C&A is a Dutch-German-Belgian fashion retailer. The company has been around since 1841 and has stores all over the globe. While low prices like C&A’s are usually a red flag, quite the opposite is true with the Germanic brand. It has managed to produce clothing for a relatively low price, while being a transparent company that measures and reduces its impact on the climate. The company is the world’s largest buyer of organic cotton, sources 49% sustainably, and is actively improving working conditions and wages in its supply chain. Through the Laudes foundation (former C&A foundation), it’s actively combating climate change and inequality. C&A is not perfect. There are improvements to be made concerning packaging, renewable energy and more sustainable materials. But it’s great to see a company of this size spearheading the change towards affordable but fair clothing.

Publication date: March 31st 2020