US Cotton Trust Protocol names directors

The appointees include delegates from across the entire supply chain, leading industry, scientific and academic experts as well as representatives from world renowned environmental organisations.

“We are proud to announce the appointment of the Trust Protocol’s first-ever board of directors,” said Ken Burton, Trust Protocol executive director. “This group of individuals bring unmatched expertise within the cotton industry, a thorough understanding of the sustainability challenges facing the textile industry and experience within the retail sector. Working together, the board will ensure the Protocol will meet sustainability requirements throughout the supply chain and provide an unmatched level of transparency and accountability.”

The directors representing the raw cotton industry include:  Matt Coley (Georgia), Ted Schneider (Louisiana), Shawn Holladay (Texas), and Aaron Barcellos (California), David Blakemore (Missouri), Hank Reichle (Mississippi), Steve Dyer (Tennessee), Fred Serven (Tennessee), Jim Martin (North Carolina), Liza Schillo, Levi Strauss & Co, and Joe Little, Tesco, Suzy Friedman, Environmental Defence Fund; Melissa Ho, the World Wildlife Fund; Marty Matlock, the University of Arkansas; and Garry Bell, formerly with Gildan.

Trust Protocol advisors include Jesse Daystar, Cotton Incorporated; Andy Jordan, Jordan Consulting; Marc Lewkowitz, Supima; Mark Pryor, The Seam; and Mike Quinn, Frontier Spinning Mills.

After initiation of a pilot earlier this year, full implementation is scheduled for 2020 for the Trust Protocol, which is aimed at helping US cotton achieve various national sustainability goals by 2025. The goals include 13 per cent Increase in productivity, i.e reduced land use per pound of fibre; 18 per cent Increase in irrigation efficiency; 39 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; 15 per cent reduction in energy expenditures; 50 per cent reduction in soil loss; and  30 per cent increase in soil carbon.

The directors will govern the Trust Protocol which has a mission of meeting US cotton customers’ sustainability needs and providing transparency on cotton industry efforts to promote farmer economic livelihood, environmental stewardship, caring of people and community, and personal and corporate integrity.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (PC)