Ocean Sole: Kenyan company turning flip flop sandals into art

NAIROBI, Kenya - Flip-flops are the most popular type of shoe in developing states like Kenya. Annually over 3 billion are produced, they are considered comfy, easy to wear and they are inexpensive.

Unfortunately, most of them are also terrible for the environment, especially the marine lives are largely affected by the flip-flop sandals finding their way to the water body.

The majority of flip-flop sandals are made from synthetic, petroleum-based materials and have an average life span of just two years.

Despite their negative environmental impact, one Kenyan start-up has discovered an avenue of milking cash from flip-flop sandals.

Ocean Sole is taking those flip-flops and using them to make hippos, giraffes, and whales.

Founded by Julie Church- a marine conservationist who worked in the coastal city of Mombasa in 1998. To date, the company has created 90 jobs directly and 1,000 jobs indirectly for Kenyans.

According to Joe Mwakiremba-Head of Sales, Ocean Sole “We recycle about 4.7 tons of flip-flop sandals per year. Our focus is on creating a social enterprise positively with the aim of impacting over 1,000 Kenyans through the collection of flip-flops and direct employment. We provide steady income to nearly 100 low-income Kenyans in our company. We aim to recycle a million flip-flops a year, recycle over one tonne of styrofoam a month, and save over five hundred trees a year - by using flip-flops instead of wood. We contribute over 10-15% of our revenue to beach cleanups, vocational and educational programs as well as conservation efforts.”

Joe emphasizes that at the firm receives the flip-flops from locals, they are washed in detergent and left to dry for a few hours.

Then artisans pick them up, where they are sculpted, glued, carved, and sanded into collectible artworks.

Some work can even take up to 3 months. Unused flip-flop scraps are ground up and upcycled into mattresses.

Ocean Sole is continuously growing and looking to keep waste off Kenya’s beaches and out of its water. This year alone, the organization has upcycled more than 750,000 sandals and collected more than 47,000 kilos (103,600-plus pounds) of waste.

GAROWE ONLINE