INDIA’s First FOOTWEAR Brand Solving the Waste Problem
Description
Would you wear shoes made from tyres, cork, medical gloves, and car seat foam?Welcome to a new kind of sustainability — practical, stylish, and built for India.In this episode of Sustainable Tea with Shreya, host Shreya Ghodawat sits down with Amit Jain, co-founder of Planet Paduks, India’s conscious footwear brand revolutionizing how we think about waste and fashion.From building 82% biodegradable shoes to breaking the myth that sustainability can’t be cool or affordable — Amit shares real insights that challenge everything you know about Indian fashion, pricing, and production.What You’ll Learn:- Why over 23 billion shoes end up in landfills each year- The real difference between biodegradable and compostable- How to make sustainability aspirational (and not just ethical)- Why Planet Paduks offers warranty (when no other brand does)- Inside India’s emerging ecosystem of plant-based leathers- What brands get wrong about “green” marketing- How waste, affordability, and style come together in one powerful productTimestamps:00:00 – Teaser 01:33 – Intro: Meet the founder of Planet Paduks 02:19 – Why He Couldn't Find the Right Footwear 04:11 – From Personal Pain to Business Idea 05:10 – Using Tires, Cork & Medical Gloves in Footwear 07:34 – Why Affordability Matters in Sustainable Fashion 09:05 – Making Sustainable Products Cool & Wearable 10:18 – Breaking Down the Materials Used 11:42 – Biodegradable vs Compostable: The Truth 13:07 – Why Nothing Is 100% Sustainable 15:15 – The Vegan Leather Problem & Durable Alternatives 17:52 – PU, PVC & Sustainable Innovation in India 19:40 – Dream Footwear Innovations & Kids Shoe Problem 21:06 – Cushioning Myth: What Your Feet Really Need 22:38 – Sourcing EVA Foam from Car Waste 23:39 – Cool Materials Like Banana, Coconut & Flower Leather 25:24 – Built-In Arch Support & Elastic for Comfort 26:12 – India's First Footwear Brand with Warranty 28:36 – Is Mass Production Always Bad? 29:55 – Footwear Made from Pomegranate & E-Waste? 31:09 – Where to Buy Planet Paduks Footwear 32:07 – Final Thoughts: Building a Truly Sustainable BrandShreya's Outfit CreditsPantsuit - @advait_in via @gateway.prJewellery - @isharya @octonov.studioShoes - @eridani.in