Climate Change Data

C&A Retail GmbH

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2022, 2023)

Reporting Period: 2022

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:4,055,544 tCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:13,991 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:66,129 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:3,975,424 tCO2e/year
Waste Generated:15,492 tons/year

ESG Focus Areas

  • Climate Change
  • Safer Chemicals
  • Water Stewardship
  • Waste Reduction
  • Animal Welfare
  • Sustainable Materials
  • Circular Fashion
  • Plastic Pollution
  • Workers' Rights
  • Transparency
  • Equity
  • Inclusion
  • Human Rights

Environmental Achievements

  • CO2 emissions decreased by nearly 32% compared to the 2018 baseline
  • 78% of core raw materials sourced more sustainably
  • Launched denim made from 100% recycled cotton
  • 34.6% less single-use plastic compared to 2019
  • 83% of chemicals used are approved safe chemicals

Social Achievements

  • 87% of factories conducted a verified SLCP assessment (vs. 46% in 2021)
  • Launched a labor law app in Cambodia to improve worker understanding of their rights
  • Updated six key policies (Code of Conduct, Supporting Guidelines, Forced Labor Policy, Responsible Exit Policy, Purchasing Practices Policy, and Undisclosed Production Rules)
  • Implemented a new Fairness Channel for reporting grievances
  • Donated €1.9 million to 32 civil society organizations through the COFRA Foundation

Governance Achievements

  • Established a Human Rights & Governance Council
  • Improved processes for human rights risk management

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Reduce absolute GHG emissions by 30% by 2030
Medium-term Goals:
  • Achieve 75% worker participation in programs by 2028
  • Source 75% of core animal-based materials from certified sources by 2028
  • Source 100% of cashmere products with SFA certification by 2028
  • Eliminate 100% of consumer-facing virgin plastic by 2028
  • Achieve 100% more sustainable sourcing across all core materials by 2028
  • Have 55% of senior leaders be women and non-binary people by 2028
  • Have 55% of leaders from under-represented groups by 2028
Short-term Goals:
  • Develop a concept for a pilot project on collective bargaining and set up a new ambitious wage strategy (2023)
  • Rollout the “Seth Yerng – Our Rights” app to 15 more factories (2023)
  • Conduct a gap analysis and start a pilot project on workplace dialogue (2023)
  • Pilot PoSH training in Bangladesh (Autumn 2023)
  • Conduct developer visits to mills (2023)
  • Pilot projects with suppliers on Supplier Accountability (Summer 2023)
  • Three additional training modules on purchasing practices (2023)
  • Create a calculation tool to track labor costs for all suppliers (2023)

Environmental Challenges

  • Climate change and increasing water risks
  • Meeting climate targets in the fashion industry
  • High water demands in the fashion industry
  • Ensuring safe chemicals in production
  • Safeguarding animal welfare
  • Limited availability of organic, recycled, and next-generation materials
  • Scaling circular business models
  • Lack of industry-proven alternatives to plastics
  • Decent working conditions throughout the supply chain
  • Adequate wages and gender equity
  • Lack of industry-wide standards for communicating product sustainability attributes
  • Microfiber shedding from textiles
Mitigation Strategies
  • Raising the ambition of climate targets
  • Implementing climate action measures in own operations
  • Revising water targets and aligning with industry standards
  • Developing an effective waste management concept
  • Working with industry partners to bring scalable solutions to market
  • Testing innovations with start-ups
  • Supporting projects to increase the availability of next-generation materials
  • Promoting capacity building in recycling
  • Working with suppliers and factories
  • Collaborating with industry partners
  • Engaging in multi-stakeholder initiatives
  • Improving supply chain transparency and product traceability
  • Developing a new ambitious wage strategy
  • Developing a C&A training program for grievances
  • Promoting workplace dialogue
  • Developing a new Workplace Dialogue Guideline
  • Developing a new framework and methodology for measuring progress on working conditions
  • Developing training for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH)
  • Rolling out the SSC Program to core and strategic mills
  • Developing a new, more scalable framework for Supplier Accountability
  • Formalizing and finalizing the Responsible Exit Policy
  • Analyzing core products to isolate wages and labor costs
  • Conducting trainings on purchasing practices
  • Creating a calculation tool to track labor costs for all suppliers
  • Revising sustainability claims on the online shop
  • Adding more detailed information on product description pages
  • Pausing the sustainability filter function to avoid misleading communication
  • Building internal capacity through sustainability training and communication guidelines

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 832 assessments in 2022 (87% SLCP, 13% C&A assessments)

Responsible Procurement
  • Code of Conduct
  • Responsible Purchasing Practices Policy
  • Responsible Exit Policy

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI, UNGC, SDGs, OECD Due Diligence guidelines

Certifications: RDS, RWS

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 5
  • SDG 6
  • SDG 8
  • SDG 9
  • SDG 12
  • SDG 13
  • SDG 14
  • SDG 15
  • SDG 17

The report details how various initiatives contribute to these goals.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Denim made from 100% recycled cotton
  • Eco ACE™ activewear collection (Brazil)
  • Cradle to Cradle Certified® products

Reporting Period: 2023

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:2,938,135 tCO2e (market-based); 2,986,316 tCO2e (location-based)
Scope 1 Emissions:12,893 tCO2e
Scope 2 Emissions:37,648 tCO2e
Scope 3 Emissions:2,887,594 tCO2e
Renewable Energy Share:80% (own operations)
Total Energy Consumption:Not disclosed
Water Consumption:Not disclosed
Waste Generated:13,582 tons (non-hazardous)
Carbon Intensity:Not disclosed

ESG Focus Areas

  • Climate Change
  • Pollution
  • Water Stewardship
  • Safer Chemicals
  • Circular Economy
  • Resource Use
  • Human Rights
  • Worker Well-being
  • Consumer Protection
  • Data Privacy
  • Social Inclusion
  • Business Conduct
  • Supplier Relations
  • Anti-corruption
  • Animal Welfare

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced single-use plastic volume by 36% compared to the 2019 baseline.
  • 80% of core materials sourced more sustainably.
  • 80% of electricity purchased for own operations was renewable.
  • Increased share of approved safe chemicals by 7% against 2022.
  • Expanded Cradle to Cradle Certified© range to include Babywear.

Social Achievements

  • Provided financial protection to workers and their families through an Employment Injury Scheme pilot in Bangladesh.
  • Launched a second upcycled denim line in collaboration with E.L.V. DENIM and Makers Unite.
  • Launched a consumer advocacy campaign, “Proud to Know You,” focusing on the experiences of transgender, non-binary, and asexual people.

Governance Achievements

  • Established the C&A Fairness Channel, an online grievance and whistleblowing portal.
  • Implemented a new Code of Ethics & Conduct.
  • Transitioned the Co-workers Information and Consultation Forum (CICF) to a European Works Council (EWC).

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
  • Achieve 100% more sustainable sourcing across core materials by 2028.
  • Have 7 out of 10 products comply with a circularity principle by 2028.
  • Eliminate 100% of single-use virgin plastics by 2028.
  • Source 75% of core animal-based materials from certified sources by 2028.
Short-term Goals:
  • Not disclosed

Environmental Challenges

  • Supply chain disruptions due to climate events and regulatory changes.
  • High worker turnover and low productivity in the supply chain.
  • Data breaches and consumer data vulnerability.
  • Lack of social inclusion in marketing and product offerings.
  • Challenges in collecting accurate waste data across all streams.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Aligned with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and EU Paris Aligned Benchmarks.
  • Developed a comprehensive Human Rights and Equity Policy and C&A Code of Conduct.
  • Implemented robust data protection policies and procedures.
  • Developed a 2028 Equity, Inclusion & Human Rights Strategy.
  • Developing a holistic waste management approach to improve data accuracy.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 660 SLCP Assessments, 79 C&A Audits, 313 additional on-site visits

Responsible Procurement
  • C&A Code of Conduct
  • Responsible Purchasing Practices Policy
  • Responsible Exit Policy
  • Forced Labour Policy
  • Undisclosed Production Rules

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Extreme weather events impacting production facilities and supply chains.
Transition Risks
  • Regulatory changes, market shifts, and capital investment requirements for clean energy.
Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products and processes.

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: CSRD, ESRS

Certifications: Cradle to Cradle Certified©

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 7, SDG 11, SDG 12, SDG 13, SDG 8, SDG 10, SDG 16, SDG 3

Initiatives contribute to these goals through various environmental, social, and governance actions.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Cradle to Cradle Certified© products, upcycled denim line.

Awards & Recognition

  • Not disclosed