Europe 

C&A has a strong presence in Europe, with more than 1,400 stores across 18 countries. As the hub of our sustainability leadership, C&A Europe’s work in our products and supply chains is often adapted for other regions. As part of its sustainability work, our European region leads initiatives on driving supply chain responsibility and transparency, eliminating harmful chemicals, and developing more sustainable products.

Sustainable Products

  • In August 2018, C&A Europe became the first retailer to introduce Gold level Cradle to Cradle Certified TM [1] jeans in Europe.  Since 2018, C&A Europe has continually developed new Cradle to Cradle innovations, including the first Platinum level Cradle to Cradle Certified TM  denim fabric, developed in partnership with Rajby Textiles Ltd. and the Circular Economy advisor Eco Intelligent Growth (EIG).
    Read more
  • C&A Europe has taken the bold step of committing to source 100% of our man-made cellulosic fibres from suppliers who have practices in place to prevent ancient or endangered forest products entering their supply chain, and in 2019, 100% of cellulosic fibre suppliers to Europe were verified as low risk of controversial fibre.
    Read more
  • In 2019, C&A Europe sold 556,000 items containing recycled polyester and 102,000 pieces containing recycled cotton.
    Read more
  • C&A Europe always offers 100% Responsible Down Standard-certified items.
    Read more
  • C&A Europe expanded the in-store take-back programme to additional countries in Europe, and online in France.
    Read more
  • All our European products remain free from perfluorinated compounds, and we have eliminated chromium from our leather tanning process.
  • We eliminated plastic shopping bags from our stores.

Sustainable Supply

  • Because most of C&A Europe’s suppliers are based in Asia, the region drives our work to source responsibly. C&A Europe works with various partners to strengthen environmental practices in our supply chain.
    Read more
  • Several years into the strengthening of human rights due diligence in our supply chain — using the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights to verify our Sustainable Supply Chain programme is fit for purpose against the C&A Supplier Code of Conduct — the third-party assessment has indicated C&A Europe’s programme is working effectively.
    Read more
  • C&A Europe continues actively working with Ethical Trading Initiative, Fair Labour Association, and other brands to support the Syrian refugee workforce in Turkey’s garment industry, taking part in initiatives to help recruitment, raise awareness, and support social integration.
    Read more

Sustainable Lives

  • C&A was recognised as the most sustainable retail fashion brand in Germany in our fourth annual survey of more than 6,000 customers. The use of organic cotton and other natural and organic materials remains one of the key reasons C&A is recognised as a sustainability leader in Europe.
    Read more
  • #WearTheChange has continued as our consumer sustainability call to action in-store and online. Since its launch, C&A Europe has nearly doubled the overall reaction rate compared to our average, demonstrating good engagement with consumers.
    Read more
  • C&A Europe continues to communicate the specific sustainability benefits of our products through #WearTheChange, including Gold level Cradle to Cradle CertifiedTM items, certified organic cotton, recycled polyester, and chrome-free leather.
    Read more
  • C&A Europe collected 1,397 metric tons of unwanted garments as part of the ‘we take it back’ programme.
  • In several European countries, 100% of C&A employees participated in our new Inspiring World campaign.
    Read more
  • In 2019, the partnership among C&A, C&A Foundation[2], and Save the Children reached nearly 2 million people, of whom more than 1.1 million are children.
    Read more

[2]In January 2020, C&A Foundation became part of Laudes Foundation.

[1] Cradle to Cradle Certified is a certification mark licensed exclusively by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.