Since its launch in 2015, H&M Foundation’s Global Change Award (GCA) has provided 46 innovations with support and combined grants of €8 million.

While it will continue to award 10 winners every year, with each receiving €200,000, the GCA 2025 is switching to a nomination-based process instead of an open application system and looking to adopt a systems change approach, aimed at equipping changemakers to consider the entire textile value chain and its interconnectedness.

The award is seeking innovative ideas addressing different high emission areas across the textile value chain, including sustainable materials and processes, responsible production, mindful consumption and ‘wildcards’ that support its purpose.

“Today, only a fraction of philanthropic capital is directed at climate and the textile industry needs all hands-on deck if we are going to meet our climate goals by 2050,” says Karl-Johan Persson, board member of the H&M Foundation. “I really believe that innovation is key to decarbonising the industry, and that the GCA can play a role in identifying and growing future changemakers whose ideas can have a transformative impact if given the right support.”

“While the industry is hungry for innovation, the holistic perspective to decarbonisation is often lacking and the critical early stages of an innovator’s journey are overlooked,” adds Annie Lindmark, the foundation’s programme director for innovation. “This is where philanthropy can make a real difference.”

In addition to financial support, GCA 2025 winners will gain access to a powerful network of mentors, collaborators and industry leaders to help bring their solutions to life. Together with partners Accenture and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, H&M Foundation will invite the winners to participate in a year-long, tailor-made Changemaker Programme. The Global Change Award 2025 winners will be announced in April 2025.

Interested applicants should contact Jasmin Sofic at H&M Foundation. [email protected]

www.hmfoundation.com