Our vision
We envision a socially inclusive and planet-positive textile industry – one that respects both people and the planet. To get there, the industry must halve its greenhouse gas emissions every decade until 2050 while ensuring a just transition that benefits workers, communities, and ecosystems.
The future of fashion and textiles is circular, fair, and regenerative. It is an industry where:
- Less is more – We own fewer garments, and they are designed to last, be repaired, resold, and repurposed rather than discarded.
- Waste is history – The linear fashion model has been replaced by circular ones, ensuring zero waste.
- Production is clean – Every step, from fibre cultivation to manufacturing, runs on renewable energy, minimising water use and eliminating toxic chemicals.
- Workers are empowered – Automation and digitalisation don’t replace people but upskill them. Millions of workers, especially women, thrive in new, sustainable jobs with fair wages and safe conditions.
A just transition: why climate action must be human-centred
Reaching net-zero isn’t enough if people are left behind. Tackling the climate crisis means transforming the entire system – ensuring economic security, social protections, and gender equality alongside environmental action.
That’s why our work is guided by leading scientific frameworks, including the Carbon Law, which calls for halving emissions every decade, and the Earth4All framework, which highlights the need for economic and social transformation alongside decarbonisation.
Is this possible?
Yes. The solutions already exist. The textile industry has the knowledge, technology, and opportunity to transform. The question is not if change will happen, but how fast we can make it happen.
At H&M Foundation, we focus on funding innovation, fostering collaboration, and driving systemic change – using communications as a tool to accelerate progress. The solutions exist – it’s about scaling them fast enough to make a real impact.
What is the Carbon Law?
The Carbon Law is a science-based roadmap for cutting global greenhouse gas emissions. Inspired by Moore’s Law in computing, it proposes that emissions must halve every decade until 2050 to stay well below 2°C of warming, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.
For the textile industry, this means:
- Phasing out fossil fuels in production and supply chains
- Scaling up renewable energy and energy efficiency
- Investing in circular business models and innovative materials
The Carbon Law was introduced by leading climate scientists, including Johan Rockström, in 2017 as a global strategy to accelerate climate action.
What is Earth4All?
Earth4All is a global initiative that highlights the social and economic transformations needed to achieve a sustainable future. It argues that tackling climate change isn’t just about reducing emissions – it also requires:
- Ending poverty and ensuring economic security
- Empowering women and investing in education
- Shifting to regenerative industries that work within planetary boundaries
