Ocean Sole: From trash to treasure

When conservationist and marine biologist Julie Church encountered mounds of discarded slip-slops on a beach in Kenya, she was angry. Then she noticed that local children were making them into toys, and she was inspired to start Ocean Sole, a social enterprise that turns waste into works of art and functional objects. That was back in 1999. Now the company employs close to 100 people, it has recycled just over 695 tonnes of slops since its inception and its creations have travelled the world. We spoke to CEO Erin Smith to find out more.  

What does Ocean Sole do?

We collect discarded flip-flops from landfills, waterways and our weekly beach clean up at the coast of Kenya. We clean them, disinfect them and create art out of them. Also, we have an education program in Nairobi and Kilifi where we engage children and adults in fun educational activities about the importance of conserving the environment.

How often do you do beach clean-ups and how much trash have you cleared so far?

We do it every week. We have recycled over 695.2 tonnes of flip-flops since the social enterprise started in 2006

Can you explain the process of turning flip-flops into art?

After they are collected, the flip-flops are washed and disinfected, then placed on a rack to dry. For our small, medium and large sculptures, we use a dye-cut machine to get the shape of the animal we intend to make; then, these shapes are glued together to form a block; these blocks of flip-flops are what an artist will carve into a sculpture. After carving, they are sanded to give them that smooth finish; then an artist will put the finishing touches, for example, an ear. The final product gets washed, disinfected and dried. We upcycle styrofoam to make our big sculptures in extra large, double extra large, and masterpiece sizes. We create the body of the animal using styrofoam; then we patch the flip-flops on top using glue, then they get sanded for a smooth finish, and then final touches from the artist. Afterwards, they are washed, disinfected and placed to dry. At this stage, they are ready to be sold.

What kind of challenges has this initiative faced?

With rising shipping costs, shipping our products to our clients internationally has been challenging. The covid pandemic affected us greatly, and we had to lay off some of our employees; we’re hoping to stabilise and bring them back soon.

Why do you use flip-flops specifically?

Flip-flops are becoming a significant problem, not just for Kenya. They are cheap, therefore affordable to many, and they get dumped once they start to wear away. We clean up the environment by picking up these flip-flops and upcycling them into art. Also, flip-flops are easy to carve. We aim to upcycle a million flip-flops a year. Last year, we upcycled about 572,000.

How can people help or get involved?

You can donate to help support our beach clean-ups or help volunteer. You can also purchase our products and help keep our employees employed. 

What are some of the most interesting pieces that Ocean Sole has created?

There have been many pieces, but notable ones are:

• A life-sized replica of Big Tim, a 50-year-old long-tusked elephant who died in the Amboseli National Park in 2020. As one of the last tusker elephants in Africa, he was considered a Kenyan national treasure.
• A life-sized model of a Honda S2000. This art piece took almost four months and 3,500 flip-flops to make.
• A life-sized giraffe, which is currently on display in Portugal.

Where are you located?

We’re located at the Karen Village in Karen, Nairobi, Kenya. We have a fulfilment centre in the United States, in Ponte Vedra Beach.

What vision lies behind the start of the initiative?

To remove trash from the ocean and beaches, save marine wildlife from pollution and to create employment for locals.

If there is just one thing you want people to know about Ocean Sole, what would it be?

We’re passionate about what we do and committed to helping save the environment and marine life.

What’s the initiative’s most significant achievement so far?

We’re proud to have educated 12,000 students on conservation since we started. We believe that children are the future. When we impact knowledge, they can carry on the work when we are not here.

What part of your job ‘sparks joy’?

It is providing jobs and seeing the positive impact of our business.

How do you keep up with news about your sector?

We’re very active on social media and follow many organisations actively doing something to help the environment. We follow organisations like the Oceanic Society, Beach Token and many others.

What is your pet hate – the one thing you wish people would stop doing?

I wish people would stop using single-use plastics or learn how to recycle them.

How do you hope Ocean Sole will expand?

We can develop and do more when more people purchase our products or offer us donations to support our cause.