The initiative traces its origins to a letter from U V Jose, IAS (Retd.), then Executive Director of Kerala Suchitwa Mission, who urged footwear manufacturers to take responsibility for post-consumer footwear waste. As a solution to that VKC launched a pilot project in Thiruvananthapuram in August 2025. Since its success, the company has expanded the initiative nationwide in May 2026 through both doorstep collection model and by partnering with retail outlets. “There was a real need for this service both at the retail and customer end and this gave me immense confidence,” says VKC Razak, Managing Director, VKC Plastomers India Pvt. Ltd.
Building the Collection Network
Customers can return used footwear of any brand either at the participating retail outlets or through their website where an agent comes for doorstep pickup. The collection network has also been broadened with more than 50 retail partners and has collected over 2600 pairs of used footwear, processing more than 660 kg of discarded footwear.
Managing Mixed Footwear Waste
Collecting footwear across multiple brands presents a key operational challenge, as varying material combinations make sorting, labour-intensive. While acknowledging the complexity, Razak notes the programme intentionally accepts all brands to encourage responsible disposal, adding that designing products with end-of-life recovery in mind will be essential for the industry’s future.
Once collected, the footwear is sorted. Material suitable for recycling is separated for further processing, while non-recyclable materials are sent to authorised partners. “We do not downcycle into road binders and industrial fillers. We give it to the cement factories for burning it to get high heat in its furnaces,” says Razak. To encourage participation, customers returning used footwear receive discounts ranging from 5 per cent to 50 per cent on the purchase of new footwear. “VKC’s four decades of experience in general trade has helped the company develop the economics behind the programme,” highlights Razak.
Measuring the Impact
Beyond waste collection, VKC sees Zero Footmarks as part of its broader sustainability strategy. The company expects the initiative to create green employment opportunities as it expands and plans to publish an audited sustainability ledger that records the quantity of footwear processed through the programme. “Sustainability is part of the DNA of the VKC corporate house. We also believe that everything that matters in this world must also be measured,” says Razak.