By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has recorded its sixth straight year of growth, with significant increases in enrolled acres and grower participation in 2025.
This year, 2.58 million planted acres are part of the program, up 18% from 2024. The number of participating growers also rose by 14%, now totalling 1,512.
This growth reflects the value the program offers to farmers facing unpredictable weather, shifting markets, and rising input costs.
By joining the Trust Protocol, farmers access data-driven insights that help them monitor and improve their environmental practices, increasing efficiency and reducing their ecological footprint.
“We are proud of the continued increase in grower participation in the Trust Protocol, the voluntary sustainability program for U.S. Cotton, which means greater sourcing opportunities for brands and retailers around the world,” said Daren Abney, Executive Director of the Trust Protocol.
The Protocol provides a traceable and verifiable system that tracks U.S. Cotton and Protocol Cotton through to finished products. This gives global brands confidence in meeting their sustainability goals.
Currently, over 2,500 mills and manufacturers and more than 45 global brands — including Levi’s, Gap, Ralph Lauren, and Carhartt — support the program.
The Trust Protocol focuses on six key sustainability goals: land use, soil health, water management, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and fiber quality. It combines advanced data collection and third-party verification to confirm environmental performance.
This ongoing success shows the program's strong role in helping cotton growers advance sustainability while remaining competitive globally.
Categories: National