Walmart joins US Cotton Trust Protocol, further advancing sustainable cotton sourcing

Retail giant Walmart has joined the US Cotton Trust Protocol, in a move that represents a significant step for the retail sector, expanding the reach of responsible cotton sourcing while reinforcing the company’s commitment to regenerative practices and greater supply chain transparency.

Through its participation in the Trust Protocol, Walmart will now have access to aggregated, independently verified data on sustainability practices from US cotton producers, along with enhanced traceability of US Cotton and Protocol Cotton throughout its supply chain. The membership is in line with Walmart’s wider goal of increasing its use of more responsibly sourced cotton, while contributing to its broader aim of helping to manage, protect and restore at least 50 million acres of land and 1 million square miles of ocean by 2030.

“At Walmart, we are committed to providing our customers with quality products that are not only affordable but also produced in a way that is responsible and sustainable,” said Jerome Del Porto, Head of Corporate Sustainability at Walmart, in a statement. “Joining the US Cotton Trust Protocol is another step in our journey to continue driving meaningful change within our own supply chain and the industry at large.”

Launched in 2020, the US Cotton Trust Protocol serves as a voluntary, science-based sustainability and traceability programme for US cotton, designed to deliver measurable and verifiable outcomes. By combining data collection with a traceability system, the US Cotton Trust Protocol allows brands and retailers to better monitor sustainability practices and track cotton through the supply chain. Additional participants in the programme include Amazon, Macy’s Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., and URBN.

“We welcome Walmart to the Trust Protocol, recognizing the reach and influence their membership will extend in advancing sustainable cotton sourcing practices,” said Gary Adams, President of the US Cotton Trust Protocol. “This collaboration directly strengthens our mission to drive continuous improvement and foster greater transparency in the supply chain.”