Press releasesPage 2

We believe communication in itself can spark action. Inspiring stories can help to change mindsets of what is possible and by sharing our learnings and practices to others, we can accelerate change in the right direction and reach relevant target groups.

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Woman in textile factory in Asia
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Commiting SEK 300 million to help solve global challenges

With less than nine years to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDG), it’s clear that the necessary changes are not happening at the speed or scale required. To accelerate progress, the H&M Foundation is broadening the commitment. Together with an ecosystem of over 30 partners we announce a new direction to tackle the world’s most urgent challenges. In a first step, we commit more than SEK 300 million to support initiatives and more is in the pipeline.
Picture illustrating our Planet First program
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USD 100 million invested in partnership to reach a planet positive fashion industry

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.
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Launched – multi-partner collaboration to improve the life of waste pickers

Together with eight organisations H&M Foundation has launched a unique initiative to address the quality of life of waste pickers and their families in Bangalore, India. By taking a holistic approach the vision is to addresses the broken systems that keep waste pickers in poverty, while tackling challenges in the waste management sector. The goal is to enable waste pickers to have greater agency to lead secure and dignified lives.
Dropping blend textiles in the Green Machine
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Breaking barriers for textile recycling

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.
Female textile worker in Bangladesh
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Backing Women garment workers in Bangladesh

The H&M Foundation is initiating a long-term project to support women garment workers in Bangladesh, affected by the global pandemic as well as the increased automation of the textile industry. Lives as well as millions of jobs are at risk, and there is an urgent need to minimize the negative impacts of COVID-19 on female textile workers as well as creating a skilled female workforce for the future.
Global Change Award winners 2020 - group shot
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Innovations that will transform the fashion industry awarded €1 million

From lab-grown cotton and creating fabrics from protein DNA, to tracking sustainable fibres by using blockchain technology, wastewater separation and converting carbon dioxide into sustainable polyester. These are the five winning innovations of the 2020 Global Change Award. Global Change Award, named the Nobel Prize of sustainable fashion, is the non-profit H&M Foundation’s fifth annual innovation challenge. Now, more than ever, H&M Foundation want to continue to support long-term development, innovation and entrepreneurship for a sustainable future. The goal is to identify early stage, disruptive ideas that can make fashion more sustainable, and to scale them to transform the entire fashion industry.
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€1 million grant to five sustainable fashion innovations

Lab made vegan leather, fibers made of nettles, a digital system to make products recyclable from scratch, children’s clothes that expand and a biodegradable toxic-free membrane for outdoor wear are this year’s Global Change Award winners, sharing a €1 million grant from the H&M Foundation. Today H&M Foundation also announces an initiative with crowdfunding platform Indiegogo, that puts consumers in the front seat, enabling them to take active part as supporters, backers, and testers of the five innovations.
A father and his child
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Brain boosting baby talk for dads

During the first years of a baby’s life, their brain forms new connections at the amazing rate of 1,000 per second. Research shows that when we speak slower, more melodically and make exaggerated sounds it makes it easier for babies to learn new words and develop cognitive abilities. However, research has also shown that many fathers don’t interact with their babies in the same way as mothers do. In a global campaign with UNICEF, we urged fathers to speak baby talk to boost their babies brains. The initiative encouraged dads to interact more with their babies at an early age.