Top 40 supplier Next Level Apparel (NLA; asi/73867) says it’s switching over to U.S grown cotton for all orders placed after Feb. 1 – and will be implementing origin testing protocols to further ensure the integrity of its supply chain.

“This is a significant advancement in our commitment to global social responsibility and builds on our aggressive 2020 supply chain traceability priorities,” said Randy Hales, CEO of Next Level. “This move complements NLA’s robust environmental, social and governance initiatives with regard to suppliers who violate our zero-tolerance policy by utilizing forced labor.”

Next Level Apparel says it will be using a third party that combines forensic science and data to verify the origin of raw material – helping the supplier to increase transparency throughout its supply chain.

“We work closely with organizations throughout our industry to stand up for human rights and against human injustice,” said Carly Gerstman, director of corporate social responsibility at Next Level. “Working collaboratively with our competitors and partners is vital to the success of protecting human rights throughout our supply chain and around the world.”

Ensuring that cotton production doesn’t involve forced labor has been a prominent concern for apparel companies in recent years, particularly since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was signed into law in December 2021 and began being enforced last year. Given how opaque, complex and intertwined global supply chains have become, sourcing experts say it can be a challenge to know whether a U.S.-based importer’s foreign-manufactured apparel or textiles contain cotton produced by forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region.

Founded in 2003, Next Level Apparel is a supplier of premium blank apparel for the promotional products and decorated apparel markets. Based on estimated 2021 North American promo product revenue of $275 million, Next Level Apparel ranked seventh on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest suppliers in the industry.

Promo for the Planet is your destination for the latest news, biggest trends and best ideas to help build a more sustainable and socially-responsible industry.