India’s Agro-Lyocell innovation has won the Global Change Award 2026 for its approach to converting agricultural waste into textile fibres. The initiative aims to reduce waste burning, explore alternative raw materials and create new opportunities for farmers.
Announced in Stockholm on 23 October 2026, the award recognises early-stage innovations that could support a more sustainable textile industry. Agro-Lyocell is developed by Canvaloop and focuses on using woody agricultural residues that often remain unused.
Turning Agricultural Waste into Textile Fibres
India generates around 90 million tonnes of crop residue annually, much of which is burned. At the same time, conventional wood-based textile fibres place pressure on forest resources.
Agro-Lyocell aims to address these challenges by converting materials such as linseed residue into textile fibres. The technology uses the dense, woody portion of agricultural waste, which is often overlooked in existing fibre applications.
Unlike conventional lyocell, which uses wood pulp, Agro-Lyocell seeks to produce fibres from agricultural residues. This approach could expand the range of raw materials available to textile manufacturers.
Innovation Moves Towards Pilot Production
The team has established a laboratory-scale process to convert agricultural residues into dissolving-grade cellulose. Early feasibility trials have also validated multiple feedstocks.
The project is now working on process optimisation and moving towards pilot-scale fibre production. Further development will help assess the technology’s potential for wider textile applications.
Shreyans Kokra, CEO of Canvaloop, said the innovation connects the challenges of agricultural waste burning and wood-based fibre production by turning waste into a resource.
Global Change Award Supports Textile Innovation
The H&M Foundation’s Global Change Award supports early-stage innovations that aim to help the textile industry halve its greenhouse gas emissions every decade while promoting a just transition for people and the planet.
Each year, ten winners receive a grant of €200,000 to develop their innovations. Since its launch in 2015, the initiative has supported 66 teams from 24 countries, providing €12 million in grants.
Agro-Lyocell’s recognition highlights the growing interest in alternative textile raw materials and technologies that can use existing resources more efficiently.
