H&M Foundation

"The collaboration between KBCols Sciences Pvt. Ltd. (Official Account) Sciences and Walmart marks a pivotal step towards transforming the textile industry with more sustainable dyeing solutions." /Vaishali Kulkarni, CEO, KBCols Sciences Congratulations GCA winner KBCols Sciences for initiating a strategic pilots with Walmart! KBCols Sciences, based in Pune, India, manufactures non-GMO natural dyes by fermenting microbes from agricultural waste across India. These natural dyes can be used for various textiles, promoting more efficient manufacturing by reducing water and energy usage in the dying process. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gQShSVUE

"The circular economy isn’t just an opportunity – it’s a necessity. We need to keep pushing for systemic change in the textile industry and ensure a just transition for people and communities along its value chains." Last week our colleague Maria Bystedt attended Bharat Tex 2025 – India’s largest global textile conference. This year, the spotlight was on tackling textile waste and creating circular business models. Key takeaways: 💡 1️⃣ The textile industry is currently only 0.3% circular. There is an urgent need for solutions that reshape the entire textile value chain toward circularity and decarbonisation. 2️⃣ The success of this transformation hinges on ensuring a just transition and the inclusion of workers and communities along the value chain. 3️⃣ Policies and legislation are crucial in shaping a level playing field. They must however to a larger extent account for the socioeconomic impacts, especially for workers and MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises). 4️⃣ MSMEs, the backbone of the circular sector in India, are often underfunded and underrepresented, despite their expertise. Unlocking access to capital is key, and they need to be part of the conversation. 5️⃣ According to The Global Development Incubator, $500 billion can be unlocked by switching to circular models – a HUGE opportunity for businesses and investors alike. 🚀 Saamuhika Shakti | Circular Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF) | Enviu | Hasiru Dala | Sambhav Foundation | Sattva Consulting | FSG | Laudes Foundation | Circle Economy #InclusiveCircularity #CircularEconomy #JustTransition #TextileInnovation #BharatTex2025 #MSMEs #CircularBusiness #Sustainability #ImpactInvesting

Making money without making more clothes?    We are happy to announce that we have partnered with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to philanthropically support The Fashion ReModel. This demonstration project empowers leading brands to identify solutions and unlock barriers in order to scale circular business models and begin to decouple revenue from production.     Although circular business models are nothing new, they are still only a fraction of the global fashion market with traditional brands mostly running small-scale pilots - and therefore circular business models are still far from the norm.     This project’s framework is designed to scale circular business model solutions. To take part, brands and retailers set an ambition to increase the percentage of their revenue derived from circular business models over the next three years and report their progress to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation annually. The first 8 participants are Arc'teryx Equipment, H&M Group (and its brands ARKET, COS & Weekday), Reformation, Primark, and Zalando.    Read more about The Fashion ReModel here: https://lnkd.in/d_xz_A_n

Highlight from this week! Our colleague Fernanda Drumond attended the DELA Summit and met incredible changemakers who are creating a more Diversity, Equitable and Inclusive world with their activities. Her main takeaways from the event, arranged by Ashoka and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, were: 🔷 At a certain point in a social entrepreneur’s journey, they change from a “doer” into an “enabler” and start creating a broader network of change makers. It’s this network, or ecosystem, that creates transformation and enables systems change to happens. 🔷 Creating the strategy for changing from a “doer” to an “enabler” is as important as preparing for your succession. Successful social entrepreneurs have learned how to pass on the work so it can multiply itself in the hands of people with the right strengths and drive! The social entrepreneurs participating in DELA all work towards an inclusive and sustainable future where everyone is seen and heard – challenging the root causes of exclusion and inequality. Ryan Gersava #socialentrepreneurship #DEI #systemschange

GCA update! We have now closed the nomination window and are blown away by the creativity and eagerness to drive change in the textile industry that is out there. Through our 62 nominators, we received a total of 476 ideas from 69 countries spreading across 6 continents; ranging from cutting-edge textile sorting solutions to pioneering low-emission dyes from algae. Screening is now in full swing, stay tuned for coming updates! #globalchangeaward #fashioninnovation

Happy Friday news! Danish fashion brand Ganni A/S has signed a four-year agreement to use Cycora, a recycled polyester created by GCA winner Ambercycle! Many textiles use blended materials that are difficult or impossible to separate, and when textiles are recycled the quality tends to degrade over time. Ambercycle uses chemicals to separate the molecules of polyester, processing it into resin that is transformed into yarn — and it’s also able to separate polyester from materials where it’s mixed with other fibres, enabling quality of the material over time. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dCJ6TpCu #Circularity #Innovation #Sustainability

Disaster affected communities often face both immediate and long-term challenges. To address these challenges we are entering a partnership with SEEDS to build the resilience of people exposed to disasters and climate change impact in Assam and Uttar Pradesh in India. Our partnership will have a multi-phase approach, starting with emergency response and relief, progressing through rehabilitation and reconstruction, and ultimately aiming for sustainable development and resilience building. The funds are estimated to reach a quarter of a million people and are directed to Assam and Uttar Pradesh. The project is focused on: ➡️ Vulnerable communities affected by natural disasters, including excluded groups, women, children, elderly, minorities, and single parents.  ➡️ Disaster-affected households, particularly marginalized groups such as landless farmers, indigenous communities, and people with disabilities.  ➡️ Nature and surroundings, as recipients of interventions aimed at preservation, restoration, and sustainable management in disaster-affected areas.    Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dDNRqYAv

Imagine a future where Bangladesh’s textile industry not only thrives but also leads the way in sustainability and equity. A new report "Just Climate Transitions in Bangladesh", authored by mission-driven consulting firm FSG and supported and co-funded by H&M Foundation and Laudes Foundation, reveals how this vision could become a reality, offering transformative pathways for the textile, apparel, and construction industries to achieve a just and sustainable transition. With insights from over 80 Bangladeshi and international stakeholders, the report suggests possible future scenarios and identifies strategies to address the pressing challenges of climate change while ensuring equitable opportunities for workers. Without climate change adaptation, about 22 percent of the land’s apparel export earnings and about 5 percent of jobs are at risk by 2030. The report urgently calls for increased complementary and concerted action among all stakeholder groups to secure a green and equitable future for Bangladesh’s industry and its workers. Access the report here: https://lnkd.in/dbt5ySZw What do you think of its findings? #justtransition #rmgindustry #bangladesh

Bintix is one of the winners of Techtonic – Innovations for Circular Economy, an innovation challenge in India run by Social Alpha and supported by H&M Foundation, through our initiative Saamuhika Shakti. This company is revolutionizing household dry waste management in India by combining technology, recycling, and research. Bintix uses advanced tech to collect, tag, and analyze dry waste to improve segregation, traceability, and recycling efficiency. They also empower waste workers by upskilling, enhancing working conditions, and minimizing exposure to hazardous waste. Bintix’s platform enables digital tracking and traceability of every kilogram of dry waste collected and recycled. Households receive eco-stats dashboards to promote waste segregation, while QR-coded bags track waste from source to disposal. An AI-powered system is also being developed to improve post-collection sorting, further optimizing the recycling process. That’s forward-thinking! Congratulations to Bintix, one of our Techtonic winners! #circulareconomy #circularinclusion #innovation #wastemanagement

Novopolymer by NovoEarth is one of the winners of Techtonic – Innovations for Circular Economy, an innovation challenge in India run by Social Alpha and supported by the H&M Foundation, through our initiative Saamuhika Shakti. NovoEarth has developed a groundbreaking technology that extracts keratin from chicken feathers, a byproduct of the poultry industry, and turns it into Novopolymer – a biodegradable polymer that can replace conventional plastics. This alternative reduces the environmental impact of plastic waste while supporting a circular economy. Through this, the company addresses critical challenges in waste management, decarbonization, and the rising demand for eco-friendly materials. They also drive social impact by upskilling waste pickers, creating job opportunities, and social inclusion within the value chain. Great contributions to both people and the planet – congratulations to NovoEarth, a well-deserved Techtonic winner! #circulareconomy #circularinclusion #innovation #wastemanagement