The Unseen Materials: How Ocean Sole Chooses Glue & Styrofoam for Sustainable Flip-Flop Art

Table of Contents

1. Beyond the Flip-Flops: A Look at Our Core Materials

2. The Glue That Holds: Our Commitment to Non-Toxic Adhesives

3. Second-Life Styrofoam: Giving Construction Waste New Purpose

4. Environmental Impact: Measuring the Full Footprint of Our Art

5. Why Material Transparency Matters in Sustainable Art

Beyond the Flip-Flops: A Look at Our Core Materials

When people see Ocean Sole's vibrant sculptures, they see transformed flip-flops. But what goes on behind the artistry? Creating durable, lasting art requires more than just collected footwear—it requires thoughtful choices about every material in our process. This includes the adhesives that bond layers together and the structural cores that give form to our largest creations. We believe true sustainability requires full material transparency, from the flip-flops on the beach to the glue in our workshops and the styrofoam at our sculpture's heart.

The Glue That Holds: Our Commitment to Non-Toxic Adhesives

We use Henkel adhesives, applying an average of 200 litres monthly to bond thousands of flip-flops into solid blocks for carving. This choice is deliberate. We prioritize a glue that is toluene-free, dries faster with less smell, and creates a firm, lasting bond suitable for indoor and outdoor art.

Why This Matters:

• Artisan Health & Safety: Toluene and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in many industrial adhesives pose serious health risks. Our non-toxic adhesive ensures a safer workspace.

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• Environmental Impact: Low-VOC formulas contribute to better indoor and outdoor air quality, aligning with our broader conservation mission.

  
  

• Product Longevity: A strong bond ensures each sculpture lasts for years, maximizing the impact of every upcycled flip-flop. Henkel's Sustainable Adhesive Solutions.

The careful process of bonding flip-flops with non-toxic adhesive each layer secured by hand in Ocean Sole's Nairobi workshop.

Second-Life Styrofoam: Giving Construction Waste New Purpose

For larger sculptures and masterpieces, we use recycled styrofoam (expanded polystyrene or EPS) as a lightweight core material. Our suppliers don't order new foam; they collect post-industrial waste from:

• Old refrigerators and insulation panels

• Temporary construction site partitions

• Packaging from container shipments

• Discarded insulation from buildings

  
  

This approach extends the circular economy beyond consumer waste to include construction and industrial materials, diverting bulky, non-biodegradable foam from Kenyan landfills where it would persist for centuries.

Styrofoam inside of our 4.5m Giraffe for Rubis Kenya.

Giving industrial foam a second life recycled styrofoam from shipping containers and construction sites becomes the core material for Ocean. the core material for Ocean Sole’s large-scale sculptures.

Environmental Impact: Measuring the Full Footprint of Our Art

We measure our impact not just by flip-flops collected, but by the holistic environmental footprint of our process:

Glue Impact:

• 200+ litres monthly of low-VOC adhesive prevents emission of harmful solvents

• Toluene-free formula protects local air and water quality around our workshop.

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  Industrial Pattex adhesive—the sturdy companion to thousands of recycled flip-flops in our Nairobi workshop, helping turn beach waste into lasting art.

Styrofoam Impact:

• Diverts approximately 500-1000 kg of industrial foam monthly from landfills

• Prevents foam fragmentation into microplastics in the environment

• Reduces need for virgin polystyrene production

Lifecycle Perspective:

Each material choice is evaluated for its entire journey from sourcing to disposal. While no industrial material is perfectly neutral, selecting recycled, non-toxic components for essential structural roles minimizes harm while maximizing creative and environmental value.

Research on polystyrene waste streams

Why Material Transparency Matters in Sustainable Art

In an era of superficial sustainability, we believe radical transparency builds trust and drives industry change. By openly sharing what's in our art—from flip-flops to glue to styrofoam we:

1. Set a Standard: Demonstrate that ethical art can be both beautiful and honest about material choices

2. Educate Consumers: Help people understand the complex decisions behind truly sustainable products

3. Drive Innovation: Encourage suppliers to develop better, cleaner materials for conscious businesses

4. Honor Our Mission: Ensure every aspect of our work aligns with protecting people and planet

   
   

The human touch in every transformation—here, an artisan carefully bonds a vibrant blue flip-flop using a clear bottle of adhesive, one of the many precise steps in our upcycling process.

Curious to see to see the transformation? Visit our website to explore more blogs, discover our upcycled art, and learn how you can be part of the solution.

See The Process - Visit Our Workshop!