The H&M Foundation has announced an $11 million expansion of its Saamuhika Shakti initiative in India, aimed at improving the livelihoods of informal waste pickers and promoting sustainable fashion. The initiative’s second phase, running until 2026, introduces new partners such as Sparsha and Udhyam Learning Foundation, focusing on supporting the children of waste pickers and aiding micro-entrepreneurs. BBC Media Action will continue to raise awareness about the significance of waste picking, enhancing the dignity and pride of those in the profession.
A major focus of this phase is textile waste management, with plans to train waste pickers as textile entrepreneurs or sorters. By collaborating with the Circular Apparel Innovation Factory and Enviu, the project aims to divert hundreds of thousands of tonnes of textile waste from landfills, creating formal job opportunities and increasing income for waste pickers.
The initiative has already achieved notable success, including the creation of 152 million buttons from post-consumer PET waste. This expansion underscores the H&M Foundation’s commitment to sustainable fashion and social responsibility, offering a model for shifting the industry towards a circular economy while supporting marginalized workers.
