For the first time textile blends can be recycled at scale. Together with our ambitious research partner HKRITA, the forward-thinking textile manufacturer Kahatex, and a research team made up of retired, but exceptionally passionate and committed scientists – the fashion industry has taken a huge leap forward in the quest on creating a more sustainable fashion future.
With only 10 years left to reach the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals, disruptive innovations on how to solve the planet’s most urgent challenges are more important than ever. After five years of incredible innovations within circular fashion, we are now looking at how to extend the scope to create an even bigger impact. Therefore, the next round of Global Change Award will launch next year.
Business success seemed far from Sarojini’s reach as a child as she grew up in extreme poverty and every day was a struggle. Sarojini got used to finding ways to earn a little bit of money to survive. Today, the 45-year old is a proud business owner selling coconut chips for the building industry.
To drive real change towards a planet positive future, we need to know what we are targeting and why. Together with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), a leading research institution on global environmental change, the H&M Foundation invests in an advanced computer model needed to be able to see how climate, water, biodiversity, ocean and land are impacting each other, and where the future tipping points are.
Our Innovation Accelerator Program for the Global Change Award winners is designed to accelerate the development of their innovations to reach the market quicker and therefore driving change in the fashion industry. This year, our Accelerator delivered knowhow from an impressive list of guest speakers, but it also played an important role in giving a sense of belonging and moral support to our winners because of the pandemic.
H&M Foundation and Social Alpha have joined hands to launch “Techtonic – Innovations in Waste Management”, a nationwide grand challenge in India to identify and curate locally designed, disruptive innovations addressing problems in waste management and improving the livelihoods of waste pickers.
Cotton is certified, recycling is on the rise, value chain processes are improved – but it’s not enough. We need to look at the whole system and see how it can be changed from the ground up. With an ambition to find a truly sustainable solution for the fashion industry, non-profit H&M Foundation and The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) extend their collaboration for five more years in a new initiative called the Planet First program. Ground-breaking technologies are already being tested.
In collaboration with our long-standing research partner, The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), we run the Planet First programme, dedicated to researching and implementing practical solutions for the textile and fashion industry.
The Global Change Award accelerates the transformation of fashion and is one of the biggest innovation challenges in the world for sustainable early-stage innovation. Together with our partners Accenture, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and the Mills Fabrica, we find and support the brilliant minds who are making the impossible, possible.
