H&M Foundation — Global Change Award 2027

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Enriched Foundation · Found: 2026-03-14 20:01

Annual EUR 200K innovation challenge for fashion industry circular economy. 2026 cycle CLOSED. Next round opens September 2026.

Source: https://hmfoundation.com/gca/

Funding Details

Funder: H&M Foundation
Funding Goal: Innovation to reshape fashion industry toward circular economy and halve GHG emissions every decade
Funding Amount: EUR 200,000 per winner; 10 winners selected per year (200.000 € – 200.000 €)
Deadline: 2026 cycle CLOSED (Oct 2025). Next cycle opens September 2026. (periodic)
How to Apply: hmfoundation.com/gca — nominations open September annually. 450 submissions from 81 countries in 2026 cycle.
Target Region: Global — 81 countries submitted in 2026 cycle
Last Checked: 2026-03-14 20:09

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Early-stage innovation or idea (not a fully scaled programme)
Connection to fashion industry transformation
Global application accepted

Project Scope

Must address one of four tracks: responsible production, mindful consumption, sustainable materials/processes, or wildcards
GHG emissions reduction angle needed

Constraints

Fashion industry focus limits direct applicability
Early-stage requirement — established operational model may be seen as disqualifying
Next round September 2026

Summary

The H&M GCA is worth monitoring for its September 2026 cycle. The strongest angle for this organisation would be framing collected marine plastic as a new textile-adjacent material — positioning the org as an innovator creating circular plastics-to-product value chains that connect to fashion supply chains. A concept focused on, for example, converting collected ocean plastic in Vietnam or Ghana into pellets for fashion accessories or packaging components could fall within the responsible production or sustainable materials tracks. The prize is generous (EUR 200,000) and the Changemaker Programme provides access to H&Ms entire supplier and partner network — a potentially valuable route into fashion brand partnerships for ocean-bound plastic material.

Historical Context

Global Change Award has run since 2015, awarding EUR 1 million annually split among winners. It has consistently supported circular materials innovations. Annual cycle: nominations open September, finalists announced spring, ceremony June. Non-fashion innovators can enter if they can demonstrate connection to fashion industry transformation.

Why it was added

grant-scan-2026-03-14-corporate

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