MEMPHIS, TENN (October 15, 2026) – The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol announced the first measured outcomes of U.S. Regen™ Cotton at the Textile Exchange Conference in Vancouver. U.S. Regen™, introduced in 2025, is grown under the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, builds on the program’s established Principles and Criteria, and adds regenerative requirements.
Field-level data was collected from 59,094 harvested acres on 469 fields across seven major U.S. cotton-growing states through the Field Partner Program pilot. The findings show that U.S. Regen™ cotton was produced with 20% lower greenhouse gas emissions, 30% greater soil carbon sequestration, 75% lower soil loss, and a 49% improvement in water-use efficiency compared to the established baseline.*
“Growers are making long-term investments in the health and productivity of their farms, while also adapting regenerative practices to their unique growing region,” said Marjory Walker, Co-Director of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “U.S. Regen™ supports those efforts through a consistent framework that measures outcomes, verifies practices, and provides traceability to the bale. We’re pleased to see this program expand from pilot to scaled availability for the 2026 cotton crop.”
For brands, U.S. Regen™ provides access to verified, field-level data tied to the cotton they source, rather than relying only on industry averages. The resulting data provides brands with a comprehensive suite of outcome metrics including carbon removals, emissions, soil health, water quality/quantity, and biodiversity. Enrolled fields are monitored using remote sensing and scientific modeling, enabling company-level Scope 3 reporting.
U.S. Regen™ is traceable to the bale through the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol’s solution. Each bale carries a unique Permanent Bale Identification number authenticated by the United States Department of Agriculture, providing assurance of the cotton’s origin and allowing U.S. Regen™ volumes to be tracked through the supply chain.
For the first time, brands can also use approved on-product claims to identify U.S. Regen™ cotton content in consumer-facing communications. The updated U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Claims Framework is now available, allowing brands to communicate their regenerative cotton sourcing while helping protect the accuracy and integrity of those claims.
“The U.S. Regen™ offering is a direct outcome of hearing from brands that they are looking for regenerative cotton that is credible, practical, and scalable,” said Liz Hershfield, Co-Director of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “U.S. Regen™ connects the work growers are doing on the ground with verified traceability to support brands’ sourcing goals.”
U.S. Regen™ reaches the market through Field Partner Programs led by merchants, marketing cooperatives, and self-marketing growers. Brands interested in sourcing the fiber can work directly with participating Field Partners or contact the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol for more information.
*The baseline for reductions was established using U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol data, including fields without soil health practices. The baseline for removals was established using the national MRV dataset, incorporating both regenerative and non-regenerative practices.
