About Cotton Incorporated

This information was last updated on December 23, 2020.

Who We Are

Established in 2006 by Cotton Incorporated, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1970 to support the global cotton industry, Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green™ denim recycling program is an industry sustainability initiative. The program helps to further the movement for a greener world through educating and empowering individuals and organizations to recycle old denim, made from cotton, and extend its lifecycle by turning it into something new.

Cotton Incorporated is funded by U.S. cotton growers and importers and we use those funds for research and development, and promotion of cotton. Cotton Incorporated does not make anything or sell anything but does highlight a collection of retailers and brands that have cotton-rich items (more than 60% cotton) at ShopCotton.

Cotton Incorporated is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and we have sought to represent the diverse population of America through our marketing and outreach; such as working with ethnically and body-diverse Influencers in Social Media as well as in casting in creative work. Find our full EOE statement.

Cotton Incorporated’s Mission

Our mission at Cotton Incorporated is to increase the demand for and profitability of cotton. We seek to show you why it matters what’s in the textiles you buy and inspire the use of and desire for all things cotton. Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green™ program brings this mission to life by taking authentic denim clothing, made from cotton, recycling it back to its natural cotton fiber state and transforming it into something new.

Striving to Advance Cotton

All of cotton’s benefits that we relay are backed by science and scientific standards, so you can trust and be as comfortable with the information as you are in your favorite pair of jeans.

Cotton Incorporated works to make cotton the best it can be through research, textile innovations (like water- and wind-resistant cotton apparel and moisture-wicking, wrinkle- and stain-resistant cotton), and sustainable advancements like finding new uses for cotton and cotton byproducts, reducing land and water usage, and modernizing agricultural processes.

Further, the U.S. cotton industry today bears little resemblance to that of the last century or the one before. Modern U.S. cotton production is a high-tech and environmentally-aware industry that provides textile fiber, feed for animals, and food for the growing world population.

One thing that hasn’t changed throughout the years is the popularity of cotton, and what makes

it The Fabric of Our Lives ®.

How Cotton Incorporated Works with the USDA

While we are part of a not-for-profit research and promotion program, we do fall under regulation of the U.S. government. Cotton Incorporated is one of the 21 commodity checkoff programs (like Eggs, Lumber, and even Popcorn!) that fall under the purview of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

As a result, all our public marketing and advertising materials go through an Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) review by the USDA.

Our program cannot take positions on political issues, engage in lobbying, or endorse candidates for office, and all communications must remain non-political (at the Local, State and Federal level). Additionally, our program is prohibited from making financial and gift contributions unless specifically relevant to our marketing and promotion efforts.

For more information about guidelines with Research and Promotion Programs, please visit the USDA’s site.