Dr. Mohammad Abbas Uddin Shiyak, Associate Professor in the Department of Dyes and Chemical Engineering at Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX) and Consultant at Reed Consultancy, has earned international recognition by winning the prestigious Global Change Award (GCA) 2025. His groundbreaking concept, the “Decarbonization Lab for Textile Process Innovation,” stood out among global submissions and aims to revolutionize sustainability in textile manufacturing. Dr. Abbas received the award from Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden on 23 October 2025, during a ceremony at the historic Stockholm City Hall.
Often hailed as the “Nobel Prize of the fashion industry,” the Global Change Award is an initiative of the H&M Foundation, honoring pioneering solutions that have the potential to drastically reduce the fashion industry’s climate impact. This year, 476 ideas from 69 countries across six continents were submitted. Following a rigorous review, the Expert Panel selected the Top 10 winning innovations, including Dr. Abbas’s visionary project.
As part of his GCA journey, Dr. Abbas is participating in the year-long Changemaker Programme, which brings together global innovators to accelerate the transformation of sustainable fashion. The program is held in three phases across different countries:
- Week 1 (19–23 April 2025, London): Focused on personal development, systems thinking, and team-building with fellow changemakers and partners.
- Week 2 (20–24 October 2025, Stockholm): Centered on industry immersion, idea development, and networking. This segment concludes with the global summit and the award ceremony, where Dr. Abbas formally received his accolade.
- Week 3 (26–30 January 2026, Vietnam): Dedicated to hands-on exposure through visits to textile factories and production facilities, providing practical insights to refine and scale innovative solutions.
Reflecting on this achievement, Dr. Abbas expressed his commitment to transforming the textile sector, saying he envisions a future where innovation and sustainability go hand in hand to reshape industry practices. Through the GCA network, he will collaborate with global pioneers to advance climate-friendly technologies and contribute to a more sustainable fashion ecosystem.
