Canadian apparel manufacturer, Gildan Activewear and its portfolio of company-owned brands, including Alstyle®, American Apparel®, Comfort Colors®, and Gildan®, have joined the US Cotton Trust Protocol as members. Gildan is one of the world's leading producers of daily basic clothing, as well as one of the top domestic consumers of American cotton, which accounts for the bulk of the fiber used in Gildan products.

Glenn Chamandy, President and CEO of Gildan, said that at Gildan, they have a goal of Making Apparel Better®, and they have long been devoted to ensuring an ethical and sustainable supply chain from fiber to shirt. Joining the United States Cotton Trust Protocol is a natural next step in their sustainability and transparency journey because it will increase transparency in their supply chain while also providing them with additional assurance that the cotton they buy from the United States is grown sustainably with low environmental and social risks.

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is a farm-level, science-based initiative that establishes a new standard for cotton that is grown more sustainably. It establishes measurable and verifiable targets for sustainable cotton production and encourages continuous improvement in six key sustainability indicators: energy efficiency, GHG emissions, land usage, soil carbon, soil loss, and water management. The Protocol Credit Management System will also give members complete supply chain transparency.

Dr. Gary Adams, president of the US Cotton Trust Protocol, said that Gildan has a demonstrated track record of a strong commitment to sustainable practices, and they are happy to welcome them as new members. Their company was founded on the premise of making environmentally friendly and ethical clothing, using cotton as a fundamental component. They’ll assist them in furthering this concept by providing third-party verified guarantees that they are obtaining sustainably produced, high-quality fiber and lowering environmental and social risk in their field-to-mill supply chain as members of the US Cotton Trust Protocol.

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cotton 2025 Sustainable Cotton Challenge, Cotton 2040, and Cotton Up initiatives all support the US Cotton Trust Protocol, which is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and recognized by Textile Exchange and Forum for the Future.