Swiss Technology Leader Haelixa Enhances Organic Cotton Traceability with C&A Partnership
Zürich, December 5th, 2024 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 fertilisers and pesticides, which will improve ecosystems, clean up rivers, 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 production by collaborating with other groups.
“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 monitors 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 testing 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 labour 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 customer trust in their sustainability initiatives. 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.
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
Haelixa is the Swiss standard in traceability, offering a comprehensive solution that is easy to install for marking and verifying product authenticity. Targeting innovative textile brands and suppliers, Haelixa enables businesses to ensure traceability throughout the entire supply chain, thus enhancing brand attractiveness and customer trust. While fostering customer trust and elevating brand appeal, Haelixa’s partners also reduce compliance risks. By utilising advanced DNA markers, a distinct and traceable fingerprint is connected to the product from production to retail. https://www.haelixa.com