Gathering the industry to co-create for a just and fair net-zero future
How can we accelerate innovation and what actions can we take today to create the net-zero industry of tomorrow? Those were the main topics as we gathered changemakers, systems thinkers, suppliers, brands, industry experts, investors and more in Mumbai, India, for the Global Change Award Launch Summit.
The summit offered a packed agenda with talks and panels as well as interactive solution sessions focusing on how the wider textile industry can accelerate innovation and drive towards a just and fair net-zero future.
As the crowd settled at the 145-year-old venue, The Ice Factory IFBE in the vibrant city of Mumbai, three voices from the future welcomed them to the Launch Summit of Global Change Award 2025. They met Rashid, John and Park – and got a taste of their personal journeys from today, into a net-zero future by 2050. What the guests heard was not a utopia, Reweaving Fashion & Textiles 2050 is a story about a possible future based on a science backed scenario, developed in partnership with Planethon.
With the brick walls and an Indian holy tree in the patio as a backdrop, the summit offered a packed agenda over two days with talks and panels as well as interactive solution sessions focusing on how the wider textile industry can accelerate innovation by backing changemakers, understanding one’s place in the large system that makes up the global textile industry, as well as exploring how we could envision a net-zero industry by 2050, while promoting a just and fair transition for both people and the planet.
“We need more people taking bold steps, and investors taking tech bets. Let’s take more risks and let’s bet on people!”
Charles Oyamo, Rethread Africa, on what’s needed to make create real change in the textile industry
Some of the highlights from the summit were;
- Sandrine Dixson-Declève anchored us in science with her presentation about the Earth4All framework – an initiative driving systems change for a sustainable and equitable future, which has influenced the mission of H&M Foundation.
- Indian waste entrepreneur Indumathi inspired us with her journey, starting out juggling multiple jobs each day including waste picking. Today she runs Dry Waste Collection Center where she employs 88 workers and she is an international advocate for waste pickers and a climate champion in her community.
- During the solution session on supporting changemakers, hosted by GCA partner Accenture, participants were introduced to a systems map that laid out the current fashion landscape. Realising we’re all part of this system, guests explored where they operate and what role they play in the system. Co-creating together, they discovered different needs from the changemakers and mapped out where they personally can support, as well as the systems change needed to enable impactful innovation.
“It’s always better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”
Miles Kubheka, Wakanda Food Accelerator, on daring to be bold as a changemaker
In brief
Our AI companion Robin listened in to the conversations on stage and helped us summarise the highlights. Here are their key takeaways;
The need for cross-sector collaboration: Building synergies across academia, industry, and grassroots communities is vital. Whether it’s harnessing the strengths of universities to drive innovation or integrating local insights from waste management in India, collaboration is key.
Courage and patience in innovation: As emphasised by the speakers, embracing bold ideas requires courage, while scaling those innovations demands patience. The stories shared today reminded us of the importance of support networks and the ecosystem in uplifting these innovations.
Holistic solutions: Recognising that decarbonisation isn’t just about technology, but also about people and their livelihoods. Ensuring social inclusion in the green transition is vital, making it clear that the path to net-zero must be equitable.
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“We need to transform the industry. We are doing a lot of good, but change is not happening fast enough. That’s why I want to thank you for coming together today, to collaborate in this room, but also for your collaborations with other stakeholders – a lot will come from that.”
Karl-Johan Persson, Board member H&M Foundation and Chairman of H&M Group
We also asked Robin, H&M Foundation’s fellow AI companion, who had been listening in to all the conversations, to summarize the summit. Here are their key take aways from the day:
- The need for cross-sector collaboration: Building synergies across academia, industry, and grassroots communities is vital. Whether it’s harnessing the strengths of universities to drive innovation or integrating local insights from waste management in India, collaboration is key.
- Courage and patience in innovation: As emphasised by the speakers, embracing bold ideas requires courage, while scaling those innovations demands patience. The stories shared today reminded us of the importance of support networks and the ecosystem in uplifting these innovations.
- Holistic solutions: Recognising that decarbonisation isn’t just about technology, but also about people and their livelihoods. Ensuring social inclusion in the green transition is vital, making it clear that the path to net-zero must be equitable.
Besides the co-creation sessions and stage discussions, guests had the opportunity to go on curated field trips. These trips aimed to bridge theory and practice, showcasing innovative projects in the textile value chain, from dyeing processes to waste management, with a focus on social inclusivity and capacity building.
