From waste tyres to slippers: UK student’s idea takes shape

From discarded tyres to footwear with a purpose, the idea began with a childhood experience. At the age of 10, UK-based student Ahaan Bhatnagar visited rural Africa, where he saw children walking long distances barefoot, often without adequate footwear.Moved by what he witnessed, Ahaan gave away his favourite pair of slippers to a child he met during the visit. The experience stayed with him long after he returned home and eventually became the starting point for a larger idea.As he grew older, Ahaan began exploring how discarded materials could be repurposed to address the lack of affordable, durable footwear. His research led him to waste tyres, which he studied as a potential material for making sturdy slipper soles.The idea brought together two concerns he had encountered separately: the growing problem of tyre waste and the need for accessible footwear.He found skilled craftsmen in Kerala, and with support from HY Estates Limited, an electrically operated machine boosted production to about 160 pairs a day. Ahaan then connected with Mamco General Trading, which operates in Uganda and Zambia. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility programme, the company will purchase 4,000 pairs of slippers each month for free distribution to children and families in need. It’s a sustainable cycle that turns waste into opportunity, supporting livelihoods and giving kids durable footwear.“When I was 10 years old, I saw children my age walking barefoot, and I never forgot that moment,” Ahaan says. “I wanted to create something that could help people and the environment. If we can turn discarded tyres into something useful and long-lasting, maybe it can inspire more young people to believe their simple ideas can really make a difference.”The world’s growing dependence on convenience and mobility comes with an environmental cost. Every year, more than a billion tyres reach the end of their usable life, creating a significant waste-management challenge. Many of these tyres end up in landfills, while others are burned or processed in ways that can contribute to pollution and the loss of valuable materials.Repurposing discarded tyres offers one way to address this challenge by keeping materials in use for longer and reducing the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of. Turning old tyres into durable slipper soles, for instance, gives a material that would otherwise be discarded a new application while also reducing the need for virgin raw materials in footwear production.The approach reflects a broader shift in how sustainability is being understood. Rather than treating waste simply as something to be collected and discarded, initiatives like this explore how materials already in circulation can be redesigned and put to practical use.In doing so, they can support waste reduction, resource conservation and efforts to lower the environmental impact associated with new production. Ultimately, sustainability is not only about recycling what has already been used, but also about rethinking waste as a potential resource.Disclaimer - The above content is non-editorial, and TIL hereby disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, relating to it, and does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the content.Get the latest Business News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.