In a world where consumption often leads to mounting waste, GreenSole Foundation stands as a powerful example of how conscious action and innovation can transform discarded materials into dignity, opportunity, and hope. Founded in 2016, GreenSole is a Section 8 not-for-profit organization working at the intersection of sustainability, circular economy, and social inclusion by upcycling used footwear, clothes, and waste materials into essential products for underprivileged communities.
The Idea That Walked Into a Movement
GreenSole Foundation was co-founded by Shriyans Bhandari and Ramesh Dhami, two marathon runners who noticed a paradox that sparked their journey. While millions of shoes are discarded every year, over 1.5 billion people worldwide still lack access to proper footwear, exposing them to injury, disease, and hardship.
For Ramesh Dhami, the issue was deeply personal. Having lived on the streets as a child, he experienced firsthand the pain of walking barefoot on railway tracks and broken glass while collecting scrap for survival. Shriyans Bhandari, meanwhile, came from a background of entrepreneurship and sustainability-driven thinking. Their shared experiences and empathy led them to ask a simple but powerful question:
- Why can’t old shoes be refurbished and reach those who need them most?
This question laid the foundation for GreenSole.
From Waste to Worth
At the heart of GreenSole’s work is the belief in responsible consumption and circular economy practices. The foundation actively conducts awareness and collection drives across schools, colleges, residential societies, and corporate offices, encouraging people to donate used shoes and clothes instead of discarding them.
Collected footwear is carefully sorted, sanitized, repaired, and upcycled at GreenSole’s processing units. Shoes that cannot be reused are creatively repurposed transformed into school bags, floor mats, and utility products using discarded flex banners, old clothes, and industrial waste.
This approach not only reduces landfill waste but also demonstrates how simple everyday actions like donating old shoes can significantly protect the environment and uplift communities.
Impact That Walks Miles
Over the past decade, Greensole Foundation has upcycled and distributed more than 800,000 slippers, school bags, and mats to underprivileged children across tribal, rural, and underserved regions of India. These products have reached children who would otherwise walk long distances barefoot, often missing school due to lack of necessities.
Beyond material distribution, GreenSole’s initiatives have proven to be powerful motivators for education. Providing school bags and footwear has encouraged children to attend school regularly, fostering confidence and dignity.
GreenSole has also partnered with leading corporations and institutions, receiving rejected or returned footwear from companies and channeling CSR support into scalable social impact. What began as a grassroots initiative has grown into a nationally recognized model of sustainable social entrepreneurship.
Recognition and the Road Ahead
Greensole’s innovative model has received widespread recognition, including being featured in India Today as part of its “Micromoguls” series celebrating social entrepreneurs who strengthen India’s economic and social fabric. The foundation’s work aligns closely with global sustainability goals, reinforcing that waste can become a resource when guided by purpose.
Looking ahead, Greensole aims to scale its operations further reaching more communities, strengthening awareness around responsible consumption, and expanding livelihood opportunities through training and local employment.
Walking Towards a Better Future
Greensole Foundation is more than an organization it is a movement that proves sustainability and compassion can walk hand in hand. By reimagining waste as opportunity, the foundation continues to create “happy feet” while reminding society that meaningful change often begins with small, conscious steps