MEMPHIS – German workwear company Engelbert Strauss has joined the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, a voluntary sustainability initiative for U.S. cotton.
The move gives Strauss access to the Trust Protocol’s data platform, which tracks the origins and movement of cotton through supply chains. The company says this integration will help improve visibility into its sourcing practices and support its broader sustainability framework.
Henning Strauss, CEO of Engelbert Strauss, said the partnership reflects the company’s interest in sourcing materials more transparently and responsibly. “U.S.-grown cotton plays an important role in our products for the American market,” he said.
Founded in 2020, the Trust Protocol aims to provide quantifiable data and third-party verification for U.S. cotton across six sustainability areas, including water and energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil health. It has recorded six consecutive years of growth in acreage and participating growers, despite challenging weather conditions.
Engelbert Strauss joins a list of companies already enrolled in the programme, including URBN, Macy’s Inc., and American Eagle Outfitters. The Trust Protocol’s executive director, Daren Abney, said the addition of Strauss reflects increasing interest from workwear brands in sourcing cotton with documented environmental and social credentials.
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol operates as a non-mandatory initiative for growers and brands, aiming to support continuous improvement in agricultural practices and provide supply chain transparency through data collection and verification.
