Ritvi Jain, 15-Year-Old Innovator From Delhi, is Turning Construction Waste into Safety Boots for Workers with Suraksha Soles

Whilst most teenagers spend their evenings scrolling through social media or completing homework, Ritvi Jain, a Grade 10 student at Modern School Vasant Vihar in New Delhi, is coordinating with shoe manufacturers, visiting construction sites, and overseeing the production of sustainable safety footwear. Her venture, Suraksha Soles, transforms discarded PVC construction waste into durable steel-toe boots for labourers, addressing both environmental degradation and worker safety in one innovative stroke.

The inspiration came from her father's construction sites. "Growing up around construction sites, I witnessed heaps of PVC waste being dumped or burnt, whilst labourers often worked without proper safety shoes," Ritvi explains. That observation sparked an idea that has now diverted over 120 kilogrammes of PVC from landfills and provided nearly 100 pairs of protective boots to construction workers.

Navigating the Challenges of Young Entrepreneurship

Starting a business as a teenager introduces unique hurdles. Ritvi candidly acknowledges the scepticism she initially faced as a teenage entrepreneur. "It is more difficult for people to take you seriously at a younger age," she admits. Manufacturers were hesitant to engage with a schoolgirl proposing to revolutionise their production process. Yet rather than viewing rejection as defeat, Ritvi saw it as redirection. "If one manufacturer isn't ready to talk to you, there are always 100 more you can reach out to."

Her persistence paid off when Lancer Shoes agreed to partner with her vision. Together, they developed a closed-loop system where PVC waste is collected, shredded, melted, and reformed into boots mixed with 20 per cent fresh PVC to ensure safety standards. When boots reach the end of their lifespan after six to twelve months, they're returned to the factory, where the steel caps are salvaged and the PVC is recycled once again.

Balancing this venture with academic life requires meticulous time management. "Dedicating 15 to 20 minutes every day or every two days is more than enough," Ritvi notes, though she credits her parents' unwavering support as crucial. Her teachers describe her as "deeply curious and relentlessly driven"—qualities that enable her to juggle site visits, production coordination, and examinations without compromising either.

The Ripple Effect of Youth-Led Innovation

What distinguishes Ritvi is her acute awareness of generational responsibility. "Being green and sustainable is the only way forward," she asserts. India produces 10 to 15 million tonnes of construction waste annually, with PVC comprising a significant portion that languishes in landfills for centuries. By intercepting this waste stream, Suraksha Soles prevents environmental harm whilst addressing the reality that nearly 60 per cent of India's 71 million construction workers lack adequate safety equipment.

The project's pilot in Gurgaon demonstrated impressive results: 97 pairs of boots produced at just Rs. 570 each—nearly half the market price. This cost reduction makes proper safety equipment accessible to small construction firms that previously couldn't afford it. Recently, Ritvi received recognition from Delhi's Chief Minister, validating her conviction that youth-led initiatives can drive systemic change.

Scaling Impact Whilst Growing Up

Looking ahead, Ritvi envisions expanding beyond Delhi's National Capital Region, though geographical scaling presents challenges. Transport costs currently make exporting boots to distant cities economically impractical. Her solution: partnering with manufacturers across India to create regional production hubs.

As she prepares to enter Grade 11 and eventually university, Ritvi remains committed to SansaarSite, her broader sustainability platform. Her goal extends beyond Suraksha Soles to fundamentally shifting how India's construction sector approaches waste and worker welfare. "Every step taken in a pair of Suraksha Soles is a step towards sustainability," she says.

In proving that teenagers can build viable, impactful businesses, Ritvi Jain offers a compelling counter-narrative to climate anxiety and youth disengagement. Her story suggests that the most powerful qualification for entrepreneurship isn't age or experience, but simply the courage to begin.