The programme aims to formally recognise and verify regenerative practices among cotton growers and achieve measurable results.
The ongoing pilot targets the 2025 crop year and aims to bolster value for brand members and establish a robust system of framework, verification, and traceability.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
This dual-framework initiative focuses on aligning regenerative practices with quantifiable results for optimal impact.
Furthermore, the pilot will evaluate the market’s appetite for a scalable and effective system that facilitates the integration of regenerative US cotton into the supply chain.
US Cotton Trust Protocol executive director Daren Abney said: “The Trust Protocol is built on a foundation of continuous improvement and providing a science-based approach, supported by a verification process to meet assurances for our members. This programme is a direct extension of that commitment.
“There is a clear and growing demand for materials that contribute to a regenerative agricultural system. This initiative creates a formal pathway for recognising regenerative practices at the field level, enhancing value for our growers and providing brands and retailers with the credible sourcing options they need to meet their sustainability targets.”
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataThe objectives of the 2025 pilot include assessing market demand for regenerative cotton, testing traceability of regenerative bales, and validating the programme’s credibility through a multi-level assurance system.
It also aligns with Field to Market’s guidance on regenerative agriculture.
Growers participating in the pilot are pre-assessed based on field-level data, ensuring eligibility for verification.
The process will be conducted alongside the standard Trust Protocol verification, using both field visits and advanced satellite imagery analysis.
The Trust Protocol has set minimum requirements for participation in the Field Partner Program, which reflect regenerative agriculture frameworks from leading organisations.
These requirements cover areas such as soil health, water usage, synthetic inputs, water quality, and biodiversity.
The pilot programme’s development involved input from member brands and aggregators and is slated for broader implementation in 2026 following its refinement.
By establishing this comprehensive regenerative framework, the US Cotton Trust Protocol said it is taking a step in ensuring both process integrity and measurable environmental impact in the textile industry.
The US Cotton Trust Protocol reported an 18% surge in enrolled planting acreage for 2025, reaching a total of 2.58 million acres despite the environmental hurdles confronting American cotton farmers.
