H&M Foundation Unveils 10 Global Change Award 2026 Winners Driving Sustainable Fashion Innovation
The H&M Foundation has announced the winners of the Global Change Award (GCA) 2026, recognizing ten innovative startups and entrepreneurs developing solutions to help the fashion industry accelerate its journey toward net-zero emissions.
This year’s award recipients are tackling some of the sector’s most pressing environmental challenges through advancements in sustainable materials, textile recycling, bio-based alternatives, and resource-efficient manufacturing technologies. Many of the innovations were inspired by real-world industry challenges and are designed to create practical benefits for both businesses and communities.
The fashion and textile industry remains one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, particularly through raw material production and wet-processing activities. Addressing these environmental impacts requires not only breakthrough technologies but also systemic transformation across the entire value chain.
According to the H&M Foundation, the 2026 cohort reflects a growing focus on early-stage innovation and scalable solutions capable of reshaping industry-wide practices.
Global Change Award 2026 Winners
- Canvaloop (India) – Developed Agro-Lyocell, a forest-free textile fiber made from agricultural waste.
- Alu (United States) – Uses artificial intelligence and behavioral science to promote circular consumption through digital product passports.
- ArtSilk (Sweden) – Produces next-generation fibers inspired by spider silk using microorganisms.
- EntroMetrix (United Kingdom) – Leverages AI-powered models to improve energy and material efficiency in manufacturing.
- Fiberly (France) – Converts textile waste into engineered fibers with cotton-like characteristics.
- KelTex (Tanzania) – Creates biodegradable leather alternatives derived from seaweed.
- MicroBlue by Microbeworks (India) – Developed biodegradable dyes compatible with existing textile dyeing systems.
- RheaCycle by Rhea’s Factory (United States) – Uses AI-designed enzymes to transform polyester waste into new fiber raw materials.
- Tera Mira (United Kingdom) – Produces seaweed-based stretch fibers as a sustainable alternative to elastane.
- threadBridge (Bangladesh) – Introduces smart-glasses technology for real-time defect detection in garment production.
Commenting on the winners, Beatrice Oldenburg, Project Manager at the H&M Foundation, highlighted the combination of innovation and determination demonstrated by the changemakers. She noted that many of the selected solutions focus on resource efficiency, waste reduction, and maximizing the use of existing materials, all of which are critical to transforming the textile sector.
Each winning team will receive a grant of €200,000 and gain access to the year-long GCA Changemaker Programme. Delivered in partnership with Accenture and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, the program provides mentorship, systems-thinking expertise, and industry connections to help participants develop and scale their innovations. The H&M Foundation does not take equity or intellectual property from participating companies.
Karl-Johan Persson, Board Member of the H&M Foundation, emphasized the need to accelerate the adoption of sustainable solutions, stating that supporting innovators at an early stage can help unlock transformative changes across the textile industry.
Since its launch in 2015, the Global Change Award has supported 66 teams from 24 countries with a total of €12 million in funding. The initiative forms part of the H&M Foundation’s broader mission to help the textile industry halve greenhouse gas emissions every decade and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 while ensuring a fair transition for people and the planet.