Tanzanian entrepreneur Laetus Buberwa and his startup, KelTex, have secured a place among the world’s most promising climate-tech innovators after being named one of just 10 winners of the Global Change Award 2026, a prestigious international innovation programme backed by the H&M Foundation, aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of the global textile industry.
The win places KelTex alongside startups from India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, France and Bangladesh, making it the only African-led venture selected in this year’s highly competitive cohort and underscoring Africa’s growing role in the global race to build sustainable industrial solutions.
The Global Change Award has become one of the fashion industry’s most influential innovation platforms, identifying breakthrough technologies capable of transforming one of the world’s most carbon-intensive sectors.
The textile and fashion industry is estimated to account for between 2% and 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to industry and United Nations estimates, placing mounting pressure on brands, manufacturers and innovators to develop cleaner production systems.
For Buberwa, a founder working at the intersection of sustainability, technology and impact innovation, the recognition marks a major milestone not only for KelTex but also for Africa’s emerging green manufacturing ecosystem.
“We did it. I’m proud to share that we have been selected as one of the 10 winners of the Global Change Award 2026 by the H&M Foundation,” he said.
What sets KelTex apart is that its innovation extends far beyond sustainable fashion. The Tanzanian startup is building a business model that links biotechnology, artificial intelligence and community development to unlock new economic opportunities for coastal populations that have long depended on low-value seaweed farming.
Along Tanzania’s coastline, seaweed is harvested daily by thousands of small-scale farmers, many of them women. Despite the crop’s abundance and renewable nature, the economic returns have historically remained low.
For KelTex founder Laetus Buberwa, the challenge was personal.
“I watched my mother and many women in my community work long hours,” he said. “But earn very little from selling raw seaweed.”
That experience inspired a mission to transform one of Africa’s underutilised natural resources into a globally competitive sustainable material.
Conventional leather production remains one of the fashion industry’s most environmentally intensive processes, linked to deforestation, heavy water consumption and chemical-intensive treatment. Synthetic alternatives, meanwhile, rely heavily on fossil-fuel-based materials and contribute to growing microplastic pollution.
KelTex offers a different solution. The company converts seaweed into a durable, flexible and biodegradable leather-like material designed to reduce the environmental footprint of fashion and manufacturing while creating new economic value for coastal communities.
“The idea didn’t start in a lab. It started with a question: how can something so widely produced create so little return?” Buberwa said.
After studying biotechnology, Buberwa began exploring how seaweed could be transformed from a low-value agricultural commodity into a high-value industrial material.
“I realised that seaweed could be more than just a crop,” he said. “It could become a high-value material that supports people while reducing environmental impact.”
The company’s production model combines material science with cutting-edge digital technology. KelTex deploys AI-powered sensors to monitor critical ocean conditions, including salinity, temperature and nutrient levels, enabling farmers to optimise seaweed cultivation while maintaining environmental sustainability.
The data-driven approach improves yields, enhances quality and supports long-term ecosystem health, demonstrating how advanced technologies can be applied to strengthen rather than replace traditional livelihoods.
Beyond climate innovation, KelTex is positioning itself as a catalyst for inclusive economic development. By processing seaweed locally and producing higher-value materials closer to source communities, the company helps farmers capture a greater share of the value chain while creating new opportunities for employment and enterprise development.
“This work is about more than materials,” Buberwa said. “It’s about creating dignity and opportunity for the people who depend on them. I am here to rewrite a story of struggle into one of opportunity.”
As global brands and investors increasingly seek sustainable alternatives to conventional materials, KelTex’s model highlights how African entrepreneurs are developing commercially viable climate solutions that generate both environmental and social returns.
For aspiring innovators across Africa, Buberwa’s message remains clear.
“If you’re trying to change the system, be proud of your vision and the steps you take. Lasting impact is built step by step, for both people and the planet.”
The award comes at a pivotal moment for Africa’s sustainability sector. Investors and development finance institutions are increasingly backing climate-focused ventures across the continent as demand grows for circular economy solutions, sustainable manufacturing and low-carbon industrialisation.
“We are excited for what lies ahead and committed to building a fashion industry that works better for both people and the planet,” Buberwa added.
According to the H&M Foundation, the 2026 winners were selected for innovations tackling critical pressure points across the textile value chain, from raw materials and production processes to recycling and end-of-life solutions.
“The ten winners of Global Change Award 2026 are here, and they are tackling key pressure points across the textile industry: from materials to production to end of use. Different ideas, one shared direction: accelerating the shift towards a decarbonised and just industry,” the foundation said.
This year’s cohort includes Agro-Lyocell from India, Alu and RheaCycle™ from the United States, ArtSilk from Sweden, EntroMetrix and Tera Mira from the United Kingdom, Fiberly from France, MicroBlues from India, threadBridge from Bangladesh and Tanzania’s KelTex.
KelTex’s inclusion signals growing international recognition of African entrepreneurs developing solutions for global sustainability challenges. While Africa contributes less than 4% of global carbon emissions, the continent is increasingly becoming a source of innovation in renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, circular economy systems and sustainable manufacturing.
Beatrice Oldenburg, Project Manager at the H&M Foundation, praised the winning teams and the people behind them.
“Getting to know this year’s winners has been a real joy. I’m impressed not just by the strength of their ideas, but by the people behind them. Their drive, creativity and courage is really impressive,” she said. “These ten teams are tackling pain points across the whole textile value chain, with solutions shaped by the realities and communities surrounding them.”
Each winning team will receive a €200,000 grant and participate in the year-long Global Change Award Changemaker Programme, which combines systems-thinking methodologies, expert mentorship and industry connections designed to help early-stage innovations move from concept to commercial reality.
For KelTex and Tanzania’s growing innovation ecosystem, the award represents more than international recognition.
It is further evidence that African entrepreneurs are increasingly competing and winning on the global stage in industries shaping the future of sustainability, climate action and responsible manufacturing.
