UPPSALA, Sweden — Swedish biomaterials startup Art Silk has been awarded a €200,000 ($230,000) grant from the H&M Foundation after being selected as one of the winners of the 2026 Global Change Award, a program supporting innovations aimed at transforming the fashion and textile industry.
Art Silk is developing next-generation textile fibers inspired by spider silk and produced using microorganisms. The company’s technology creates materials that are both biodegradable and recyclable, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional fossil-based synthetic fibers and traditional silk production.
The Global Change Award, established by the H&M Foundation, recognizes early-stage innovations with the potential to accelerate the decarbonization of fashion and textiles. Winners receive funding, mentorship, and access to a global innovation ecosystem designed to help bring breakthrough sustainability solutions to market.
“We are proud to share that we are one of the winners of Global Change Award 2026,” Art Silk announced. The company noted that the support will help accelerate commercialization of its biomimetic spider silk fibers and expand their adoption across the textile industry.
Fashion is responsible for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions, with much of the industry’s environmental footprint linked to fossil-based materials such as polyester and nylon. As brands seek lower-impact alternatives, interest in bio-based and circular materials has grown rapidly.
Art Silk’s approach leverages microorganisms to produce fibers that mimic the exceptional strength, flexibility, and lightweight properties of natural spider silk. Unlike many conventional textile materials, the fibers are designed to fit within a circular economy model by being both recyclable and biodegradable at the end of their lifecycle.
The recognition from the H&M Foundation highlights growing momentum behind deep-tech innovations that combine biotechnology and sustainability to address environmental challenges in global supply chains.
As the textile sector faces increasing pressure to reduce emissions and resource consumption, companies like Art Silk are helping pioneer a new generation of materials that could reshape how fabrics are produced, used, and recycled.
With fresh funding and industry recognition, Art Silk is now positioned to further develop its technology and bring sustainable spider silk-inspired fibers closer to commercial adoption, supporting the transition toward a more circular and climate-friendly fashion industry.
