Enabling customers Looking good, feeling good, doing good

As issues such as climate change and worker safety become more tangible, they have become more important to our customers. For many years, we have acted on their behalf to make our clothes responsibly and source our materials sustainably. 94% of the cotton we use is organic cotton or sourced as Better Cotton, we offer groundbreaking products such as our Gold level Cradle to Cradle Certified^TM T-shirts and jeans, and we bring our sustainability journey to life through #WearTheChange in C&A stores around the world and in our online shopping experience.

Read more about our sustainable products

Gathering customer input

In our most recent annual survey of over 6,000 customers, conducted in partnership with GlobeScan, C&A was recognised (in unprompted responses) as the most sustainable retail fashion brand for the fourth year in a row in Brazil and once again in Germany. In addition, trust in C&A remained strong and stable, with C&A rated top among apparel retailers trusted to act in a socially and environmentally responsible way in several countries. As in previous years, our industry-leading work in more sustainable cotton remains one of the top reasons we are viewed as a sustainable fashion leader. Sourcing materials responsibly, being transparent, and making sure workers are treated fairly in our supply chain are still mentioned as the main drivers for an improved sustainability reputation.

Read more about our customer survey

Replacing single-use plastic bags with a more sustainable option                        

C&A is phasing out the sale of single-use plastic bags in all of our more than 1,400 stores across 18 countries in Europe. In 2020, we began introducing the durable 'bag- for-life', made of 80% recycled PET, which can withstand many shopping trips. When worn out, it can be returned to any C&A store and exchanged for a new one free of charge. C&A Europe is also offering customers the choice of 100% recycled paper bags made of unbleached brown paper, which saves the water and energy otherwise needed for the bleaching process. In addition to PET and paper, customers can choose from among other alternatives, such as cotton bags.
 

#WearTheChange

In 2018, we launched #WearTheChange across in-store, online, and print touchpoints, with customised adaptations in some markets. All products promoted under #WearTheChange are produced and sourced in a way that is more sustainable than conventional methods. For example, they are made of organic cotton or are Cradle to Cradle Certified^TM. #WearTheChange also extends beyond products to raise awareness among customers of our other sustainability initiatives.

Our passion for our customers underpins all that we do, and we care deeply about what is important to them. We work hard on their behalf to create clothing that respects people, the environment, and animal welfare, and we actively listen to our customers to understand their concerns and address their priorities.

We ask ourselves these important questions every day:

• Have we done everything to create and produce our product in the most sustainable way and ensure durable quality?
• Are we doing all we can to be open and honest about our business practices?
• Are we building a responsible and transparent supply chain and leaving a positive impact?
• Are we creating more sustainable lives for our customers, our employees and our partners all over the world?
• Are we challenging ourselves to find better, more sustainable solutions? 

With initiatives such as the rollout of our gold level Cradle to Cradle Certified^TM T-shirts and gold level Cradle to Cradle Certified^TM jeans, as well as #WearTheChange, we are working to address our customers’ concerns for the future. By offering more sustainable products to our customers, and showing what’s possible through innovative affordable everyday fashion, we’re helping make sustainable fashion the new normal.