Goonj, formed in 1999 by Anshu Gupta, started with 67 clothes and now deals with over 3500 tonnes of material every year. It is registered under Societies Act and registered for exemption under section 80 G, 12 A and for foreign contributions- under FCRA. The 2004 tsunami gave way to Goonj's campaign "Not Just a Piece of Cloth" to emerge. The Chennai center was flooded with old but usable clothes during the relief phase. These clothes were then disinfected, washed, and recycled into pads and then placed in cotton bags to form Goonj's Dignity Kit. By 2014, 4 million pads just distributed at nominal cost of, to the poor who cannot afford commercial sanitary pads. The campaign subsequently won the World Bank's Global Development Marketplace Award and Changemaker's Innovation Award, and was LAUNCH Innovation Challenge in 2012, in "Beyond Waste" theme, which is sponsored by NASA, Nike and US Agency for International Development. In 2009, it joined the Joy of Giving Week, later renamed Daan Utsav, an annual week-long donation drive, starting Gandhi Jayanti October 2–8. During the week Goonj runs a nationwide campaign, where people from across India contribute under-underutilized goods and clothes from their homes, offices and schools in urban area to be distributed to rural and poor areas.
Initiatives
Cloth for Work
Goonj launched the Cloth for Work programme, evolving two new currencies of development – material and labour. In CFW, Goonj works with partners and communities to identify infrastructural improvements that need to be undertaken in the villages. Villagers then work to dig wells, clean ponds, repair roads, and build schools in the community, for which they are compensated with material resources like clothing, utensils, furniture, and foodgrains.
Not Just a piece of Cloth
In 2004, Goonj started providing affordable easy-to-use clean cloth napkin made out of waste cloth for women in villages and slums. They found clothing gave these women, who neglect or are ignorant of this critical health issue, a sense of dignity and self-respect. Today, Goonj pads — called MyPads is 100 per cent biodegradable, and can be either reused or disposed of.
School to School
The program uses a unique school kit designed by Goonj to promote participation of children. Goonj begins with sessions in urban school followed by a visit to the Goonj centers where they learn about recycling. Urban children contribute their old school supplies to create a school kit which consists of bags, pencils, uniforms etc. Goonj also creates activity centers in village schools and awards the school kits while engaging the children in other activities.
Campaigns
''Ek Jodi Kapda''
In 2010, the Ek Jodi Kapda project was launched along with Whirlpool Corporation where various centers were opened to collect donated clothes.
''Joy of Exchange''
In 2011, the Joy of Exchange campaign was a joint initiative by Pantaloons Fashion & Retail Limited and Goonj. Drop boxes were set up at various Pantaloons offices pan India.
In 2013, this is a joint effort by Johnson's Baby India in association with Goonj. Various dropping centers were set up to collect children clothes, toys, books and other belongings.
''Look Good Do good''
In 2016, the Look Good Do Good project was initiated along with Raymond which offered free custom tailoring services on new pair of trousers in exchange of old trousers. This Trouser Exchange Program offered every customer of Raymond a chance to give away their old trousers that would reach to people in need.
Flood relief
Goonj has engaged in flood relief activities with the "Flood Overcome" programme during the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, and on 2014 Kashmir floods through the project known as "Rahat Floods",and the 2018 kerala floods by collecting relief supplies from people across India.
Awards
2004: Goonj won Changemaker's Innovation Award for its School to School initiative.
