Bezos Earth Fund awards $34M for next-gen sustainable plastic-free fabrics development

The Bezos Earth Fund has awarded grants totaling $34 million to the Cotton Foundation and Columbia, Berkeley, and Clemson Universities to advance next-generation textile materials aimed at replacing polyester and cotton with biodegradable, lower-carbon alternatives. The multi-institution research collaboration focuses on innovations like bacteria-grown fibers and plastic-free synthetic silk. The goal is to reduce fashion’s fossil-fuel footprint, curb microplastic pollution, and accelerate commercialization within 3–5 years, while strengthening a historically underfunded sustainable materials pipeline across academia and industry.