Most of us have at least one pair of footwear at home that we no longer use.
Maybe it no longer fits. Maybe it has been replaced. Or perhaps it has simply been sitting in a corner for months, waiting to eventually be thrown away.
Nadige offers it another possibility.
Organised by Mr. Avinash Kamath in association with GreenSole Foundation, Nadige is a used footwear collection initiative that brings together sustainability, responsible reuse and social impact.
This October, people in and around Udupi can donate their unused footwear at MGM College, Udupi, on October 23, 24 and 25, from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
ForthFocus is glad to support Nadige in our own small way.
Why is ForthFocus supporting Nadige?
Most of what we do and write about at ForthFocus revolves around technology, digital solutions, and the businesses we work with.
But our story is also closely connected to the community around us.
Udupi and coastal Karnataka have been an important part of the ForthFocus journey, and we believe meaningful initiatives happening around us deserve visibility and participation too.
Nadige is one such initiative.
It takes a simple, everyday problem- what to do with footwear we no longer use- and connects it with a practical solution involving reuse, sustainability, and social impact.
Our role is a small one. But the idea behind Nadige is worth sharing.
That is why we are supporting it, and why this story has a place on the ForthFocus blog.
What is Nadige Udupi?
Nadige is an initiative led by Avinash Kamath that encourages people to give their discarded footwear another useful journey instead of simply throwing it away.
The concept is straightforward.
Used footwear is collected and channelled towards GreenSole, an organisation that has developed a process for recovering and upcycling materials from discarded footwear.
Nadige has previously conducted footwear collection activities at MGM College in Udupi as well.
The interesting part begins after a pair is donated.
What happens to your donated footwear?
Your old footwear does not simply move from one collection box to another.
GreenSole has developed a structured process for handling discarded footwear.
According to GreenSole, collected footwear is first washed and sanitised. It is then dismantled so that different components can be assessed and suitable materials can be recovered.
Reusable sole material can be resized and cut for use in new footwear. Suitable material from the upper portion of footwear can also be repurposed into components such as straps.
GreenSole also processes residual material that cannot be directly incorporated into new footwear, helping recover more from each discarded pair rather than treating the entire product as waste.
The resulting upcycled footwear is distributed through social-impact initiatives to children and communities in need.
Put simply:
Used footwear → Collection → Cleaning and sanitisation → Material recovery → Upcycling → Usable footwear and products → Distribution to people in need
A pair that has completed its journey with you could still have another purpose.
Why does donating old footwear matter?
A shoe or sandal may look like a single product, but it is usually made from several different materials.
Rubber, foam, fabric, plastics, and synthetic materials can all form part of the same pair.
That makes discarded footwear more complicated than simply putting it into a conventional recycling bin.
GreenSole’s approach is based on keeping usable materials in circulation for longer. Instead of treating the entire pair as waste, recoverable components are given another use wherever possible.
GreenSole Foundation says it upcycles discarded footwear and other materials into products including slippers, bags and mats, which are then distributed through social-impact programmes.
That creates two meaningful outcomes from one simple action.
Useful material gets another life.
And at the same time:
Useful products can reach people who need them.
That is what makes Nadige more than just a footwear collection drive.
A small action can travel a long way
Sustainability can sometimes feel like a very large idea.
It does not always have to begin with a large action.
Sometimes it can begin by opening a cupboard, finding a pair of footwear you have not used for months and choosing not to throw it away.
For people in and around Udupi, Nadige makes that choice easier.
Bring the footwear you no longer use.
Allow its materials to be put back into circulation.
Give something that has finished its journey with you an opportunity to begin another one.
One pair may feel insignificant on its own.
Many such small decisions together can make a meaningful difference.
A small step from ForthFocus
For ForthFocus, supporting Nadige is not about making our involvement the story.
The story belongs to the initiative itself.
It belongs to the people working to collect the footwear, GreenSole Foundation and its upcycling efforts, the volunteers and organisations contributing their time and resources, and everyone who chooses to participate by donating.
We are simply happy to take a small step alongside them.
Because meaningful change does not always have to begin with something enormous.
Sometimes, it begins with a step.
Nadige Udupi: Event Details
- Event: Nadige 2026
- Organised by: Mr. Avinash Kamath
- In association with: GreenSole Foundation
- Venue: MGM College, Udupi
- Dates: October 23, 24, and 25
- Time: 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
- Have footwear at home that you no longer use?
Don’t throw it away. Let it walk again. 👣
Frequently Asked Questions
Nadige is a used footwear collection initiative led by Avinash Kamath in association with GreenSole Foundation. It helps channel discarded footwear towards responsible material recovery and upcycling instead of simply treating it as waste.
Used footwear can be donated during the Nadige collection drive at MGM College, Udupi, on October 23, 24 and 25, between 9:30 AM and 6:00 PM.
Collected footwear is directed towards GreenSole’s recycling and upcycling process. GreenSole washes and sanitises discarded footwear, separates usable components, and repurposes suitable materials into new footwear and other useful products.
Yes. GreenSole Foundation says its upcycled products, including footwear, are distributed through donation drives serving children and communities in need. These include government and low-income schools, child shelters, and rural and tribal communities.
Donating suitable discarded footwear gives recoverable materials an opportunity to enter an upcycling process rather than immediately becoming waste. This can help extend the useful life of materials while supporting the creation of useful products for people in need.
The current Nadige initiative is organised by Mr. Avinash Kamath in association with GreenSole Foundation, with support from ForthFocus and other organisations and community groups.
