The US Cotton Trust Protocol (Trust Protocol) has selected Control Union Certifications North America (CUC) to implement an independent, third-party verification programme for the Trust Protocol system. CUC was chosen from six applicants following a thorough selection process. CUC is an international auditing company based in the Netherlands.
Data about Trust Protocol cotton is proven via field to market, measured via the field calculator, and now will be verified by CUC. CUC has certified more than 150 programmes worldwide, including working as a key partner in the early development and piloting phases of field to market’s impact claim verification Protocol. CUC has also worked with the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) on its third-party verification programmes in multiple countries. CUC auditors in the US have a long history of working with corn, soy, and canola on standards focused on land conversion, irrigation systems, water management, integrated pest management, soil protection, crop rotation, and conservation practices, according to a press release by Trust Protocol.
US cotton growers will complete a self-assessment of farming practices and share their field data through field to market’s fieldprint platform. The CUC will verify the Trust Protocol annual data that will highlight key sustainability metrics, land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency.
“We’re excited to work with Control Union as our independent, third-party verification partner. Control Union’s agriculture standards, experience and impeccable reputation will provide brands, retailers, and consumers, assurance that the cotton fibre sourced through the Trust Protocol is continually improving,” Ken Burton, executive director of the Trust Protocol said.
