Zara parent company, Inditex, and H&M have joined a $33 Million Funding Round for lab-grown cotton. Boston-based startup Galy says it has found an alternative that could make the production of cotton more green and more ethical by growing it in a lab.

As this article writes, “cotton grown in a lab could reduce water use by 99%, land use by 97% and the negative impact of fertilizers by 91% when compared with conventional cotton.” Further, it would not have to be sourced from regions plagued with allegations of child and forced labor, reducing company risks and negative impact to the environment significantly.

There are still a few hurdles to overcome though before the lab-grown cotton is ready to go to market and the funds raised will primarily fuel the expansion of Galy’s research and development as its flagship product, lab-grown Galy Cotton, advances towards pre-industrial quality and scale, yet it is exciting to see the multitude of innovative solutions being worked on for a more sustainable future.