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. The C&A Sustainability Report states that they are promoting organic cotton farming in collaboration with other organizations.
“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.
“Transparent storytelling is built on trust,” said Patrick Strumpf, CEO of Haelixa. We enable companies like C&A to convey a genuine story by tracking organic cotton from farm to final garment, which increases consumer trust in their sustainability initiatives.
One of the steps C&A has taken to improve accountability throughout its supply chain is this project. One of their Sustainability Report’s objectives is to increase product and corporate transparency so that consumers may make educated decisions. Organic cotton’s traceability shows how innovation can boost company performance by gaining the trust of customers.
This relationship serves as an example for Haelixa that a sustained dedication to expansion is necessary for a successful partnership. Because of C&A’s confidence in the work done on earlier pilots, Haelixa is able to quickly and effectively complete the project at scale.
About Haelixa
The Swiss benchmark for traceability is Haelixa, which provides a complete and simple-to-install system for product authenticity marking and verification. By focusing on cutting-edge textile suppliers and brands, Haelixa helps companies to guarantee traceability across the whole supply chain, boosting customer confidence and brand appeal. Haelixa’s partners lower compliance risks while increasing brand attractiveness and building customer trust. From manufacturing to retail, a unique and traceable fingerprint is linked to the product through the use of sophisticated DNA markers.The website haelixa.com
