To improve the traceability of its organic cotton, Haelixa has teamed up with C&A, one of the top fashion stores in Europe. The collaboration is the result of C&A’s dedication to collaborating with other garment industry players to test and expand new ideas. One of C&A’s goals is to promote the production of organic cotton free of artificial fertilizers and pesticides, which will improve ecosystems, clean up waterways, and reduce farmer expenses.
Following a trial project in 2022, Haelixa and C&A have been collaborating on raw material tracing ever since. As a result, Haelixa and I have agreed to mark their organic cotton for the ensuing three years. C&A can follow the path of its organic cotton from field to final garment by using Haelixa’s DNA markers.According to the C&A Sustainability Report, they are working with other organisations to foster organic cotton farming.
“In our supply chain, transparency and ethical sourcing are essential,” said Alexandre Saus-Salas, Head of Sourcing at C&A. We have started integrating Haelixa DNA into our organic supply chain as part of our dedication to traceability. With an anticipated impact over the following three years, this phased roll-out will continue throughout several seasons in 2025.
Haelixa’s system tracks organic cotton across the supply chain using DNA markers to provide a tamper-proof, verifiable traceability. A unique DNA mark serves as a distinctive identity for the cotton, which is sourced through CottonConnect. Following application, the cotton is examined using forensic PCR tests at several points in the supply chain to confirm the content. The fiber-forward approach’s traceability guarantees the authenticity of the finished clothing materials.
The label reduces the possibility of acquiring cotton from areas linked to forced labor and guarantees the validity of organic cotton. C&A is able to make accurate claims on the presence of organic cotton in its goods that are marked at the field level (during the ginning process) by using the Haelixa markers.
Patrick Strumpf, CEO of Haelixa, noted, “Trust is the foundation of transparent storytelling. By tracing organic cotton from farm to finished garment, we empower brands like C&A to tell an authentic story, fostering greater consumer confidence in their sustainability efforts.”
This project is one of the initiatives that C&A has undertaken to enhance accountability through its supply chain. One of the goals listed in their Sustainability Report is enabling customers to make informed choices by increasing transparency around products and the company. The traceability of organic cotton demonstrates that innovation can support business success through customer trust.
