US Cotton Trust Protocol celebrates successes
27/11/2025
Achievements against a 2015 baseline include a 15% reduction in land use needed?to grow one pound of cotton, with Protocol growers producing 20% more cotton per acre than the US average; an 87% improvement in water use efficiency, producing the same amount of cotton with 47% less irrigation water despite droughts; a 28% reduction in energy footprint and an 89% reduction in soil loss.
Growers on 71% of acres are actively building healthier soils that store carbon, and there has been a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, achieved through optimised nitrogen use efficiency and precision irrigation technologies.
Gary Adams, president of the US Cotton Trust Protocol, said: “This year’s annual report unequivocally demonstrates that sustainable practices deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, resilience, and environmental outcomes that can directly impact the supply chain."
A ?413% year-over-year increase in Protocol Consumption Unit (PCCU) uptake ?saw?20 brands track 126,000 tonnes of Trust Protocol fibre, translating to 690 million finished products.
Trust Protocol growers continue to deploy regenerative agriculture practices, with almost two-thirds (63%) planting cover crops and more than half (57%) of acres under no-till or conservation tillage.
For the sixth consecutive year, participation grew. Enrolled acreage increased?18% to 2.58 million acres, with grower membership rising 14% to 1,512.
In September, the Trust Protocol launched a pilot programme to formally recognise and verify regenerative practices.
“With emerging regulations like the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and growing stakeholder scrutiny, the need for verifiable, robust data has never been more important for brands and retailers,” said Daren Abney, executive director.
Share this story:
