An Indian textile innovation has won the Global Change Award (GCA), an initiative by H&M Foundation. The award supports early-stage ideas that aim to transform the textile industry. Agro-Lyocell turns agricultural waste into textile fibres, offering a new way to source raw materials.
The ten winners took the stage at Stockholm City Hall ahead of the Nobel Prize banquet’s return to the Blue Hall in December. Each winner receives a EUR 200,000 grant from H&M Foundation to develop their innovation.
Agro-Lyocell stood out among thousands of applications. The team challenged the textile industry’s reliance on traditional raw materials. Its innovation aims to use agricultural waste that often goes unused and create new opportunities for farmers.
Turning Agricultural Waste into Textile Fibres
India burns around 90 million tonnes of crop residue every year. At the same time, the textile industry relies on wood-based fibres that put pressure on forests. Agro-Lyocell aims to address both issues by turning agricultural waste, including linseed residue, into textile fibres.
“Every year, millions of tonnes of agricultural waste are burned while the industry cuts down trees for fibre. We’re connecting those two problems and turning waste into a resource”, says Shreyans Kokra, CEO Canvaloop.
Agro-Lyocell focuses on the dense, woody part of agricultural residue. This material often goes unused. Natural fibres from crops already serve the textile industry. However, Agro-Lyocell aims to turn the remaining woody material into a new textile fibre.
This process could offer an alternative to conventional lyocell, which uses wood pulp as its raw material.
Agro-Lyocell Moves Towards Pilot Fibre Production
The team is now working to optimise its process. It has developed a laboratory-scale method to convert agricultural residue into dissolving-grade cellulose.
Early trials have confirmed the feasibility of using multiple raw materials. The team is now moving towards pilot fibre production. This marks the next stage in developing the technology.
Global Change Award Supports Textile Innovation
H&M Foundation launched the Global Change Award to support early-stage innovations in textiles. The initiative aims to help the industry halve its greenhouse gas emissions every decade. It also promotes a just transition for people and the planet.
Since 2015, the award has supported 66 teams from 24 countries. It has provided EUR 12 million in grants.
“Handing the Global Change Award to this year’s winners is a reminder of the courage it takes to pursue an idea before you know where it will lead. At this early stage they need room to test, learn and adapt. Our role as a philanthropy is to support that journey with funding and connections that can help the winners move their ideas forward,” says Karl-Johan Persson, Board Member at H&M Foundation.
Agro-Lyocell is exploring how agricultural waste can provide new raw materials for textile production. Following laboratory-scale development and initial feasibility trials, the team is now working towards pilot fibre production.