Climate Change Data

C&A Mode GmbH & Co. KG

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2017, 2021)

Reporting Period: 2017

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

  • Sustainable materials
  • Circular fashion
  • Supply chain transparency
  • Reduced environmental impact
  • Employee well-being

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced carbon footprint by 15%
  • Reduced water footprint by 14%
  • Sourced over 65% of cotton from more sustainable sources (organic or Better Cotton)
  • Over 44% of raw materials sourced more sustainably
  • Brought to market over 1.3 million pieces of Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certified™ apparel

Social Achievements

  • Increased supply chain transparency by disclosing tier-1 and tier-2 supplier factories
  • Launched #WearTheChange sustainability communications campaign
  • C&A remains the world’s leading volume buyer of certified organic cotton

Governance Achievements

  • In Europe and China, committed to source 100% of man-made cellulosic fibres from suppliers with practices to prevent ancient or endangered forest products entering their supply chain
  • Introduced first recycled nylon products (lingerie certified to the Global Recycled Standard)

Climate Goals & Targets

Short-term Goals:
  • Source two thirds of materials from more sustainable sources by 2020

Environmental Challenges

  • Impacts of raw material production
  • Need to increase supply chain transparency
  • Need to further reduce water in raw material production
Mitigation Strategies
  • Committed to source two thirds of materials from more sustainable sources by 2020
  • Disclosed names and addresses of suppliers' tier-1 and tier-2 factories
  • Committed to creating ‘Science Based Targets’ to reduce the impact on climate change
  • Announced the aim to further reduce water in raw material production

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Sourcing more sustainable materials (organic cotton, Better Cotton, recycled nylon)

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Cradle to Cradle GOLD Certified™ T-shirts
  • Recycled nylon lingerie

Awards & Recognition

  • Ethical Corporation’s ‘Sustainable Innovation of the Year’ award for Cradle to Cradle GOLD Certified™ T-shirts

Reporting Period: 2021

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:4,953,311 tCO2e/year (Global)
Scope 1 Emissions:17,040 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:133,270 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:4,793,001 tCO2e/year

ESG Focus Areas

  • Climate Change
  • Sustainable Materials
  • Circular Economy
  • Worker Wellbeing
  • Supply Chain Responsibility
  • Water Stewardship
  • Waste Reduction
  • Chemical Management
  • Animal Welfare
  • Gender Equity
  • Customer Engagement

Environmental Achievements

  • Increased the share of recycled polyester from 5.3% to 15.7%
  • Sourced 99% more sustainable cotton
  • Sourced 77% of core materials more sustainably
  • Reduced total emissions by 32% compared to 2019 (influenced by COVID-19)
  • 79% of chemicals used are approved safe chemicals
  • Collected 765 metric tons of used textiles through in-store We Take It Back program
  • Collected 265 metric tons of used textiles through online take-back
  • Launched Forever Denim collection made with Platinum level Cradle to Cradle Certified® denim fabric
  • Reduced unsold seasonal merchandise by 28% compared to 2020

Social Achievements

  • Launched a Global Learning Management Solution with over 300 learning items
  • Updated worker wellbeing program with a new target to positively impact 75% of suppliers’ workforce by 2028
  • 39% of factory base is A/B rated (using a more stringent rating matrix)
  • 533 factories out of 1151 had SLCP-verified assessments
  • 60% of cashmere clothing offered was Cashmere Standard-certified
  • Improved purchasing practices through ACT membership
  • Piloted worker engagement tech with SLCP

Governance Achievements

  • Ranked sixth out of over 120 apparel and textile brands in China’s Corporate Information Transparency Index
  • Achieved the fourth highest score in the 2021 Fashion Transparency Index

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Move towards a zero-waste future
Medium-term Goals:
  • Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 30% by 2030
  • Reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 30% by 2030
  • Reduce blue water consumption by 50% in high water risk areas by 2030
  • Source 100% of core materials more sustainably by 2028
  • Source 100% sustainably sourced viscose by 2028
  • Reduce use of virgin plastic by 50% by 2028
  • Positively impact 75% of workers in supply chain with wellbeing programs by 2028
  • Source 75% of core animal-based materials certified to animal welfare standards by 2028
  • Enable 55% of customers to recognize sustainable choices at C&A by 2028
Short-term Goals:
  • Scale workplace dialogue in key sourcing countries
  • Complete transition to SLCP by end of 2022
  • Roll out We Take It Back program across all European markets

Environmental Challenges

  • Industry-wide challenges in sourcing sustainable materials (administrative accuracy, material availability, higher prices)
  • Difficulties in identifying safe sources of recycled cotton
  • Limited supply of certified organic cotton
  • Fraudulent schemes in organic cotton certification
  • High demand and price surges for recycled polyester
  • Need to develop solutions that recycle textile waste back into textiles
  • Audit fatigue in the industry
  • COVID-19 pandemic impact on business activity and data collection
  • Lack of transparency on textile scraps from suppliers
  • Gender-based violence and harassment incidents (often unreported)
Mitigation Strategies
  • Portfolio approach to sourcing sustainable cotton (organic, BCI, recycled, in-conversion)
  • Working with partners to engage farm groups directly and map material supply
  • Partnership with Recover™ to scale recycled cotton
  • Participation in Full Circle Textiles Project for polyester chemical recycling
  • Adoption of SLCP to reduce audit fatigue and increase data quality
  • Improved forecasting practices to reduce unsold merchandise
  • In-store and online clothing collection programs (We Take It Back, Packmee)
  • Training suppliers on textile scrap segregation
  • Developing a gender equity framework and roadmap
  • Collaboration with CARE and other organizations to address gender-based violence

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 533 factories out of 1151 had SLCP-verified assessments in 2021

Responsible Procurement
  • Supplier Code of Conduct
  • ZDHC Roadmap to Zero framework
  • SLCP Converged Assessment Framework
  • ACT Global Purchasing Practices Commitments

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Extreme weather events (flooding)
Transition Risks
  • Regulatory changes
  • Market shifts
Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI 2021 Standards, UN Global Compact (UNGC) principles, UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), OECD Due Diligence guidelines

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
  • Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
  • Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
  • Goal 13 (Climate Action)
  • Goal 5 (Gender Equality)

Initiatives contribute to these goals through sustainable materials sourcing, emissions reduction, worker wellbeing programs, circular economy initiatives, and gender equity efforts.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Forever Denim collection
  • Cradle to Cradle Certified® products
  • Products made with recycled materials