Climate Change Data

World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2015, 2016)

Reporting Period: 2015

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:5,087,595 tonnes CO2e
Water Consumption:3.8 billion m3

ESG Focus Areas

  • Sustainable Products
  • Sustainable Supply
  • Sustainable Lives

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced carbon footprint of own operations by 1.4% compared to 2012 baseline
  • 40% of cotton used was from more sustainable sources
  • 564 tonnes of clothing recycled
  • Introduced a new water-saving denim range in Mexico (33% less water)
  • Recycled approximately 5.6 million hangers in Brazil
  • Reduced energy consumption in daily store operations and renovated facilities for enhanced efficiency

Social Achievements

  • Inspiring Women campaign raised €1m+ for 53 charities, with 23,000+ employees participating
  • Developed a new global Code of Conduct for suppliers and trained sourcing teams and suppliers worldwide
  • Rolled out a global Code of Ethics for employees in Brazil, Mexico, and China
  • 90.8% of suppliers had A and B ratings (up from 80.6% in 2014)
  • Participated in the National Agreement to Eradicate Slave Labour in Brazil
  • Supported Mothers Make the Difference campaign with Save the Children

Governance Achievements

  • Became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact
  • Welcomed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030

Climate Goals & Targets

Medium-term Goals:
  • 67% of raw materials to be more sustainable by 2020
  • 100% of cotton to be more sustainable by 2020
  • Zero discharge of hazardous chemicals by 2020
  • 20% reduction of carbon footprint in C&A stores, distribution centres and offices by 2020
  • 100% of products sourced from A/B rated suppliers by 2020
  • Develop approach to circular economy by 2020
  • Create a culture of sustainability and continuously increase employee sustainability engagement scores by 2020
  • C&A to be recognised as the most sustainable retail fashion brand by 2020

Environmental Challenges

  • Resource scarcity
  • Environmental impacts of apparel production
  • Fair labor conditions in the supply chain
  • High water usage in cotton production
  • High energy demands and carbon dioxide emissions
Mitigation Strategies
  • Global Sustainability Strategy with 2020 goals
  • Focus on sourcing more sustainable cotton
  • Global Chemicals Management Strategy to restrict and eliminate harmful chemicals
  • Supplier audits and Code of Conduct
  • Collaboration with industry initiatives (e.g., ACT, PaCT, BMI)
  • Carbon footprint roadmaps for energy efficiency and renewable energy

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 100% of factories that produce clothing

Responsible Procurement
  • Global Code of Conduct
  • Sustainability criteria in supplier scorecard (20%)
  • Supplier training

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: UN Global Compact, UN Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Organic cotton products
  • Water-saving denim
  • Products made from other sustainable materials

Awards & Recognition

  • World’s largest user of organic cotton (multiple years)
  • Responsible Business Award from the Mexican Centre for Philanthropy

Reporting Period: 2016

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

  • Sustainability Risk Management
  • Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

  • Limited knowledge of sustainability risks
  • Omission of opportunities or strategic risks
  • Difficulty quantifying sustainability risks
  • Limited cross-functional collaboration
  • Longer time horizons for sustainability risks
  • Differing language used for ERM versus disclosures
  • Differing purposes for sustainability versus risk disclosures
  • Limited guidance for implementing risk management framework
Mitigation Strategies
  • Enhance application of existing risk management framework
  • Develop risk management interpretive guidance for sustainability risks
  • Leverage capacity building and educational work streams
  • Understand and address disclosure gap

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Extreme weather events
  • Natural disasters
  • Water crises
Transition Risks
  • Regulatory changes
  • Market shifts
  • Carbon tax
Opportunities
  • Development of sustainable products and services

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: COSO, ISO 31000, GRI G4