Protocol prioritizes the continual improvement of six important sustainability measures, including land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency, as part of its core program.

The Trust Protocol's inclusion in the Standards Map gives brands and retailers a unique viewpoint from the cotton sector in the United States. The Trust Protocol intends to monitor sustainability progress, collaborate on research, and detect and mitigate industry concerns through the combined efforts of its members. Members of the US Cotton Trust Protocol may be assured that they are receiving sustainably produced, high-quality fiber while lowering environmental and social risk in their field-to-mill supply chain.

Dr. Gary Adams, president of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, said that the Trust Protocol aims to establish a new standard for more sustainably grown cotton that provides brands and retailers with critical assurances that the cotton fiber used in their supply chain is more sustainably grown with lower environmental and social risk. Inclusion in the ITC Standards Map indicates to businesses and consumers that this information has been validated by a recognized independent agency.

Mathieu Lamolle, Senior Advisor at ITC, said that at a time when supply chains are being scrutinized more closely, brands and retailers are finding it difficult to maintain track of sustainability activities and meet regulations. They applaud it when groups like the Trust Protocol voluntarily contribute their sustainability indicators for verification and mapping in our Standards Map database so that businesses may make better-informed decisions about certification and participation in sustainable raw material manufacturing.

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol 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 2040, Cotton Up initiatives, and Cotton 2025 Sustainable Cotton Challenge.