Safety of Clothing / Product Safety
Clothing is our business and in view of the fact that our customers wear our products on their skin, the clothing must be harmless in terms of the substances used during the manufacturing process. Therefore it is part of our policy to have an increasing share of the goods ordered by us delivered in accordance with the Öko-Tex-Standard 100. It is a matter of an independent standard to test textiles, which guarantees that certain colours and other potentially damaging substances (like pesticides, formaldehyde, heavy metals etc.) are either not used at all, or only within the legally permitted maximum quantities and that the textiles have pH-neutral values. Nowadays more than 30% of our products carry the Öko-Tex Standard 100 label. We largely use the Öko-Tex Standard 100 for nightwear and underwear for ladies, men and children, for socks and swimwear, as well as for products from our baby range.

Quality Assurance
C&A takes charge of the contents and safety of its products. The task of our quality assurance department is to determine the quality standard and to monitor the safety of the products sold by us. We comply with internationally valid standards and procedures, always focusing on the strictest guideline. The inspection of products begins at the place where the product is manufactured and before delivery to our stores is continued throughout the entire distribution process. We offer our suppliers assistance and guidance with adhering to our quality requirements.

Production Ecology
Production ecology includes the entire manufacturing process for our clothing. The aim is to ensure that all of our suppliers and their subcontractors worldwide adhere to our environmental requirements. Furthermore we are working together with our suppliers on the adherence of self-defined objectives of our environmental policy and encouraging them to improve their production methods regarding the environment and health. A significant contribution to product ecology is being made by the use of organically grown cotton. No artificial fertilisers and pesticides are used in their cultivation. In the year 2008 already more than 12 million items of clothing made of organic cotton will go on sale. Plans are being made to greatly increase this share of the collection over the next few years.

Health and Safety
The safety of our customers and employees from possible environmental dangers is important to us. This is why we strictly adhere to legal health and safety regulations, in order to avoid the dangers and risks starting at the workplace. By means of regular internal tests, adherence to the corresponding regulations is ensured in our stores and distribution centres. In addition an internal occupational safety committee examines accidents and negligence and advises on how they can be prevented in the future.