Winners included a number of renewable materials solutions. Crop-A-Porter produces fabric using crop wastes from pineapple and banana cultivation that would otherwise be burned or left on the ground. The company’s technology extracts cellulose to make fibers, and ultimately the clothing can be composted.
Algae Apparel was also among the winners. The company turns algae into fiber and powders that can be used to dye clothing. The company also claims that the antioxidants in algae can benefit consumers’ skin health. A third finalist—Fungi Fashion—uses mycelium to grow clothing using molds.
The public can vote on H&M’s website for a winner, which will receive a million-euro prize.
According to Fastcompany.com, growth of “fast fashion” has increased the amount of clothing the United States discards annually from 7 to 14 billion tons over the last 20 years.