Haelixa agrees partnership with C&A

Haelixa AG from Kemptthal, which specializes in DNA markers for product traceability, and C&A have concluded a strategic agreement. The international fashion retailer is based in Vilvoorde, Belgium, and Düsseldorf, Germany. According to a press release, Haelixa will track the retailer's organic cotton products along the entire supply chain and make them transparent. Haelixa's DNA markers are intended to provide forensically reliable data. The qPCR tests developed by the spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich(ETH) are internationally recognized and offer reliable validation.

With this agreement, C&A aims to support the cultivation of organic cotton without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This should lead to cleaner water flows, healthier ecosystems and lower costs for farmers, according to the press release.

"Transparency and ethical sourcing are of crucial importance in our supply chain," Alexandre Saus-Salas, Head of Sourcing at C&A, is quoted as saying in the press release. "As part of our commitment to traceability, we have started to implement Haelixa DNA in our organic supply chain. This phased introduction will take place over several seasons until 2025, with the impact expected over the next three years."

Patrick Strumpf, CEO of Haelixa, is convinced: "By tracing organic cotton from the farm to the finished garment, we enable brands like C&A to tell an authentic story and thus strengthen consumer confidence in their sustainability efforts." ce/ww