Under Armour Strengthens Cotton Supply Chain Transparency

Under Armour, the global athletic apparel, footwear and accessories brand, is joining the US Cotton Trust Protocol, a voluntary sustainability and traceability platform designed to bring data-driven transparency to cotton supply chains.

The move represents a significant step in the company's procurement strategy, offering enhanced visibility into upstream sourcing while supporting domestic cotton producers.

For supply chain professionals, the partnership demonstrates how field-level environmental data can be integrated into sourcing decisions and product traceability systems.

The US Cotton Trust is a voluntary field-level sustainability programme and traceability platform connecting cotton users and growers across America. Its stated mission is to generate positive impact throughout the global cotton value chain, contributing to more sustainable and transparent procurement practices.

Under Armour's membership could aid the company's commitment to supporting US cotton farmers while strengthening its ability to verify sourcing claims with quantifiable data.

Through the Trust Protocol, Under Armour gains access to verified, field-level data covering key environmental metrics including water use, greenhouse gas emissions, soil health and land use. As an initial implementation, the brand is set to pilot Trust Protocol–tracked cotton this autumn in all graphic tees within its Freedom collection, a line honouring military personnel, veterans and first responders.

This pilot could provide valuable insights into how traceability systems function at the product level within complex apparel supply chains.

Integrating data-driven procurement standards

The Trust Protocol operates as a voluntary US cotton initiative using a measurable, verifiable framework to support responsible cotton production and continuous improvement in environmental performance.

"We are pleased to welcome Under Armour, a brand with a strong commitment to innovation and a global reach, to the Trust Protocol," says Dr Gary Adams, President of the US Cotton Trust Protocol.

"Under Armour is building its legacy on performance and technical excellence and embodies the spirit of consistent improvement that drives athletes. The Trust Protocol's data-driven approach directly aligns with those values and will help the brand strengthen its commitment to sustainable sourcing."

The system allows procurement teams to monitor progress over time and validate improvements across critical sustainability indicators. For supply chain managers, this could mean greater confidence in supplier performance data and enhanced ability to meet corporate sustainability reporting requirements.

The data-driven approach also provides a foundation for supplier evaluation and risk management within cotton sourcing operations.

Building traceable supply networks

The US Cotton Trust Protocol is built around creating a data-driven, traceable standard for US cotton, aimed at strengthening sustainability and transparency across the global cotton value chain. Its mission focuses on measuring outcomes, driving innovation and building trust from farm to finished product.

The programme emphasises core values including authenticity, innovation, environmental stewardship, care for people and integrity, all supported by research-based, evidence-led methodology.

A central component of this system is supply chain traceability.

"Under Armour believes performance starts with the materials we choose. Where and how our cotton is grown matters," says Aaron Driggers, Director of Sustainability at Under Armour.

"We are thrilled to join the US Cotton Trust Protocol and strengthen our ability to build better products for athletes while advancing transparency across our supply chain."

According to the Trust Protocol, stakeholders are increasingly demanding transparency, wanting to know where products originate and how they are manufactured. In response, the Protocol aims to empower members with a comprehensive traceability solution providing verifiable proof of responsible sourcing and sustainable practices, ensuring visibility and accountability across the cotton supply chain.

Implementing end-to-end visibility systems

This is delivered through the Protocol Consumption Management Solution (PCMS), which enables article-level tracking of cotton from origin to finished product, supported by mills and manufacturers. The system distinguishes between two fibre types: US Cotton, which represents all cotton grown in the US and provides a consistent benchmark for quality and verified country-level origin, and Protocol Cotton, which is grown exclusively by Trust Protocol growers and reflects farms actively committed to measuring and improving their environmental footprint.

The initiative operates on three strategic pillars. The first is article-level supply chain transparency, enabled through the PCMS traceability system, which tracks US and Protocol cotton from farm to final product and identifies participating mills and manufacturers, giving procurement teams confidence in sourcing origins and sustainability credentials.

The second pillar is quantifiable, verifiable measurement, using farm-level data validated through tools like the Fieldprint Calculator and third-party verification to support compliance and reporting requirements.

The third pillar is continuous improvement, recognising sustainability as an ongoing journey in which growers receive actionable insights to optimise operations and improve environmental performance over time. For supply chain professionals, these pillars could provide a framework for integrating sustainability metrics into supplier management and procurement workflows.