Global Sustainability Report 2018
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Sustainable Cotton, Workers, Farmers,
Brazil
Since 1976, C&A Brazil has played a leading role in the Brazilian retail market, including on sustainability issues. We operate 278 stores, 3 distribution centres, and a head office in more than 120 cities across the country. We’ve reported on sustainability since 2010 and were the first fashion retailer in the country to report in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. We were also the first company in Brazil to have an eco-store with LEED certification for sustainable buildings, and the first to disclose its supplier list. We have been monitoring our supply chain since 2006 and contributed to the creation of the ABVTEX (Brazilian Association of Textile Retailers) Qualification Programme for Retail Suppliers, which aims to ensure suitable labour conditions for workers employed by suppliers and their subcontractors.
Sustainable Products
- During 2018, we introduced Gold level Cradle to Cradle Certified TM jeans in Brazil, the first retailer to do so.
Read more - Although a high quantity of Better Cotton is grown in Brazil, few Brazilian retailers buy and use it in their clothes, so most of it is currently exported. Working with our biggest spinners, we have accelerated uptake significantly, increasing the number of BCI members in our Brazilian supply chain to over 60 companies.
Read more - Our in-store take-back pilot more than doubled in 2018, expanding from 31 to 80 stores. As of 2019, the ‘we take it back’ programme is no longer a pilot and is slated to expand to 130 stores during the year. To date, our stores in Brazil have collected 15,332 garments, the majority of which were donated to a local organisation for reuse.
Read more - We have shared responsibility for taking back and disposing of old mobile phones and batteries we sell in Brazil. In 2018, we collected 49,472 batteries and 3,960 cell phones in our stores.
Read more - C&A Brazil was recognized by AMCHAM Brasil Prêmio Ecofor our ‘Cradle to Cradle CertifiedTM gold products’ and ‘In-store take-back + Electronic waste program’.
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Sustainable Supply
- C&A Brazil has had an audit programme since 2006. Today, we continue to ensure our suppliers and authorised subcontractors comply with the social and environmental standards in our global Supplier Code of Conduct, which is sometimes higher than the local legal requirements.
Read more - The C&A Brazil Sustainable Supply Chain programme in Brazil has improved substantially since 2017, showing a strong governance model, and contains several elements that set a benchmark in the country. During the year we trained suppliers on requirements in health and safety, fire safety, compensation, governance, and other topics.
Read more - We were the first Brazilian retailer to engage suppliers in chemical safety issues and have rolled out our Sustainable Chemicals Management approach in the region, working with suppliers to support their understanding and compliance.
Read more - C&A Brazil was rated number 1 for 2018 in the Fashion Revolution Transparency Index Brazil, which analysed 20 fashion brands.
Read more - In 2018, 60 C&A stores were renovated in Brazil, generating a total of 943 metric tons of construction waste, of which 53% was sent to recycling, part of our efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of store openings and updates.
Read more - The region recycled 391 metric tons of cardboard boxes and paper, as well as 62 metric tons of hangers and other plastics during 2018.
Read more - In 2018, Instituto C&A (as C&A Foundation is known in Brazil) collaborated with local non-governmental organisation partner Missão Paz, which helps to advance the rights and empowerment of immigrant workers. During the year, the organisation helped 703 immigrant workers from the fashion supply chain, and supported 9 people rescued from slave labour.
Read more - Instituto C&A partnered with non-profit Centro de Apoio e Pastoral do Migrante to help 3,712 immigrants register as Brazilian residents, and made 906 visits to factories and homes to address social welfare and labour conditions.
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Sustainable Lives
- C&A was again recognised as the most sustainable retail fashion brand in Brazil in our fourth annual survey of more than 6,000 customers.
Read more - We continued customer and employee engagement in our sustainability journey with #WearTheChange, our global, multi-channel sustainability communications platform. Localised approaches and events achieved nearly 118 million impacts, more than 12 million engagements, and numerous articles and posts in the media.
Read more - Two 2018 C&A Fashion Futures events attended by hundreds of people boosted consumer awareness and involvement in the journey towards more sustainable fashion.
Read more - In 2018, C&A Brazil raised awareness for equality and diversity through Diversity Week; a Pride Collection; actions for International Women’s Day; and recruiting fairs for minorities, transgender people, and immigrants.
Read more - In the 2018 employee survey, 92% of C&A employees in Brazil told us they feel proud of C&A’s contribution on the community, society, and environment.
Read more - More than 10,000 C&A Brazil employees participated in the first year of Inspiring World, with donations benefiting two Brazilian NGOs.
Read more - The Instituto C&A volunteering programme at C&A Brazil’s headquarters included 137 employee volunteers participating in 10 events, more than the previous year, and nationwide, 1,541 C&A employees participate in volunteering.
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