From more than 450 ideas across 81 countries, the H&M Foundation has shortlisted 20 early-stage changemakers for the Global Change Award 2026, the ideas now advancing to the final stage of the challenge, says the awards.
Their innovations aim to help the textile industry halve its greenhouse gas emissions while promoting a just transition for people and the planet. This year's finalists include changemakers from Africa: Living Carbon Capture Dye Systems from Uganda and KelTex from Tanzania, adds the awards.
The GCA aims to accelerates innovation to support the textile industry in halving its greenhouse gas emissions every decade until 2050, while promoting a socially inclusive and planet positive future. By focusing on early-stage changemakers, the programme aims to catalyse ideas that can unlock systemic transformation across the value chain, says the awards.
This year's finalists aim to reflect the breadth and complexity of the textile industry's climate challenge, from raw material innovation to manufacturing efficiency and shifting consumption models, adds the awards.
Among the selected ideas are carbon-negative dye systems that turn atmospheric CO2 into bio-based colourants, seaweed-derived stretch fibres designed to replace fossil-based elastane and AI-powered digital twins that help manufacturers identify inefficiencies and reduce energy loss in real time, says the awards.
Other finalists are rethinking quality control in garment factories through machine-learning enabled smart systems, while community-led initiatives are rebuilding local repair ecosystems to extend garment lifespans and make circularity visible and accessible, adds the awards.
Together, the 20 finalists aim to demonstrate that decarbonising fashion requires both technological breakthroughs and cultural shifts, addressing emissions at source while reimagining how garments are produced, used and valued, says the awards.
"This year's Top 20 list shows that innovation in fashion is becoming more applied and more connected to industrial reality," says Beatrice Oldenburg, Project Manager of H&M Foundation. "We're seeing solutions that address digitisation, recycling of blended textiles, bio-based alternatives and energy reduction, all areas that require both technical depth and system-level thinking."
"Early-stage ideas like these need backing and the right support to move from concept into real-world implementation. That's exactly what the Global Change Award is designed to provide," adds Oldenburg.
According to the H&M Foundation, the 20 finalists of Global Change Award 2026 are:
- Curbon: Joe Wahba and Alan Zhang (United States).
- EntroMetri: Mohammed Ali, Iusiph Eiubovi and Steve Evans (United Kingdom).
- ThreadBridge: Md Ridwan Hossain (Bangladesh).
- ALU: Donatela Bellone (United States).
- Menders Without Border: Bhaavya Goenka, Filippo Ricci and Orsola De Castro (India).
- AIPER: Ailton Pereira (Brazil).
- AgroLyocell (Canvaloop): Shreyans Kokra and Dhruv Gupta (India).
- ArtSilk: Anna Rising and Benjamin Schmuck (Sweden).
- Dawn Technologies (Avantium): Peter Mangnus (Netherlands).
- DiamondCool™: Shadi Houshyar (Australia).
- EnzymeThreads: Alfonso Gautieri and Emilio Parisini (Italy).
- Fiberly: Bénédicte Quinta (France).
- KelTex: Laetus Baberwa and Emeliana Said (Tanzania).
- Living Carbon Capture Dye Systems: Kavuma Henry (Uganda).
- MicroHues: Suchitha Raghunathan and Anjana Badrinarayanan (India).
- Colour Earth: Aurelie Fontan, Meredith Wood and Christopher Ferguson (United Kingdom).
- RheaCycle™: Arzu Sandicki and Mert Topcu (United States).
- Tera Mira: Jeanne Begon-Lours and Lucy Dain-Williams (United Kingdom).
- Arxy Fashion OS: Meng Ji (Luxembourg).
- MycoRenew: Tomasz Mierzwa and Katarzyna Turnau (Poland).
The ten winners of Global Change Award 2026 will be announced in June and will join the GCA Changemaker Programme, receiving a €200 000 grant, mentorship and access to a global network designed to accelerate their ideas from concept to impact, concludes the awards.
For more information, visit www.hmfoundation.com. You can also follow the H&M Foundation on Facebook, LinkedIn, or on Instagram.
*Image courtesy of contributor