Our solution areas

To achieve our mission – supporting the textile industry in halving greenhouse gas emissions every decade while ensuring a just transition – we focus on four solution areas: innovation, research and demonstration, collective action, and insights and inspiration. Each one plays a critical role in decarbonising the industry while promoting equity and resilience.

In addition to these, we also work with disaster management as a complementary area of impact – supporting vulnerable communities affected by climate-related disasters.

Innovation – unlocking new solutions for industry transformation

We believe innovation is a key driver of change – helping the textile industry move away from extractive, high-emission practices toward circular and regenerative solutions. Our work spans from early-stage breakthroughs to scaling promising solutions that accelerate decarbonisation.

A cornerstone of our innovation efforts is the Global Change Award, an annual challenge seeking visionary changemakers with groundbreaking ideas. Beyond this, we fund initiatives that strengthen the innovation ecosystem, ensuring that bold ideas can develop into real-world impact.

Research & demonstration – advancing and scaling transformative solutions

We support research and pilot projects that generate insights and test new models for industry transformation. By demonstrating solutions in real-world settings, we help bridge the gap between innovation and large-scale adoption.

For example, we are exploring agrivoltaics in Bangladesh, a project that integrates solar energy with farming to create sustainable power solutions for textile production. Another initiative, The Fashion Remodel, is testing new business models that allow brands to generate revenue without making new clothes, paving the way for a circular fashion economy.

Collective action – driving systemic change through collaboration

No organisation can transform the industry alone. Collective Action is about bringing diverse stakeholders together – including brands, suppliers, civil society, policymakers, and investors – to create shared solutions.

We have applied this approach in large-scale initiatives such as Saamuhika Shakti in India and Oporajita in Bangladesh, which unite multiple partners around a common agenda for industry transformation. By fostering collaboration, we ensure that sustainability efforts are coordinated, scalable, and impactful.

Insights & inspiration – using communication to accelerate change

Communication is a powerful driver of change. Through Insights & Inspiration, we strengthen climate narratives, influence decision-making, and make sustainable choices more desirable. By reshaping climate narratives and driving engagement, we accelerate the industry’s shift toward decarbonisation and climate action.

For example, through our collaboration with New Zero World, we support projects that enhance climate literacy and storytelling to accelerate behavioural change.

In addition to these four solution areas, we also work with Disaster Management – supporting urgent, high-impact initiatives that lie beyond our core focus but align with our values and mission.

Disaster management

Our work in disaster management spans the four key phases of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. For example, we partner with Start Network, a global coalition of aid agencies, to help communities build resilience against climate-related disasters. We’re also working with SEEDS in in Assam and Uttar Pradesh in India, where we’re building the resilience of people exposed to disasters and climate change.

Emergency relief

The H&M Foundation provides emergency relief donations in the wake of natural disasters to support affected communities. We work with trusted humanitarian organisations and have a framework in place that enables us to respond quickly when disaster strikes. Support is based on a set of criteria, including the scale of the disaster, the vulnerability of those affected, and the presence of an appeal for international assistance. In rare cases, we may also respond to exceptional situations outside these criteria. Our goal is always to provide timely and impactful support where it’s most needed.

Scaling solutions for lasting change

Through these areas of work, we focus on initiatives with the potential for systemic impact, scalability, and long-term transformation. By combining innovation, collaboration, research, and strategic communication, we help accelerate the textile industry’s decarbonisation while ensuring a just transition for both people and the planet.