The Good Felt -Turning Household Textile Waste into a Powerful Solution

In the bustling homes of Bangalore and beyond, a quiet crisis —one of discarded t-shirt, worn-out bedsheet, or faded kurta is piling in the landfills. India generates a staggering 7.2 million tonnes of textile waste annually. Enviu in its recent report highlights that, over half of that—around 3.94 million tonnes are post-consumer waste— that comes straight from households.  

These old clothes, often tossed without a second thought, are creating a hidden mountain of pollution, choking landfills, releasing toxic dyes into water bodies, and emitting harmful greenhouse gases into the air. 

But Bangalore, known for its innovation, is also home to a new kind of solution.  

At Enviu, a venture-building studio, waste is not just a problem—it is a starting point for its solution. Looking at the textile waste issue through the lens of the entire value chain, they have built ventures that are not only addressing isolated problems but the whole system. 

One of those ventures is The Good Felt, born out of purpose and innovation. The venture transforms post-consumer textile waste into versatile non-woven felt, addressing challenges posed by discarded old clothes at large. 

Enviu’s recent report, “Exploring India’s Textile Waste Landscape,” highlights the post- consumer textile waste problem and outlines practical ways to address it. But Enviu goes beyond just identifying challenges—they focus on building real, scalable ventures that offer long-term solutions. 

The rise of fast fashion has turned clothing into one of the most disposable categories of consumer goods. We buy more, wear less, and discard faster. Poly-blended fabrics—those stretchy, synthetic, polyester-rich textiles found in most modern wardrobes—are particularly problematic.  

They are difficult to recycle, unattractive to traditional recyclers, and hold no value for informal waste pickers who rely on incentives from waste. For decades, the story of a discarded shirt ended in a landfill. But The Good Felt is rewriting that narrative. 

So how does The Good Felt work its magic? 

Collected household textile waste, particularly polyblends, is collected and sorted, by our waste collection partners like Hasiru Dala and Saahas Zero Waste and then this waste is processed into durable, versatile felt sheets by The Good Felt.  

These sheets are built for the future—sturdy, versatile, and uniquely textured. And their potential uses are wide-ranging.  

• Acoustic insulation: Can be used in soundproofing homes, offices, or even music studios and theatres. 

• Construction: Acting as thermal barriers or cushioning layers in sustainable construction. 

• Bags and accessories: Giving rise to trendy totes and laptop sleeves that carry a story of impact. 

• Wall panels: Bringing a textured, eco-conscious flair to modern interiors. 

• Packaging: These sheets can also be used in packaging for fillers, making boxes etc.

The transformation of these felt sheets from old clothes begins with the most unsung heroes of the urban recycling chain: waste pickers. Often skipped in the mainstream narratives, these workers sort, collect, and segregate household textile waste. Traditionally, they have had little to no incentive to collect low value polyblend clothing due to the lack of viable recycling options. 

By creating a demand for these hard-to-recycle materials, The Good Felt is building a new kind of opportunity where waste pickers have an avenue to collect and segregate even the most overlooked textiles. This isn’t just a recycling effort—it’s a livelihood strategy. 

To challenge the way we view waste, The Good Felt partnered with the brand Jaggery Bags turning felt material into stylish bags—proving that sustainable does not have to mean boring. Each piece is a quiet protest against throwaway culture and a loud celebration of creativity and circularity. 

Imagine walking into a room with a bag made entirely from “waste.” Now imagine the same bag sparking a conversation, a second thought, or even a new habit. That’s the power of products like these—where form, function, and sustainability meet. 

Next time you clean out your wardrobe, just pause. That pile of worn-out clothes, when discarded responsibly, holds the potential to create livelihoods, reduce pollution, and even return to you as your next statement tote. 

Multiple organisations under the Saamuhika Shakti, a collective impact initiative have come together to be part of the solution. 

#Invaluables initiative by BBC Media Action has introduced a unique business card—crafted from discarded clothes by waste picker families trained at Sambhav Foundation’s skill centres. 

This card does more than spark conversations—it connects you directly to action. 

WhatsApp +91 9741730854 to find your nearest Dry Waste Collection Centre (DWCC) in Bengaluru or schedule a doorstep pickup (for 50+ kg) through Hasiru Dala. This is currently operational only in Bengaluru.

The collected clothes do not end up in landfills—they are transformed. At The Good Felt, a venture by Enviu, they are turned into versatile felt sheets, closing the loop on textile waste. 

To learn more or explore partnerships, visit www.thegoodfelt.com.