How Flip-Flop Art Helps Clean Kenya's Beaches | World Wide Waste

Summary

Ocean Sole, a Nairobi-based company, transforms discarded flip-flops into intricate sculptures of animals like hippos and giraffes, addressing the global plastic pollution crisis. Collecting about 700,000 sandals annually, the artisans wash, carve, and repurpose the materials into art. With the backdrop of Kenya's littered beaches, the initiative not only showcases creativity but also offers a sustainable livelihood for local artists. Ocean Sole's work highlights the potential for recycling waste into valuable products, while raising awareness about the environmental impact of plastic in oceans and the importance of creative solutions.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Ocean Soul in Nairobi transforms discarded flip-flops into artistic sculptures of animals.
• ♻️ The company has collected and recycled around 10 million flip-flops, significantly reducing ocean plastic waste.
• 🐾 Flip-flops make up nearly 25% of ocean plastic in some regions, highlighting a major environmental issue.
• 👥 The team employs around 90 artisans, many of whom transitioned from traditional wood carving due to resource scarcity.
• 🧼 Each flip-flop is thoroughly cleaned before being transformed into art, ensuring a sustainable process.
• 🔍 Quality control checks are conducted to maintain the integrity of each sculpture, ensuring they meet artistic standards.
• 🦏 Ocean Soul's creations have gained international recognition, with notable pieces presented to figures like the Pope.
• 📦 The company faces challenges in shipping due to global events, impacting their supply chain and operational costs.
• 🌱 There is a growing trend in the footwear industry towards eco-friendly alternatives, including biodegradable flip-flops.
• 💚 Artisans express pride in their work, seeing it as both a creative outlet and a means to contribute positively to the environment.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of Ocean Sole in Nairobi, Kenya?

Ocean Sole transforms discarded flip-flops into artistic sculptures while addressing the issue of plastic waste in the ocean.

How many flip-flops does Ocean Sole collect each year?

Ocean Sole collects more than 700,000 flip-flops annually.

What are some of the animal sculptures created by Ocean Sole?

The company creates sculptures of various animals, including hippos, giraffes, whales, elephants, and turtles.

What is the environmental impact of flip-flops?

Flip-flops contribute significantly to ocean plastic pollution, making up nearly a quarter of such waste in some regions.

How does Ocean Sole source its materials?

Ocean Sole sources flip-flops through beach clean-up efforts and a network of collectors, paying them for the collected footwear.

What process do the flip-flops go through before becoming art?

The flip-flops are hand-washed, dried, die-cut into templates, glued, and then carved into sculptures.

What challenges has Ocean Sole faced recently?

The company has encountered supply chain disruptions, increased shipping costs, and longer delivery times due to COVID-19 and geopolitical issues.

How are the small and large sculptures different in their construction?

Small and medium sculptures are crafted from cut templates, while larger pieces use old insulation as a base, covered with flip-flops.

What is the role of Julie Church in Ocean Sole?

Julie Church, the conservationist who founded Ocean Sole, was inspired to create the company after observing children making toys from discarded flip-flops.

How does Ocean Sole contribute to local communities?

The company provides a source of income for local collectors and donates shredded sandal materials for making mattresses for refugee programs.