C&A remains the world's largest user of certified organic cotton

London - C&A has taken first place once more as the world’s largest user of certified organic cotton, according to the Textile Exchange’s 2017 Preferred Fiber and Materials Market Report. The report indicates that 33 percent of all cotton pieces sold by C&A where made of certified organic cotton.

"Being the world’s number one fashion retailer in the use of organic cotton and preferred man-made cellulosic is a great achievement and demonstrates how our sustainable materials strategy is making a difference," said Jeffrey Hogue, C&A’s Chief Sustainability Officer. "As a significant buyer of agricultural materials like cotton and wood pulp, we are committed to creating better outcomes for farmers, communities and forests."

The Textile Exchange, which held its annual Textile Sustainability Conference earlier this week, estimates that C&A has saved 136.8 billion litres of water, prevented the use of 125,976 kilograms of pesticides, improved the soil of more than 139,973 hectares of land, and prevented the emission of 58.6 million kilograms of CO2 equivalents through its purchase of certified organic cotton.

Outside of the certified organic cotton market, C&A is also recognised as the world's third-largest user of more sustainable cotton, which includes cotton sourced under the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), with 20 percent of the volume of cotton it sourced being BCI. In 2016, C&A was also credited with achieving a leading position for using preferred Man Made Cellulosic fibres, which includes Viscose, Modal and Lyocell, highlighting the brand's ongoing commitment to source fibres free from ancient and endangered forests, in line with the Canopy Style Initiative.

"C&A and C&A Foundation have taken on an industry-leading role for many years and their commitment to Organic Cotton and other sustainable materials are a vital contribution to the advancement of a more sustainable textile industry," added Liesl Truscott, European and Materials Strategy Director at Textile Exchange.

Photo: C&A