URBN joins US Cotton Trust Protocol to progress responsible sourcing objectives

URBN, the parent company of fashion brands like Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People, has become a member of the US Cotton Trust Protocol.

The latest brand and retailer to join the program, the move sees URBN strengthen its commitment to responsible sourcing and cotton production. 

URBN’s membership with the US Cotton Trust Protocol further highlights the company’s pledge towards both environmental stewardship and social accountability, which includes its target to source all cotton from verified responsible origins by 2027 and to ensure that 60 percent of all directly sourced raw materials meet responsible sourcing standards within the same timeframe.

“At URBN, we are committed towards ensuring the cotton we use is grown in an environmentally and socially responsible manner,” said Barbara Rozsas, chief sourcing and GTC officer at URBN, in a statement. ”We recognize joining the US Cotton Trust Protocol is a positive step in the traceability of our cotton supply chain and visibility to its environmental impact.” 

The US Trust Protocol is a voluntary initiative designed to establish a measurable, traceable, and impact-driven sustainability standard for US cotton. Providing a scalable traceability system that integrates data and accountability to enhance visibility across the cotton supply chain, it delivers verified field-level environmental data aligned with science-based targets, enabling retailers and brands to measure and track their impact.

The framework supports continuous progress in critical areas such as land stewardship, soil health, and efficient water use while enabling the cotton industry to meet growing demands for transparency across the global cotton ecosystem.

“We are pleased to welcome URBN to the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol,” said Daren Abney, executive director of the US Cotton Trust Protocol, in a statement. “Their commitment to sustainable sourcing aligns strongly with our mission to promote responsible cotton production practices and continuous improvement. We look forward to working with URBN to achieve their sourcing and tracing goals.”  

Recent additions to the program’s growing list of brand and retail participants include Carhartt Inc., American Eagle Outfitters Inc., and Macy’s Inc.