Cotton
Cotton Traceability
We began a cotton traceability program in 2019 to further understand where the cotton in our Kirkland Signature™ apparel is coming from. In 2020, we enhanced this program to include supply chain mapping and third-party traceability document verification. More information can be found on our Human Rights page, in the section on Strategic Collaboration. In addition, our Kirkland Signature products made from Pima and or extra-long staple length (ELS) cotton require DNA testing protocols to verify these species. DNA testing is completed in multiple stages of the supply chain.
Kirkland Signature Bed Sheets
Kirkland Signature Bed Sheets are made from Pima cotton grown in the Central Valley of California. Through a patented technology, a program to test the traceability of cotton fiber through the entire supply chain has been established. This helps track the purity of the cotton and verify the manufacturing process from the fields to our shelves, ensuring higher quality. More information can be found in this Cotton Traceability video.
One of the farms that grows ELS cotton used for our Kirkland Signature™ Bed Sheets is the Bowles Farming Company (BFCo), a family-owned and operated farm in California. Beyond compliance with regulatory requirements, BFCo has initiated programs and practices focused on protecting workers and the environment in areas of soil health, climate change, and water conservation. To learn more about these efforts, visit this article: Bowles Farming Company.
Organic Cotton
For our organic cotton products, manufacturers claiming organic cotton must be certified by Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). GOTS is the global industry leader in certifying textiles processing for organic fibers, including cotton. The GOTS system certifies the product throughout the entire textile supply chain, ensuring the organic status of cotton from raw materials to the end consumer.
RECYCLED TEXTILES
Recycled fabric technology is currently a hot topic in the textile industry. To ensure recycled textile claims are verified and validated, Costco requires one of the two approved certifications, the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) or Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification programs. Kirkland Signature™ apparel items require GRS.