U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol

What U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol does

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is a voluntary, field-level sustainability program and traceability platform for U.S.-grown cotton, founded in 2020 and administered by Cotton Council International (CCI) and the National Cotton Council (NCC), both non-profit U.S. trade associations. The organization collects grower-level data across six environmental metrics—land use, soil carbon and soil health, water management, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and fiber quality—with independent third-party verification and quantifiable progress reporting against a 2015 baseline. It operates as a membership program open to brands, retailers, growers, ginners, mills, manufacturers, merchants, and cooperatives, and offers two fiber tiers: U.S. Cotton (country-level origin verification) and Protocol Cotton (field-level verification from enrolled growers).

The platform's core technology is a digital supply-chain tracking system that records and verifies every movement of cotton from farm through gin, mill, and manufacturer to finished article. The protocol positions itself as the first cotton fiber program to offer article-level traceability from field to finished product, complemented in 2026 by a forensic-analysis partnership with Oritain for scientific origin verification. Supporting modules include Environmental Data Tracking, Supply Chain Traceability, the Field Partner Program for grower enrollment, and a consumer-facing Trust Protocol Verification Stamp. Membership is the primary revenue stream, with pricing quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

The program serves enterprise apparel and retail brands—including Walmart, Under Armour, Amazon, Macy's, Levi's, Carhartt, Ralph Lauren, Adidas, Urban Outfitters, STRAUSS (Europe), and Next Level Apparel—alongside the upstream grower and processor base. Operating from Cordova, TN (with CCI headquarters in Washington, DC), the protocol is run by a small staff (1–10 employees) under President Gary Adams and a co-director leadership team installed in early 2026. It is a non-profit, not a venture- or equity-backed entity, and is funded entirely through membership dues.

Name

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol

Legal name

U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (operated by Cotton Council International and National Cotton Council)

Website

https://trustuscotton.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is a non-profit, field-level sustainability and traceability program for U.S. cotton, administered by Cotton Council International and the National Cotton Council. It collects and third-party-verifies grower data across six environmental metrics and offers article-level fiber traceability to brands, retailers, and supply-chain partners via membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Cotton Certification and Traceability Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Fiber Crop Contract & Identity-Preserved Farming (Traceable/Certified Programs) (AFAGAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Supply Chain Traceability & Farm-to-Fork Data Systems (AFAAAFAJ), Sustainability/Ethical Sourcing Claim Verification (RSPO, Rainforest, Fairtrade) (AFALAGAJ), Compliance, Recordkeeping & Audit Management (Food Safety, Chemical Use, Labor) (AFAAAFAL), Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL)

Keywords

• Sustainable cotton certification
• Cotton supply chain traceability
• Field-level sustainability data
• Third-party verified sourcing
• Agricultural sustainability program

Headquarters

HQ city

Cordova

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The Trust Protocol operates as a voluntary membership program where brands, retailers, growers, and other supply chain participants pay membership fees to join the program and gain access to sustainability data, traceability tools, and verification services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol operates a voluntary, field-level sustainability and traceability membership program for U.S. cotton. It collects and verifies environmental data across six metrics (land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use) at the farm level, and provides article-level digital traceability from field through gin, mill, and manufacturer to finished product. Members—brands, retailers, growers, ginners, mills, manufacturers, merchants, and cooperatives—pay membership fees to access verified sustainability data, traceability tools, and the Trust Protocol verification stamp.

Product overview

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is a single unified sustainability and traceability platform for U.S. cotton that combines environmental data collection, supply chain transparency, and continuous improvement support. The platform operates through two distinct fiber offerings—U.S. Cotton (providing country-level origin verification) and Protocol Cotton (providing field-level data from Protocol growers)—alongside its Environmental Data Tracking module that measures six key sustainability metrics, and its Supply Chain Traceability feature enabling article-level tracking from fiber to finished product. The Field Partner Program supports grower participation, while the Trust Protocol Verification Stamp provides consumer-facing credentialing. Together, these components form an integrated system enabling brands and retailers to source verifiably sustainable cotton with full supply chain visibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Protocol Cotton: Grown exclusively by Trust Protocol growers, Protocol Cotton enables brands and retailers to source fiber produced by a group of farms committed to measuring and improving their environmental footprint, with more robust stakeholder communication including on-product marketing.
• U.S. Cotton

Products and services

• U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Membership Program The core membership-based sustainability and traceability program for the U.S. cotton value chain. Members join through members.trustuscotton.org and gain access to verified field-level environmental data, article-level supply chain traceability, and the Trust Protocol verification stamp. Membership tiers serve growers, ginners, mills and manufacturers, brands and retailers, merchants and cooperatives, and supporting members.
• U.S. Cotton (Country-Level Verified Fiber) Cotton fiber with country-level origin verification confirming production in the United States. Offers exceptional quality with low contamination levels and cutting-edge production methods, providing brands and retailers with verified U.S. origin through country-level tracking.
• Protocol Cotton (Field-Level Verified Fiber) Premium cotton grown exclusively by Trust Protocol growers, with field-level verification providing verified, field-level environmental data. Enables brands and retailers to source fiber produced by farms committed to measuring and improving their environmental footprint, supporting on-product marketing claims.
• Field Partner Program Program connecting U.S. cotton growers with the Trust Protocol, providing data-driven insights to improve their environmental footprint and enabling continuous improvement in sustainability practices through field-level data collection and recommendations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Soil erosion declined 89% since 2015, and soil carbon indicators shifted positively
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Under ArmourcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 April 2026Under Armour joined the Trust Protocol in April 2026 to enhance supply chain transparency and gain access to verified environmental data including water use, greenhouse gas emissions, soil health, and land use. The company will pilot Trust Protocol-tracked cotton in graphic tees within its Freedom collection honoring military personnel, veterans, and first responders.
• WalmartcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 April 2026Walmart joined as a member of the Trust Protocol in April 2026. As a member, Walmart gains access to aggregated, verifiable sustainability data on U.S. cotton growers and supply chain tracking capabilities. The membership supports Walmart's goal to source more sustainable cotton and aligns with its ambition to sustainably manage, protect, or restore at least 50 million acres of land and 1 million square miles of ocean by 2030.
• Next Level ApparelsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 January 2026Next Level Apparel, a Torrance, CA-based supplier ranking seventh among promotional products suppliers with $282 million in 2024 North American revenue, joined in January 2026. The company gained third-party verification and digital traceability for its cotton supply chain from fiber to finished apparel, supporting its commitment to responsible sourcing and supply chain transparency.
• STRAUSSsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2024STRAUSS (Engelbert Strauss), a German family business since 1948 and one of Europe's leading workwear brands, joined the Trust Protocol in March 2024. The company uses U.S. Cotton in select products and has a dedicated collection featuring U.S. Cotton. STRAUSS reinforces its commitment to environmental stewardship through membership and highlights U.S. Cotton products across its online channels and U.S. catalogues.
• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExisting member of the Trust Protocol, indicating Amazon's participation in the sustainable cotton sourcing initiative as a brand/retailer member.
• Macy's Inc.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerExisting member of the Trust Protocol, participating as a brand/retailer member focused on sustainable cotton sourcing.
• Levi'scoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExisting member of the Trust Protocol, participating as a brand/retailer member in the sustainable cotton sourcing program.
• CarharttcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExisting member of the Trust Protocol, featured in member insights case studies showcasing sustainable cotton sourcing practices.
• Ralph LaurencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExisting member of the Trust Protocol, participating as a brand/retailer member in sustainable cotton sourcing.
• AdidascoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExisting member of the Trust Protocol, participating as a brand member in the sustainable cotton sourcing initiative.
• Urban OutfitterssecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerExisting member of the Trust Protocol (also referred to as URBN), participating as a brand/retailer member.
• Cotton Council InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCotton Council International is the parent organization that administers the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. As a non-profit trade association, CCI operates the program and is responsible for collection and use of personal information under the Privacy Policy.
• National Cotton CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Cotton Council co-administers the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol alongside Cotton Council International. The NCC represents the U.S. cotton industry and provides organizational oversight to the program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Field to Market: U.S.-based alliance for sustainable agriculture with field-level sustainability measurement across multiple crops including cotton. Directly comparable in field-level environmental data collection and grower engagement model.
• CottonConnect: Specialist in sustainable cotton sourcing programs with traceability from farm to finished product for global apparel brands. Closely comparable in mission and operating model, including grower engagement and brand reporting.
• Textile Exchange: Non-profit operating the Organic Content Standard, Recycled Claim Standard, and other fiber sustainability standards. Highly comparable as a fiber-level certification and traceability body serving apparel brands.
• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): World-leading textile processing standard for organic fibers, including cotton. Comparable as a fiber-to-product certification with brand and retailer uptake, though focused on organic rather than broad sustainability metrics.
• Better Cotton Initiative: The leading global sustainability standard for cotton, covering multiple producing countries. Most direct peer given the parallel focus on responsible cotton sourcing, member-based brand/retailer model, and traceability claims.

Others

• Oritain: Forensic origin verification partner of the Trust Protocol. Related as a technology enabler for verifying cotton origin claims; adjacent rather than competing.

Broad incumbents

• Bluesign: Sustainability certification for textile manufacturing covering chemical, resource, and environmental performance. Comparable as a tier-one sustainability standard used by major apparel brands, though manufacturing-focused rather than fiber-focused.
• ZDHC Foundation: Coalition driving sustainable chemical management in textiles. Comparable as an industry-level sustainability collaboration serving overlapping apparel brands, though focused on chemicals rather than fiber.
• Fairtrade International: Major ethical sourcing certification body covering cotton among many commodities. Comparable in its third-party-verified, sustainability/ethics claim model for brands and retailers.

Regional players

• USDA Cotton Program: U.S. government cotton classification and program oversight. Tangentially related as a U.S.-specific cotton authority operating in the same fiber category, though not a direct sustainability program.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/trustuscotton
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnxN7ehkvI-rnlyhNt0FcRA
• Facebookfacebook.com/trustuscotton
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trustuscotton
• Instagraminstagram.com/trustuscotton

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol