Materials

We know that a fashion product will always have impacts on the environment during its lifecycle from raw materials to production, use, and disposal. Even if a product is made from lower impact materials, such as organic cotton or recycled materials, and produced using more efficient practices, it still consumes energy and resources during all steps including transportation, distribution, and use-phase. Additionally, at the end of its life, it will be discarded or recycled, and the process of disposal or recycling also have environmental impacts.

The fashion industry is a fragmented and globalized system, and it's hard to measure and control all the environmental impacts along the value chain, from the use of water and energy to the disposal of waste, and the impacts of transportation. Therefore, C&A aims to minimize its environmental footprint by integrating preferred materials into C&A clothing. Ensuring our raw materials are sourced more sustainably means they are grown and manufactured in ways that use fewer natural resources, are less impactful to the ecosystems, respect people, and ensure the welfare of animals throughout the supply chain— and are either certified to third party standards or third party verified.

We publish our Sustainability Report annually. In this report, we share our goals and the progress C&A has made in the previous year. Find the latest version here to learn more about our materials.

Organic Cotton

Cotton is one of the most widely used materials in the world and at C&A. All farming practices can have negative impacts on the environment and people. In order to minimise the impact, we have made a commitment to source 100% of our cotton from preferred sources and helping to strengthen the organic cotton sector.

We source 25,7% (Status 2022) of our cotton from organic sources. Organic cotton is grown using agricultural processes that can help building soil health and improving biodiversity as it works without the use of synthetic pesticides, fertilisers, and genetically modified seeds. Organically certified cotton has been checked to ensure that the material conforms to these standards, and it also ensures the conditions of workers. The protection of health, safety and the rights of employees is an essential company value of C&A and thus C&A takes on the responsibility to respect and promote safe workplaces and human rights, also in its supply chains.

From the grower to the garment maker, our organic cotton supply chain is certiﬁed to third-party standards, and never blended with conventional cotton. This means that any C&A product in the store labelled with our BIO COTTON seal is certiﬁed by third party standards. The certification processes usually include annual audits of each stage in the supply chain of all parties involved in the manufacturing of the certified textiles by the certification bodies. This is done through comprehensive on-site inspections, in order to verify that all environmental and social requirements are met. Each step along the chain of custody must include a “scope certificate” (SC) and a “transaction certificate” (TC). A scope certificate lists the post-harvest products / product categories which can be offered as certified and labelled in accordance with that standard and the corresponding production stages. The transaction certificate lists the actual certified products and shipment details.

In-Conversion Cotton

There is a need to grow global capacity of organic cotton to meet demands. By buying in-conversion cotton, we will help scale up organic production and support farmers in making the transition to organic farming practices.

For farmers to move from conventional methods towards certified organic farming practices typically takes three years, known as the ‘in-conversion’ or ‘transitional’ period. During this time, farmers implement all the practices required to achieve organic certification (including not using inputs and practices prohibited in organic farming) and are audited annually by certification bodies as per international organic agriculture standards. In-conversion cotton is the output of the farms during this conversion period. The certification standards C&A uses both establish a chain of custody for the certified in-conversion fibre from field to finished product. The focus lies on confirmation of in-conversion fibre in the final product. One of the standards we use even goes beyond that and additionally addresses the post-harvest processing stages as well as social and environmental criteria. Each step along the chain of custody must include a “scope certificate” (SC) and a “transaction certificate” (TC). A scope certificate lists the post-harvest products / product categories which can be offered as certified and labelled in accordance with that standard and the corresponding production stages. The transaction certificate lists the actual certified products and shipment details.

Better Cotton

Better Cotton is a standard that means producing cotton that minimise the negative impact of fertilisers and pesticides, and care for water, soil health and natural habitats. While it does not replace organic cotton, sourcing Better Cotton is a way to mitigate impacts where organic cotton is not feasible or available. It works using a mass balance system, meaning that each unit of Better Cotton we buy supports the production of a unit of Better Cotton somewhere in the world. This means that the segregation process is not necessary, making Better Cotton easier to adopt in the supply chain, and as a result, more scalable.

The Mass Balance System

Better Cotton works using a mass balance system, which encourages suppliers to buy and use more Better Cotton in a cost-efficient manner because it does not require complexities that result in costly physical segregation along the supply chain. Mass balance means what comes out must balance with what went in. For example, if a retailer places an order for finished garments like T-shirts and requests one metric ton of Better Cotton be associated with this order, a cotton farmer somewhere must produce one metric ton of cotton to the Better Cotton Standard. This is then registered on Better Cotton's supply chain system and credits for the order are passed through the supply chain for that same weight in cotton, from one factory to the next. The result is the equivalent amount of cotton that the farmer produced as Better Cotton, but it has been mixed in with conventional cotton in its journey from field to product.

Traceable Better Cotton

In 2023, Better Cotton Traceability was launched. This makes it possible to trace Better Cotton back to its country of origin usin the Better Cotton Platform (BCP). With the market demanding more and more information about Better Cotton, helping farmers continue to access there markets and generate sustainable livelhoods from their cotton is a priortiy for us. C&A will be one of the first brands sourcing traceable Better Cotton in 2024/2025.

Cradle to Cradle Certified®

Circular products are designed for their next use and to never become waste. The Cradle to Cradle Certified® products programme is the international accepted standard for products made for a circular economy. The standard evaluates a product’s overall sustainability across its entire life cycle. To obtain certification, the product must meet stringent standards in five categories pertaining to health and environmental protection: Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean air & climate protection, water & soil stewardship, social fairness. Under the certification programme, a product receives an achievement level in each category – Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum – with the lowest achievement level in a category representing the product’s overall mark.

In 2017, C&A introduced the world’s first T-Shirt to market that was Cradle to Cradle Certified® at Gold Level. In 2018, C&A followed this up with the world’s first Gold Level Cradle to Cradle Certified® Jeans. To date, C&A has launched more than 4 million items certified to this standard and is continuously striving to extend its leadership in circular fashion.

Recycled Materials

Using recycled materials saves a wide range of different resources, including water and chemicals as well as fabrics. We only communicate that a product has recycled materials to our customers if at least 20% of the product is made from recycled materials. The use of recycled materials is a key ambition in our sustainability strategy. C&A only claims recycled materials that are certified to common third-party standards.

Find out more about the standards we use here

Our recycled materials are:

Polyester

By recycling plastic bottles and other discarded polyester materials, recycled polyester reduces the reliance on virgin polyester production, which requires significant energy and resources. The process of transforming these materials into new polyester fibres involves melting and extruding them into fine threads, which are then woven or knitted to create fabric. This approach not only helps reduce waste and conserve finite resources but also offers a viable alternative to conventional polyester, enabling fashion brands to incorporate recycled materials into their collections while minimizing their products' environmental footprint. Yet, the process still requires significant amounts of energy, contributing to carbon emissions and environmental impact. There are still main barriers and the need for solutions to recycle textile waste back into textiles and move away from a reliance on plastic bottles to create apparel. Find out more about our activities in this area here.

Polyamide

Recycled polyamide, commonly known as nylon, has gained popularity in the fashion industry. Derived partially from post-consumer waste such as discarded fishing nets, carpet fibres, and industrial plastic, recycled polyamide offers a versatile and durable alternative to virgin materials. We embrace recycled polyamide for its ability to reduce waste and minimize environmental impacts. Additionally, this material possesses enhanced durability and versatility, making it an excellent choice for creating high-quality garments that meet the demands of modern fashion without compromising style or performance.

Cotton

Recycled cotton is a valuable resource that allows us to reduce waste and to better conserve natural resources. There are two main types of recycled cotton: post-consumer and pre-consumer waste. Post-consumer cotton waste refers to discarded cotton garments or textiles that have been used by consumers. This waste is collected, sorted, and processed to create new recycled cotton fibers. Pre-consumer cotton waste includes spinning waste and fabrics scraps during the manufacturing process. By utilizing both types of cotton waste, we can extend the lifecycle of the material and reduce the need for virgin cotton production. This approach can help to minimize the impact associated with the disposal of textile waste but can also reduce water consumption, energy usage, and greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional cotton production.

We collaborate with partners to address the scale, availability, and quality limitations in the recycled cotton supply chain, for example with Recover™. This leading material sciences company is a global producer of low impact, mechanically recycled cotton fiber, designed to provide high-quality recycled cotton for garments. The company integrates its fibers into our supply chain and provides technical support to help our spinners and weavers optimize their yarns and fabrics. Currently, most of Recover™ recycled cotton comes from post-industrial cotton waste, for example cutting waste from suppliers.

Regenerated Cellulosic Fibres

Viscose

Viscose, rayon, Tencel and modal are all types of man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCF), also known as regenerated cellulosic fibres. These materials derived from natural cellulose sources, mainly wood pulp. C&A actively supports the use of cellulosic fibres like LENZING™ ECOVERO™ and Livaeco by Birla Cellulose™. LENZING™ ECOVERO™, for instance. These fibre types are sourced from certified renewable wood sources and produced using an environmentally responsible manufacturing process that generates fewer emissions and consumes less water compared to conventional methods. Livaeco by Birla Cellulose™, on the other hand, is made from certified wood pulp and utilizes an efficient closed-loop production system, which ensures that chemicals are recycled and reused.

For all our regenerated cellulose, we follow the SRCCS (Sustainable Regenerated Cellulosics Content Standard).

Lyocell

TENCEL Lyocell fibers are derived from sustainable wood sources, harvested from certified and controlled sources following the stringent guidelines of the Lenzing Wood and Pulp Policy. TENCEL Lyocell fibers have gained a commendable reptation for their closed loop production process, which transforms wood pulp into cellulosic fibers with high resource efficiency and low ecological impact. This solvent-spinning process recycles process water and reuses the solvent at a recovery rate of more than 99%.

Linen

The EUROPEAN FLAX® label certifies the origin of the flax fibre. The flax fibres used to create linen product labelled with EUROPEANFLAX ® are from Western Europe (France, Belgium, the Netherlands). EUROPEAN FLAX® farmers are committed to no irrigation, and no use of genetically modified seeds.

Animal Derived Fibres

C&A is committed to protecting animal welfare throughout the supply chain. When sourcing animal derived materials, we expect our suppliers to abide by the rules stipulated in our Animal Welfare Policy. Amongst others:

 Abide by the internationally accepted Five Freedoms for animal welfare
Only use raw materials that come from animals used for meat production
Never accept materials from exotic, threatened or endangered species

We recognize that animal welfare is not the only impact of animal-based fiber production. For several animal-based fibers, including wool and cashmere, we apply industry standards such as the Textile Exchange's Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and the Sustainable Fibre Alliance’s Cashmere Standard. These standards focus on improving environmental resilience and increasing regenerative agriculture through rangeland stewardship and best practices in land management at the herder level.

Wool

The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) is a comprehensive and globally recognized certification program designed to improved practices in the wool industry. It sets forth strict requirements that must be met throughout the entire wool production process, from farm to final product. The RWS ensures the well-being of sheep, promotes responsible land management, and prohibits the use of harmful chemicals. By adhering to the RWS, wool producers and brands contribute to the protection of animal welfare, the environment, and the livelihoods of farmers and communities. The Responsible Wool Standard is a valuable tool for fostering transparency and sustainability in the wool industry, ensuring that wool products are produced with integrity and care.

Down & Feathers

The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) is a certification program that ensures ethical practices and animal welfare in the production of down and feathers. The RDS provides guidelines for the responsible sourcing and processing of down & feather materials. It guarantees that the down & feathers used in products, such as outdoor apparel, comes from birds that have been treated respectfully. The RDS also prohibits practices such as live-plucking and force-feeding, which can cause unnecessary suffering to birds.

Cashmere

We acknowledge the challenges that cashmere production might have, and we are determined to work towards using more sustainable cashmere. We joined the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA), a non-profit international organization working with the extended cashmere supply chain, from herders to retailers. The SFA was established to goats' welfare, the environmental impacts of farming them, and the social welfare of the herders who care for them. C&A has been first to market with cashmere products that are certified against the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) - Cashmere Standard and has a commitment to source 100% virgin cashmere to be certified to the SFA.