Kenyan Conservation group Ocean Sole is turning flip-flop pollution into art.

Flip-flop artist Francis Mutua guides us through the work being done by Ocean Sole, where over 900 Kenyans have found support and employment. Their mission is to become a global leader in helping ordinary people start businesses in the name of conservation.

Millions of discarded flip-flops are posing major hazards to our oceans.

Since 2005, they have positively impacted many by cleaning up over 1000 tons of flip-flops from the Ocean and waterways in Kenya, providing steady income to over 150 low-income Kenyans in the company and supply-chain, and contributing over 10% of their revenue to marine conservation programmes.

– Their actions must make a difference to the plight of the Oceans.

— The ethos is to give back what they earn to change the lives of many through education, income and meals.

– The energy is focused on delivering fun products that remind of the precious marine life.

‘We make fun art so people, companies, and charities remember that the Ocean needs our help. Our pieces represent the trash found in the oceans and waterways that are killing human and marine life in their journey from the dumps to the beaches.’

A staggering 3 billion people on planet earth wear flip-flops as their primary form of shoe as they are so affordable. Flip Flops are made from a combination of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate and other plastics and they do not biodegrade. They do however photo-degrade, breaking up into smaller and smaller pieces to form part of the plastic soup plaguing our oceans.

Watch this 60 Seconds Looks at Flip-Flop Art.

Originally published at theincidentaltourist.com on June 5, 2018.