Under Armour has signed on to the US Cotton Trust Protocol, joining a growing list of brands using the programme to strengthen traceability and environmental reporting for US-grown cotton. The company said the move supports more responsible cotton sourcing by giving it access to verified, farm-level metrics that track performance across issues such as water use, greenhouse gas emissions, soil health and land use.
The athleticwear brand’s US Cotton Trust Protocol membership will begin translating into product changes later this year. As an initial rollout, Under Armour plans to source Trust Protocol-tracked cotton for all graphic T-shirts in its Freedom collection this fall. The Freedom line is positioned as a tribute to military personnel, veterans and first responders.
Under Armour’s sustainability director Aaron Driggers said cotton provenance and production practices are becoming central to how the company evaluates materials. “Under Armour believes performance starts with the materials we choose. Where and how our cotton is grown matters. We are pleased to join the US Cotton Trust Protocol and enhance our supply chain transparency as we continue to develop quality products for athletes.”
The Trust Protocol functions as a voluntary sustainability programme for US cotton growers and a traceability platform for downstream buyers. It is built around quantifiable goals and verification, with continuous improvement measured across six sustainability areas. Under Armour said the framework will allow it to monitor progress and substantiate improvements using consistent indicators rather than relying on high-level claims.
Dr Gary Adams, president of the US Cotton Trust Protocol, said the programme’s measurement-first structure fits Under Armour’s focus on innovation. “We welcome Under Armour a brand dedicated to innovation and continuous improvement. The Trust Protocol’s data-driven approach is aligned with these values and will help Under Armour reinforce its commitment to sustainable sourcing.”
The Trust Protocol positions itself as the first sustainable cotton fibre programme to provide comprehensive, verifiable data at scale to demonstrate impact, an approach intended to differentiate participating growers and offer brands clearer sourcing transparency. In its 2024/25 annual report, the organisation said its membership now includes more than 1,500 growers and that participants have recorded measurable progress across all six sustainability metrics since 2015.
For Under Armour, the US Cotton Trust Protocol membership adds a new layer of measurement and traceability to cotton procurement, as brands face increasing pressure from regulators and consumers to substantiate sustainability performance with credible data.
