The H&M Foundation Global Change Award 2022 Winners Accelerate The Transformation Of Fashion
The Global Change Award accelerates the transformation of fashion and is one of the biggest innovation challenges in the world for sustainable early-stage innovation.
Together with their partners Accenture, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and the Mills Fabrica, The H&M Foundation find and support the brilliant minds who are making the impossible, possible.
These are our five new winners who will become the wardrobe heroes we need, and our planet deserves.
RE:LASTANE
The first mild process making elastane and polyester blend fabrics recyclable.
“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of comfort in the clothes we wear, and with that the rising use of blends, especially with spandex. Currently, it’s prohibitively costly and nearly impossible to recycle blended materials. Realizing and scaling Re:lastane’s innovation will allow us to address a key challenge in the recycling of apparel, getting us one step closer to circularity.”
– Walden Lam, Co-founder & CEO unspun, GCA winner 2017 and GCA Impact Advisor 2022
RUBI
Planet positive viscose and lyocell made from carbon emissions.
“This innovation, if expanded to industrial scale, will contribute greatly to CO2 removal and bring direct and indirect water and land benefits to nature and people. This potentially can be a carbon neutral or carbon negative, and nature positive solution to our intertwined climate change and biodiversity loss challenges.”
– Dr. Lin Li, Director of Global Policy and Advocacy, WWF International, GCA Impact Advisor 2022
BIOPUFF BY SALTYCO
A planet positive alternative to goose down, crafted from plants that heal damaged land.
“Saltyco’s innovation provides an integral solution addressing different environmental and social issues at the same time. Its alternative material is not only more sustainable and cruelty free, but it also assists in the restoration of degraded ecosystems and provides a sustainable source of income to farmers. This is the kind of solutions the fashion industry must seek to become a driver of transformative change.”
– Mirna Inés Fernández, Co-founder Reacción Climática and Steering Committee member Global Youth Biodiversity Network, GCA Impact Advisor 2022
BIORESTORE
A laundry solution that restores old and worn garments to mint condition.
“The innovations we see from Global Change Award are truly inspiring. Biorestore is a washing powder, anyone can use it – and it can prolong the life of our garments. That’s good for our planet as well as our own wardrobe. When you buy something that you love and feel comfortable in – you want it to last as long as possible! Scaling this innovation can really transform the way we use our clothes.”
– Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, actress, social activist and GCA Impact Advisor 2022
COTTONACE BY WADHWANI AI
An AI solution that reduces pesticide use, increases yield and raises incomes for smallholder cotton farmers.
“Utilizing Al to modernize what is commonly known as a traditional sector is a step in the right direction to solve the smallholder cotton farmers’ pest problems.”
– Betelhem Dessie, CEO of iCog ACC, GCA Impact Advisor 2022
