A laundry solution that prolongs garments’ life, AI helping smallholder cotton farmers to increase yield and income, an invention realising the circular recycling of elastane and polyester blends, carbon-negative viscose made from CO2 emissions and regenerative agriculture making planet positive alternative to goose down – these are the five Global Change Award winners 2022, sharing a €1 million grant from the non-profit H&M Foundation.
The award: The H&M Foundation launched the GCA in 2015 to transform fashion and make it planet positive, in order for the industry to fulfil the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The winners: In addition to the financial grant, all five winners also get access to the one-year GCA Impact Accelerator programme provided by H&M Foundation in partnership with Accenture, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and The Mills, offering the winners invaluable coaching and support, along with a strong network and memories for life. This year’s winners are:
- BioPuff by saltyco (UK) – A planet positive alternative to goose down, crafted from plants that heal damaged land.
- BIORESTORE (Sweden) – A laundry solution that restores old and worn garments to mint condition.
- CottonAce by Wadhwani AI (India) – An AI solution that reduces pesticide use, increases yield and raises incomes for smallholder cotton farmers.
- Re:lastane (China) – The first mild process making elastane and polyester blend fabrics recyclable.
- Rubi (US) – Planet positive viscose and lyocell made from carbon emissions.
