Sustainability of Trust Protocol cotton endorsed by top German body
An initiative by the German government to support shoppers in navigating the field of “credible” product sustainability labels, Siegelklarheit, has approved the use of cotton certified by the US Cotton Trust Protocol (Trust Protocol) by members of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (PST).
The roughly 135-member strong PST network, whose signatories include adidas, Better Cotton, Bluesign, Cotton made in Africa, H&M, Hugo Boss, C&A, Puma, Sympatex, Primark, myBMP, Fairtrade and Vaude, takes the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s due diligence guidance for responsible sourcing of minerals as its blueprint, among other “international agreements” that adhere to principles of social, economic and environmental sustainability.
Trust Protocol president, Dr Gary Adams, said he was thrilled by the recognition and described Siegelklarheit’s assessment methods as rigorous. “[Our] vision is to set a new standard in sustainable cotton production, where full transparency is a reality and continuous improvement to reduce our environmental footprint is the central goal,” he added.
Launched over summer 2020, the Trust Protocol emphasises its membership's commitment to continuous, verifiable improvement in six areas: land use, soil carbon, soil loss, water management, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. As of this month, over 700 brand, retailer, manufacturer and mill members including Gildan, Levi Strauss & Co and Gap Inc have signed up.
“We advocate for transparent and traceable criteria in the certification of sustainable cotton,” commented PST secretariat head, Jürgen Janssen. “We are pleased that the Trust Protocol has successfully passed the audit by Siegelklarheit.”
Third-generation Texan grower and Trust Protocol member Barry Evans.
Credit: US Cotton Trust Protocol.
