Sustainable materials Increasing our offerings

This year, 94% of the cotton we sourced and 64% of the raw materials we used were more sustainable, partly due to significant increases in the Better Cotton share per placed orders sourced, which grew to 60% in 2019.

Our clothing is made from a wide variety of raw materials, including cotton, polyester, viscose, wool, linen, and leather. In particular, C&A strives to drive change in how cotton, polyester, viscose, and cashmere are grown and manufactured. To ensure the materials we use to make our clothes are more sustainable, we strive to source them from farms and work with manufacturers that use fewer natural resources, respect nature and people, and protect the welfare of animals. From sourcing fibres and dyeing fabrics to cutting and sewing clothing, we're working hard to reduce the impacts of our materials and design more innovative products.

Who we’re working with

How we’re working to make sustainable materials the norm

Using the most sustainable materials possible in our products is one way we ensure our customers feel good and do good. We believe in making our clothing responsibly: creating products that are the best they can be, while supporting the welfare of those in our supply chain. To do this, we:

• Set targets across the business, so everyone has a stake in ensuring our materials meet the highest standards.
• Create strong policies on key impact areas like water use, biodiversity and climate change.
• Conduct due diligence that goes beyond simply relying on third-party standards.
• Work with stakeholders and industry leaders who champion best practice to make our products the best they can be. And we don’t stop there – we encourage others in the industry to join us in extending positive outcomes far beyond our businesses.
• Use industry and multi-stakeholder-developed standards and initiatives rather than develop our own standards and initiatives. We believe common frameworks at a global level are the only way of shifting the whole industry towards best practice.
• Work to reduce the water and chemical use, carbon, and waste impacts of the apparel industry, while ensuring people’s rights in our supply chain are protected.

Read more about cultivating supply and demand for organic cotton in China