More sustainable cotton
We place a high emphasis on sourcing and purchasing high-quality, sustainably grown cotton. To that end, we are increasing the amount of sustainable cotton we source through reputable third-party verified programs, such as The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (USCTP)® and Better Cotton.
Our 2025 goal
In 2022, we set a goal to source 100% third-party verified, sustainable cotton by 2025. Why? Because cotton represents approximately 80% of our total fibre input and we recognize that protecting this resource is important to our business.
We’re happy to say that in 2022, approximately 21.7% of our cotton was verified by third-party such as USCTP and Better Cotton!
Third-party assurances
Gildan partners with credible organizations to provide our stakeholders with the additional assurances that the cotton we purchase is sustainably grown with low environmental and social risks.
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol®
Gildan has been a member of The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (USCTP)® since 2021, The USCTP was designed to set a new standard in more sustainably grown cotton, ensuring it contributes to the protection and preservation of the planet, using the most sustainable and responsible techniques.
Cotton USA®
Since 2009, Gildan has proudly displayed the Cotton USA® mark on consumer-product packaging and shipping materials licensed by Cotton Council International (CCI). This internationally recognized mark symbolizes the inherent benefits that the U.S. cotton industry delivers as a highly regulated crop.
Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)
Gildan has been a manufacturing member of Better Cotton since 2015, and more recently, also joined as a retail member. Better Cotton is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder governance group that promotes better standards in cotton farming and practices across 21 countries. This program aims to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment.
One of the largest domestic consumers of U.S. cotton
Did you know that Gildan is one of the largest domestic consumers of U.S. cotton? That’s right, approximately 90% of the cotton for our apparel comes from the United States.
In the U.S. cotton is regulated as a food crop under strict United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines, so cotton grown in the U.S. represents the best combination of quality and value for our products. Under the guidance of the National Cotton Council, USDA, and various other organizations, U.S. farmers have continuously reduced their environmental footprint by adopting various agricultural practices to conserve resources and maximize efficiency.
Take for instance conservation-based agricultural practices and advanced soil monitoring systems, which allow farmers to reduce soil erosion and residual impacts on the environment, or GPS positioning and advanced delivery systems, which enable farmers to be more efficient in planting, fertilizing, and harvesting their crops. All in all, it helps to reduce GHG emissions and environmental impacts on the land and neighbouring ecosystems.
U.S. cotton farmers are required to adhere to strict U.S. labour laws and Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) regulations, which are among the most stringent in the global cotton industry.
Our position on
Uzbekistan cotton
We require all our third-party yarn suppliers to confirm through a signed statement or binding contract that they do not use or procure any cotton fibre originating from Uzbekistan. In 2013, we determined that less than 5% of our total cotton supply was at risk of being supplied with fibre from Uzbekistan. As such, we believe that there is a low risk of cotton originating from these crops in any of our products.