Our solution areas

We begin by identifying the largest gaps and opportunities in the textile value chain, particularly focusing on areas with the highest greenhouse gas emissions. We then explore initiatives that tackle these challenges. The selection is made based on our guiding principles to ensure scalability and impact. We also choose partners that we believe share the same values and vision as us.

Our solution areas:

• Innovation: Using innovation as a tool to drive transformation in the industry.
• Research & Demonstration: Supporting research and pilot projects to test and scale transformative solutions.
• Collective Action: Connecting industry, civil society, governments, and investors to collaborate for systemic change.
• Insights & Inspiration: Turning insights into creative initiatives that inspire climate action and shape a new climate narrative.

We also drive change through Disaster Management & Special Projects, supporting impactful initiatives that can break new ground in creating a better future.

Our solution areas explained

Innovation

The main project within this area is our innovation challenge Global Change Award where we look for changemakers who can help decarbonise fashion.

Research & Demo

Our most prominent project within this area is our collaboration with The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), which is dedicated to researching and implementing practical solutions for the textile and fashion industry. We see potential to strategically expand on applied research initiatives beyond HKRITA, but also look at initiatives that aim to demonstrate and support pilots to scale new solutions. 

Collective Action

Here we work with our large collective impact initiatives Saamuhika Shakti and Oporajita as well as other collaborative initiatives bringing stakeholders together to leverage transformation in the industry. These larger initiatives often consist of components of the other categories as well.

Insights & Inspiration

We are focused on transforming insights into creative initiatives that inspire climate action and enable a new climate narrative, for example through storytelling and communications. Additionally, we aim to implement our own impactful and creative initiatives, with the goal of inspiring climate action across the industry. Within this category we work with New Zero World, focusing on enhancing climate literacy and the art of storytelling to accelerate behavioural change.  

Disaster Management & Special Projects

Here we support small but mighty initiatives that can provide urgent relief or break new ground in making the world a better place. This category represents a way for us to explore and stay agile.

Disaster Management

This category also includes Disaster Management. Our strategy within this area focuses on supporting partners across four disaster management phases; mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Together with Start Network, a network of aid agencies across the world working together to transform the global humanitarian system, we support people across several phases to build resilient communities that can handle and recover from disasters, ensuring the well-being of people.

Emergency Relief

In addition, we also work with emergency relief. When a disaster hits, time is everything. Therefore, we have framework agreements with trusted organisations and can donate within 48 hours. To do so, the following criteria must be met:

• There is a trusted organisation in need of financial support for its emergency relief work.

• The disaster occurs in a country where H&M Group is present.

• It is a disaster where vulnerable people are affected.

• There is an appeal for international support in the initial emergency relief phase.