C&A

Our “Planet” rating evaluates brands based on the environmental policies in their supply chains, from carbon emissions and wastewater to business models and product circularity. Here we rate C&A “It’s a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It uses some lower-impact materials including organic cotton.
• It’s set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain, and it claims it’s on track.
• There’s no evidence it’s taking actions to protect biodiversity in its supply chain.
• To minimise waste, it reuses some of its textile offcuts.

Workers’ rights are central to our “People” rating, which assess brands’ policies and practices on everything from child labour to living wages and gender equality. Here we rate C&A “It’s a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It sources its final stage of production from countries with extreme risk of labour abuse.
• The brand claims to audit some of its supply chain but doesn’t specify what percentage.
• There’s no evidence it supports diversity and inclusion in its supply chain.
• It has an internal grievance mechanism for workers in its supply chain to anonymously report concerns like harassment and unpaid wages.
• Its Code of Conduct covers ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles.
• There’s no evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in its supply chain.
• During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it disclosed some policies to protect workers in its supply chain from the virus.

Brands’ animal welfare policies and, where applicable, how well they trace their animal-derived products are the focus of our “Animals” rating. Here we rate C&A “It’s a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It has a formal policy aligned with the Five Domains of animal welfare.
• It appears to use leather and exotic animal hair.
• Responsible Down Standard certifies some of the down it uses.
• Responsible Wool Standard certifies some of the wool it uses.
• It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, or exotic animal skin.
• It traces some animal-derived materials to the first production stage.

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate C&A “It’s a Start” overall.