C&A and DyStar support circular economy initiative in apparel sector
C&A, one of Europe’s leading Fashion retailers has recently launched in its stores in 18 European markets the world’s first Cradle to Cradle CertifiedTM Gold products. These recyclable t-shirts are made of 100% organic cotton; with safe materials and chemicals and produced in a socially and environmentally responsible way.
They have been certified at gold level by the Cradle-to Cradle Product Innovation Institute (C2CPII). The dyes used in the coloration of the shirts; which are available in two styles and 17 colors, were selected from the range of DyStar Levafix® and Remazol®reactive dyes which received C2C Gold Level certification for Material Health from C2CPII in 2016.
With a selection of apparel dyes for the fashion industry awarded a Gold-level Material Health Certificate, the DyStar Group strives to be part of a more sustainable future and growing a circular economy as well as reaffirms its commitment to environmental and human health.
The styles were developed in close partnership with Fashion for Good. Created with funds granted by founding partner C&A Foundation, Fashion for Good is a global partnership that unites apparel producers, retailers, non-profit organizations, innovators and funders in the shared ambition to transform the apparel industry into a circular one.
C&A and DyStar calls upon fashion industry to join the journey towards circular fashion
C&A, one of Europe’s leading fashion retailers; calls for other fashion brands to join its journey towards a future where circular fashion becomes standard reality.
At the international media presentation of the company’s 2017 Autumn / Winter Collection in Antwerp, Belgium, Jeffrey Hogue, Global Sustainability Officer of C&A said: “As an industry, we have an opportunity to move away from the current ‘take, make, waste model’ to a circular model. In practice, this means designing, developing and producing products with their next use in mind; extracting the maximum value from garments while in use; then recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of use to give them another useful life.”
The call for action follows the company’s introduction of the world’s first Cradle to Cradle (C2C)1 CertifiedTM GOLD garments, a real circular collection of women’s T-shirts, available in C&A stores across 19 European markets as of June 2017. Two additional styles, one women’s and one men’s style, will be launched in Brazil and Mexico in September. Cradle to Cradle Certified™ is an independent; third-party verified certification program that assesses products. And materials for safety to human and environmental health, design for future use cycles, and sustainable manufacturing.