H&M backs next-gen textile solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across textile industry

The H&M Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the fast fashion house, has announced its 2026 Global Change Awards, funding 10 early-stage textile innovators with grants totaling €2 million ($2.3 million) in grants to accelerate decarbonization and scale climate-focused innovation across the textile industry. Each winner received a €200,000 grant and participation in a year-long H&M’s Changemaker Programme in collaboration with Accenture and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Recipients from Bangladesh, France, India, Sweden, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and the United States will advance their work developing solutions that include sustainable fibers, biodegradable dyes, textile recycling, AI-driven manufacturing efficiency, digital product passports, and bio-based alternatives to leather and elastane.