May 20, 2025 –
In a remarkable achievement for Bangladesh’s textile sector, Dr. Abbas Uddin Shiyak, Assistant Professor at Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX), has been named one of the top 10 innovators worldwide in the Global Change Award 2025, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Fashion Innovation.” This prestigious recognition highlights his visionary project, the “Decarbonization Lab”, and underscores Bangladesh’s growing leadership in sustainable textile innovation.
The Global Change Award, initiated by the H&M Foundation in 2015, is one of the world’s most respected platforms for promoting sustainability in fashion and textiles. Each year, it supports early-stage innovations that aim to transform the industry. The ten winners of 2025 were chosen from 476 ideas submitted by participants across 69 countries. Each winner will receive a grant of 200,000 euros to scale their projects.
This year’s theme focuses on decarbonizing the textile and fashion industry, a goal shared by all ten winners. Their ideas address some of the most pressing challenges in the sector—ranging from reducing emissions and energy consumption to enabling circularity and adopting cleaner materials. These innovations span four key focus areas:
- Responsible production – innovations in energy efficiency, waste management, traceability, and renewable energy.
- Sustainable materials and processes – including low-energy materials, recycled fibers, and new wet processing technologies.
- Mindful consumption – models that extend garment life cycles and promote circular economies.
- Wildcards – unexpected, game-changing ideas with the potential to revolutionize the industry.
At a special ceremony held today at The Old Bailey in London, Dr. Abbas was honored for his pioneering idea, which aims to transform traditional dyeing, finishing, and material processing methods through low-carbon technologies. The Decarbonization Lab is an advanced research and development center focused on making textile manufacturing more environmentally friendly by replacing conventional processes with cleaner, more sustainable alternatives.
By integrating carbon-reducing technologies, the lab is not only driving innovation in manufacturing but also bridging the gap between academia and the textile industry. Through the development and testing of low-emission dyeing and finishing solutions, the lab is producing real-world applications that are both practical and accessible for factories and workers.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Abbas remarked, “This recognition is not just a personal achievement, but a proud moment for the entire textile and academic community of Bangladesh. Our goal is to reshape the industry with sustainable technologies that will lead the way forward.”
As Annie Lindmark, Program Director of the H&M Foundation, explained:
“This year’s winners are not just solving problems; they’re rethinking the systems behind them. Their ideas reflect the kind of early-stage innovation we need to unlock system-level change, and remind us that transformation starts with brave, often uncertain steps.”
As part of the award, Dr. Abbas will also participate in three global “Physical Weeks” throughout the year—immersive learning and networking programs designed to enhance the impact and scalability of each winner’s innovation. The first session is currently underway, with the second scheduled for October 2025, and the third to be held in January 2026.
This milestone marks a proud chapter for both BUTEX and Bangladesh, placing the country firmly on the global map of sustainable fashion innovation.
Reference: https://hmfoundation.com/2025/05/20/meet-the-winners-of-global-change-award-2025/
