Ocean Sole

Ocean Sole are a social enterprise that upcycles washed up flip-flops found along the beaches and waterways in Kenya. Inspired by the toys children were making out of the flip-flop debris, Julie Church, the Ocean Sole Founder, encouraged their mothers to collect, wash, and cut the discarded flip-flops into colourful products to sell at local Kenyan markets as another means of income for their families.

Their social enterprise positively impacts over a 1,000 Kenyans through the collection of flip-flops and direct employment. They provide steady income to nearly 100 low-income Kenyans in their company. They 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. They contribute over 10-15% of their revenue to beach clean-ups, vocational and educational programmes as well as conservation efforts.

Ocean Sole use their social enterprise to pay bonuses to employees, invest in a welfare programme that allows a zero return in funds to all employees to help facilitate payments for educating their children, buying land and other means. Their actions must make a difference to the plight of our oceans and their ethos is to give back what they earn to change the lives of many – through employment, education, and meals.

Size: L2cm x W9cm x H10cm

Please note all sizes are approximate.