American Eagle Outfitters (AEO), a retailer of clothing, has joined the US Cotton Trust Protocol as a new member.

The conglomerate, which includes brands like American Eagles, Aerie, and Todd Snyder, declared that it would work to improve openness, communication, and standardized reporting of its ESG progress with help from the organization.

It is a component of AEO's Building a Better World ESG strategy, which includes the company's ambition to "substantially reduce water use" and specific objectives to reach carbon neutrality at owned and operated facilities.

The Trust Protocol provides members with measurable, verifiable goals and benchmarks to encourage progress in a variety of sustainability metrics, including as soil carbon, water management, and greenhouse gas emissions, through its own tracking system.

Mark Rose, SVP, production and sourcing for AEO, said that AEO is delighted to collaborate with the Trust Protocol as they seek to take their sustainability practices forward, preserve their planet, and accomplish the ambitious targets they have set on their quest to build a better world.

Rose added that the Trust Protocol would give AEO a chance to further validate their responsible sourcing methods and demonstrate the progress they're making toward achieving their environmental goals.