The oceans of the world are suffering from the result of being treated like trash bins. According to the natural resources defense council, around 80 percent of marine litter originates on land, and most of that is plastic. Plastic pollution is damaging water systems with severe impacts on the environment and the economy as well as human health. Endangering an already fragile ecosystem, millions of flip-flops float in the oceans of the world, annually suffocating fish and other animals.
On East African shores, and more specifically on Kenyan shores, flip-flops and other rubbish wash up “from as far away as Indonesia because of ocean current”.
Ocean Sole is a recycling company based in Kenya doing its part to make a difference. Creatively, the company is taking responsibility for the environment, cleaning up the ocean, its ecosystems and marine wildlife – ambitiously preserving not only the natural beauty of Kenya’s beaches and the shores of the Indian Ocean but also saving the fishes and other animals that swallow and get suffocated by rubber soles.
Julie Church is the founder of Ocean Sole who previously worked as a marine scientist for WWF and the Kenya Wildlife Service on Kenya’s coast. In 1997, while watching children turning flip-flops into toy boats, Church’s inspiration turned into an idea to start a business.
The idea turned into reality and the story around what is believed to be the only business of its kind began with the birth of Ocean Sole.
Yearly, 400,000 flip-flops and sandals – purchased from coastal women who collect to clear out flip-flops washed ashore – are recycled. The recycled flip-flops are turned from waste to treasure by Ocean Sole’s creative team comprised of local artisans, providing employment for over 100 individuals in their workshops in Nairobi, in city slums and in remote coastal areas. The result is the production of remarkable pieces of art – about 100 different handcrafted colorful products from recycled flip-flops.
Together with local artisans, Church is creating awareness through a cycle of recycled works of art – colorful, fashionable handcrafted products with a back-story message to protect the oceans and teach the world about the threats of marine debris.
“Whatever we’re doing is better than doing nothing because it’s only going to get more and more and more,” Church says.
