Walmart Joins U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol to Trace Sustainable Cotton
Walmart has announced its membership in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, a voluntary sustainability program and traceability platform for American cotton. This move is part of the company's strategy to increase its supply of sustainable cotton and enhance transparency in its supply chain.
Enhancing Sustainability and Traceability
As a member of the Trust Protocol, Walmart will have access to aggregated and verifiable data on the sustainability practices of American cotton producers and will be able to track the movement of protocol-compliant American cotton through its supply chain. This participation aligns with Walmart's broader ambition to contribute to the sustainable management, protection, and/or restoration of at least 50 million acres of land and 1 million square miles of ocean by 2030. Jerome Del Porto, the company's sustainability officer, stated: 'At Walmart, we are committed to providing our customers with quality products that are not only affordable but also produced in a responsible and sustainable manner. Joining the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is another step in our journey to continue driving meaningful changes in our own supply chain and in the industry as a whole.'
A Science-Based Sustainability Program
Established in 2020, the Trust Protocol is a science-based sustainability program that collects data at the farm level on six key sustainability indicators: land use, soil health, water management, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and fiber quality. These data are aggregated and verified by an independent third party. Walmart joins other members of the protocol including Amazon, Macy's Inc., Levi's, and URBN.
