MEMPHIS, TENN., March 5, 2021 – The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol welcomes luxury brand Byford as a member of the system that provides brands and retailers with the critical assurances they need to validate that the cotton fiber element of their supply chain is more responsibly grown.
Byford, founded in Leicester, UK with its origins dating back the early 20th century, is dedicated to quality garments, reflecting a commitment to high standards of design and craftsmanship. Today, the brand has more than 1,500 sales points in over 20 markets around the world.
“Byford is committed to reducing our carbon footprint, which is why we have decided to source more sustainable fiber through the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. By working with them, we are now able to monitor and track sustainability improvements, including greenhouse gas emissions. Our direction as a brand is to use more authentic and ethically sourced fabrics and the Trust Protocol gives us confidence the cotton we purchase is from a more sustainable source.”
The Trust Protocol underpins and verifies sustainability progress through sophisticated data collection and independent third-party verification. By working with Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture and Control Union Certifications North America, the Trust Protocol enables brands and retailers to better track the cotton entering their supply chain. Brands who become members of the Trust Protocol will have access to aggregate year-over-year data in six areas: water use, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, soil carbon and land use efficiency.
Additionally, the Trust Protocol’s unique credit management solution will provide the next step of visibility and transparency throughout their supply chain.
“The Trust Protocol’s emphasis on measurement and independent verification provides the confidence and trust that a brand is using responsibly grown cotton and producing a product that consumers can believe in,” said Dr. Gary Adams, president of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “With each member that joins, we have greater resources to help provide tools and knowledge to U.S. cotton farmers to help them continuously improve their sustainability practices.”
Byford joins other leading brands as members of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, including Gap Inc. as well as its collection of purpose-led lifestyle brands Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta, and Next. The Trust Protocol also has over 200 global mills and manufacturer members, including the first 10 U.S. mills and the first members in Latin America.
The Trust Protocol is on the Textile Exchange’s list of 36 preferred fibers and materials that more than 170 participating brands and retailers can select from as part of Textile Exchange’s Material Change Index program. The Trust Protocol is also working to align with existing standards in the cotton industry and is part of the Forum for the Future Cotton 2040 and the CottonUp guide.
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About the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
In a period of ever-greater supply chain scrutiny and a growing demand for transparency, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol will set a standard for more sustainably grown cotton. It brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to the issue of responsibly grown cotton production and drives continuous improvement in key sustainability metrics.
The Trust Protocol underpins and verifies U.S. cotton’s progress through sophisticated data collection and independent third-party verification. Choosing Trust Protocol cotton will give brands and retailers the critical assurances they need that the cotton fiber element of their supply chain is more sustainably grown with lower environmental and social risk. Brands and retailers will gain access to U.S. cotton with sustainability credentials proven via Field to Market, measured via the Fieldprint Calculator and verified with Control Union Certifications.
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is overseen by a multi-stakeholder Board of Directors comprised of representatives from brands and retailers, civil society and independent sustainability experts as well as the cotton-growing industry, including growers, ginners, merchants, wholesalers and cooperatives, mills and cottonseed handlers.
About Byford
With a profound history dating back to 1919 in Leicester England, the timeless quality of the Byford brand has made it a benchmark in today’s fast-moving world of fashion. Over one century’s development, Byford tradition in quality Menswear has now been extended to embrace a full range of clothing and accessories. Today, the brand has more than 1,500 sales points across the world with premium department stores and high-quality independents forming the backbone to this.