The Bezos Earth Fund, led by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, committed $34M to researchers developing next-generation textiles including lab-grown fibers, biodegradable materials, and plastic-free synthetic silk to replace some of the most resource-intensive materials in the global clothing industry. The investment backs researchers experimenting with materials grown from bacteria, agricultural waste, and other unconventional sources, with the goal of reducing fashion's environmental footprint as today's common materials like polyester and viscose are derived from oil and coal, are not biodegradable, shed microplastics, and can release forever chemicals into water systems. The move marks a notable shift for the fund, which has largely focused on conservation since Bezos pledged $10B to climate initiatives in 2020, now partially turning toward fashion as one of the largest contributors to global emissions.
