9 Eco-Friendly Flip-Flops for Sustainable Summer Comfort
There’s no denying sustainable fashion has taken a bold stride forward over the last decade, and it’s up to us to make sure things don’t flip-flop around.
Enter: eco-friendly flip-flops.
In 2019, the global flip-flop market was valued at approximately $18.59 billion. By 2025, it’s expected to rise to $23.8 billion, making traditional flip-flops the most popular style of footwear around the world.
People have been wearing them for centuries, but lately, they’re doing less flippin’ and more floppin’.
Namely, by washing up on beaches by the tons along with other plastic waste. Because what are flip-flops made of?
That’s right: plastic. We did a whole podcast episode on the topic with the inspiring founder of The Flipfloppi in Kenya.
These cheap plastic versions are generally so flimsy you’ll be lucky to make them last the summer. While it’s tempting to replace them with a $3 pair, consider investing in a pair of eco-friendly flip-flop alternatives that will last a lot longer.
Or, if you’re looking for summer footwear with a bit less beach and more chic, check out our guide on sustainable sandals.
Everything we recommend to you on Sustainable Jungle is independently researched and we ask all brands to confirm their claims. To avoid waste, we test products on an as needed basis. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission. Learn more about why we do this here.
Our Top Sustainable Flip-Flop Sole Mates
While we admire lots of brands, our top picks (er, kicks) for the best sustainable flip-flops come from B Corp Indosole, who specialize in recycled tire flip-flops.
Or there’s Okabashi’s, whose 100% recyclable flip-flops are (dare we say) stylish—not to mention made of biobased materials.
You won’t be a gumby by choosing Gumbies, whose non-slip flip-flops are tested to comfortably last 1,000 miles or more. That’s a lot of beach trips!
For more on how we figured out what is eco-friendly footwear, flip (flop) to the bottom.
The Full List Of Men’s & Women’s Sustainable Flip-Flops
- Indosole | Visit Store
- Okabashi | Visit Store
- Gumbies | Visit Store
- Third Oak | Visit Store
- Deux Mains | Visit Store
- Native | Visit Store
- Rawganique | Visit Store
- Original Cork Shop | Visit Store
- Waves | Visit Store
1. Indosole
About Indosole
Price Range: $30–$55
“Indosole represents a lifestyle of resourceful creation”.
We love this because that’s what it means to both create and consume sustainably.
It all started when founder Kyle Parsons visited Bali and purchased a pair of sandals made from recycled tires.
He’s now taken that #TiresToSoles recycling model and turned them into some of the most ethical flip-flops in the world.
With arch support, waterproof quality, and a non-slip textured top sheet, both the slides and sustainable rubber flip-flops are designed for all-terrain use.
If recycled kids’ flip-flops are on your summer shopping list, the Toddler’s ESSNTLS feature an extra back strap to keep clumsy little legs from tripping on too much flop.
Indosole’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
These are recycled tire flip-flops, first and foremost.
The outsole is made from tire tread, and the straps are made out of a material called “ENVRO” fiber which uses little water in the flip-flop manufacturing process and gives off a leather-like feel.
Not only is it cruelty-free, but does not contain any types of plastic, and is also 100% waterproof.
Supply chain & labor practices:
As a Certified B Corp, Indosole maintains top-notch ethics throughout their manufacturing processes and supply chains.
With yearly audits across a variety of impact areas, this certification ensures their workers are paid fairly and work in safe environments when producing non-toxic flip-flops.
For an extra step above the rest, most of their supply chain is within Indonesia – from the sourcing of tires from garages and tire brokers to the final manufacturing by local artisans.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
This flip-flop manufacturer keeps its carbon footprint to a minimum by sourcing materials locally.
Their manufacturing processes also use less water and dye.
Community & charitable giving:
Indosole organizes and supports various charitable events to cultivate a community of Good Humans. These include charity basketball tournaments, Fashion Revolution Week events, and more.
They will also launch a partnership with Soles4Souls to give back to displaced families through a disaster relief program.v
2. Okabashi
About Okabashi
Price Range: $25
Okabashi’s eco-friendly latex-free flip-flops for men and women provide support for foot health.
They feature a slip-resistant design, toe rest, and gentle massage beads.
Whether treating plantar fasciitis or post-fitness recovery, these 2018 winners of the Woman’s Day Health Great Value Awards may just help you.
The concept draws on Japanese reflexology and design, largely because Okabashi is the culmination of the Irvani family’s “true American dream story.”
These sustainable flip-flops are made in the USA in every interpretation of the phrase.
Styles like the Baha recycled flip-flops feature elegant braided straps, so you can seamlessly go from the beach to the streets.
Okabashi’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Okabashi flip-flops are a combination of 25% recycled materials and bio-based soy material that are free from any BPAs, latex, and phthalates.
They’re not biodegradable but are fully recyclable via Okabashi’s US-based recycling program.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Okabashi creates shoes from Buford, Georgia, which has a long history of footwear manufacturing since the days of World War II.
On average, their shoes only travel 7% as far as other shoes.
Their manufacturing facility runs under the guidance of a mostly female team, and “goes above and beyond stringent US standards to create opportunity and community for our diverse 200 employees”.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Okabashi saves an estimated 134,000 gallons of fuel per year by not shipping products from Asia to the USA.
Community & charitable giving:
Okabashi partners with US nonprofits Two Ten Footwear Foundation and Souls4Soles.
Through them, they’ve donated over 8,000 pairs of shoes for people in disaster relief areas, veterans, and more
3. Gumbies
About Gumbies
Price Range: $25–$35
Australian-inspired Gumbies was founded by Michael Maurer under the belief that “life is too short for complication. Keep it simple. Ride a wave, climb a mountain, wear Gumbies.”
Their footwear line includes boat shoes, vegan sandals, slides, canvas slip-ons, and of course, three different types of upcycled cork and recycled rubber flip-flops.
We’re big fans of the look and antimicrobial benefits of natural cork flip-flops, so the Corker Unisex Flip Flops are our favorites, but all models boast the same shock-absorbing and slip-resistant qualities.
After rugged testing and proven durability, they call the Islander their “1000-miler”.
Gumbies’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The Corkers biodegradable flip-flops are the most sustainable, with an upcycled cork fabric top layer, salvaged cotton strap, and recycled rubber outsole reinforced with jute for strength.
The Islander Canvas line is a close sustainable second, featuring recycled rubber outsoles, recycled cotton canvas toe posts and strap linings, 100% cotton insole, and an EVA midsole (which is not biodegradable).
The Duck Bills sacrifice a little more sustainability for their waterproof quality, with a textured EVA top layer, recycled PET strap, and rubber outsole.
The Cairns non-slip flip-flops feature outsoles made from recycled rubber, while jersey textiles provide a super soft touch for the soles of your feet.
Supply chain & labor practices:
While they have manufacturing locations in the USA and UK, they do manufacture in China.
We’re not certain if their factories have any ethical manufacturing certifications.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Because Gumbies has distribution centers around the world, they can ship from areas closer to you than their base, which reduces container and shipping emissions they use.
All orders come in resealable/reusable bags which are also 100% recyclable and reduce shipping volume by 50%.
Outer shipping boxes are made of 100% recycled post-consumer waste.
Community & charitable giving:
Gumbies partners with VERDN. For every purchase, they plant a mangrove tree in Africa, providing jobs and income to local communities.
Gumbies is also a proud member of the European Outdoor Conservation Association, giving its support towards their conservation projects.
4. Third Oak
About Third Oak
Price Range: $30–$35
Third Oak makes some of the most durable flip-flops: the Scout flip-flops and Journey Sandals (which feature a T-strap design and adjustable heel strap).
With thin straps and metallic-tinted straps, styles like the Scout in Moss Gold are a perfect option if you’re looking for slightly fancier natural flip-flops to wear to the beach and then out to a romantic dinner.
Third Oak’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Third Oak offers sustainable flip-flops made from recycled plastic, blended with 45% bio-based soy.
This material is more durable than many other natural flip-flops, and it’s also fully recyclable via their closed-loop manufacturing process. They not only use factory scraps for new flip-flops made from recycled materials but will gladly accept your worn-out ones.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Third Oak is based in Georgia, and their recycled flip-flops are made in the USA.
That means you know all their workers are treated fairly, and their factory is upheld to higher labor standards.
5. Deux Mains
About Deux Mains
Price Range: $65–$100
Admittedly, Deux Mains doesn’t so much make plastic-free flip-flops as slides, but these fabulous slip-on shoes are too comfortable and convenient to flop off this list.
“Inspired by the ancestral wisdom of a busy Haitian marketplace”, the colorfully abstract Hand Painted Sandals are some stunning, statement making slides wearable just about anywhere.
They also have sustainable men’s flip-flops in similar (albeit less colorful) designs.
All Deux Mains sandals come with a 50,000-mile guarantee meaning they believe in the quality of their products.
Deux Mains’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Deux Main’s comfortable footwear range is made with repurposed tire soles.
The uppers are made of leather sourced from some of the most sustainable tanneries in the world. Water usage has been reduced by 30% and 66% of all waste is recycled.
Supply chain & labor practices:
As the director for Fashion Revolution in Haiti, ethical manufacturing and transparency are Deux Mains’ core values.
A big part of that is keeping things local and traceable. Almost 100% of the eco-friendly materials are sourced in Haiti, including the recycled tires that would otherwise be burned.
Employees are paid well above minimum wage on average, plus daily production bonuses, paid maternity AND paternity leave, health and education benefits, and a university matching program.
Three of their Haitian managers are shareholders in the company, and they’ve invested nearly $800,000 in the Haitian economy so far.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Deux Main’s product range is produced in small batches in a 100% solar-powered, women-owned factory in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
The company is also partnering with EcoCart to empower the Deux Mains community to make their orders 100% carbon-neutral.
So far, they have invested in projects like the Tri-City Forest, McCloud River Conservation, and Brazil Compost.
Community & charitable giving:
Deux Mains works hand-in-hand (or foot-in-shoe, rather) with REBUILD, an organization founded in response to the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake.
This non-profit helps the country rebuild economically by training workers to use scrap tires for sandal-making. These original designs eventually morphed into Deux Mains as a whole brand.
6. Native Shoes
About Native Shoes
Price Range: $32–$55
Native Shoes aims to introduce more lightness into your life.
They do this with men’s, women’s, and kids’ recycled shoes, boots, and flip-flop style slide sandals (just without the toe thong).
We’ve tested out the Spencer LX and can confirm that the Sugarlite™ outsoles are just as light and comfortable as you can imagine. With a contoured shape that perfectly matches the foot shape, these are slip-ons we can wear alllllll day long.
Native’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Native Shoes has two different sustainable materials in their sandals: repurposed algae and Sugarlite™
Rise by Bloom is an algae-blended resin containing a significant fraction of algae biomass and bio-based additives. Algae biomass doesn’t require fossil fuel or arable land to grow, making it a good resource for creating a useful material.
Sugarlite™ is a blend of traditional EVA and a sugarcane-derived resin and fewer greenhouse gas emissions are created during the production process.
EVA is also used in many of Native Shoe’s footwear, and while it may not be the most eco-friendly of materials, it is recyclable via the Native Remix Project.
As a vegan shoe brand, no animal byproducts or glues are used anywhere in these vegan flip-flops.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Native shoes are made in factories in China and Vietnam and the brand ensures factory conditions include the prohibition of forced labor, regulation of wages, and monitoring of working hours.
Brand representatives make several trips a year to develop new products and ensure proper conditions are being maintained.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Once your eco-friendly flip-flops have reached the end of their life or your kids have grown out of them, send them to the Native Shoes Remix Project, the brand’s flagship recycling initiative.
Using science-based emission reduction targets, Native is incorporating renewable energy in their manufacturing to reduce emissions.
Community & charitable giving:
Your well-loved shoes are recycled in projects across the country including the creation of seating, playground flooring, insulation, and much more.
Any other shoes you return to Native are sorted and donated to good causes.
7. Rawganique
About Rawganique
Price Range: $75–$89
Hemp fabric is making big news in the world of sustainability and Rawganique knows all about it.
Organic hemp eco flip-flops and sandals join their extensive range of hemp shoes and sustainable slippers.
The Bahamas hemp flip-flops feature a classic unisex design. The hemp canvas covering is not only durable and non-abrasive on the feet, but hemp’s natural antimicrobial properties will keep your feet smelling fresh all day long.
You can also get a version of them with a lace strap that can be tied around the foot and ankle in all manner of styles.
Rawganique’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Why hemp for their eco-friendly flip-flops?
Because hemp is a fast-growing crop that requires minimal water and no pesticides, making it one of the most eco-friendly materials available.
The hemp is paired with a natural rubber outsole, stitched together instead of glued.
Supply chain & labor practices:
A unique feature of Rawganique is its in-house production in Europe and North America. By keeping production close to home, they have greater control over the entire manufacturing process.
Their factories adhere to labor laws and provide a safe and healthy work environment. The company has a strict policy against child labor, forced labor, and discrimination.
Many of the materials used are from certified organic farms which promotes sustainability and supports farmers who follow eco-friendly practices.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Rawganique tries not to use plastic in packaging and shipping. If you prefer, you can request plastic-free packaging.
8. Original Cork Shop
About Original Cork Shop
Price Range: $45
We love natural cork for many reasons, and clearly, the Original Cork Shop does, too!
What started as one boy’s disappointing search for environmentally friendly flip-flops soon turned into a truly sustainable shoe brand.
Their fair trade flip-flops are available for adults and children in a variety of colors. We especially love how the kid’s styles have additional heel straps, so your little one will be less likely to lose their shoes.
Original Cork Shop’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Original Cork Shop’s sustainable flip-flops are 100% cork, from the footbed to the straps, to the flexible and grippy natural rubber and cork sole.
While these are water and beach-friendly, cork can deteriorate with prolonged exposure to salt. If wearing them in the ocean, be sure to wipe them afterward to give your flip-flops the longest life possible.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Original Cork Shop is all about keeping things local, Fair Trade, and cruelty-free.
Everything is 100% sourced and made at their base in Portugal, where most of the world’s cork trees are.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
These cork flip-flops are packed in carton boxes, sans any plastic.
9. Waves
About Waves
Price Range: $14–$15
The colorful patterns and designs of Waves’ natural rubber flip-flops remind us that just because something is green, it doesn’t need to look so.
Their eco-friendly flip-flops and thong wedges are perfect for those who want to get wild with a two-toned color pattern or those who like to keep it straight and simple.
Waves’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Waves use 100% premium-grade natural rubber for their flip-flops, making for a cushioned, grippy, and durable shoe.
Supply chain & labor practices:
This natural rubber is sourced in Sri Lanka, where it doesn’t need to travel far for manufacturing… because they’re made there, too!
Waves flip-flops are handcrafted under a “strict socially responsible manufacturing process” in exchange for fair wages.
Waves is proud that their production supports communities in Sri Lanka by providing fair and stable job opportunities.
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How We Chose The Best Natural Or Recycled Flip-Flops
So, other than looking to make sure they’re trying not to add to this plastic mess, how did we decide on the best eco-friendly flip-flops, US and worldwide?
Our sustainable fashion criteria, of course!
It’s the core of all our fashion-related articles, from sustainable flats to sustainable heels. If you don’t have the time to have a read because you’re off to the beach (of course), here are our main considerations:
Materials:
What is the eco alternative to flip-flops?
Ideally, we look for eco-friendly materials that can biodegrade (specifically via composting) at the end of their lives.
Natural fibers mean things like organic cotton, hemp, jute, bamboo fabric, linen, and cork flip-flops. Natural rubber is technically natural, too, but it won’t biodegrade fast enough to be considered compostable.
Recycled materials (even if they are synthetic) are a close second because they make use of waste that already exists. This could mean recycled plastic flip-flops, recycled tire flip-flops, and even flip-flops made of recycled yoga mats!
Supply chain & labor practices:
This encompasses many things relating to corporate social responsibility and ethical sourcing of materials.
It’s pretty much non-negotiable that companies should treat and pay their workers fairly, and we love to see certifications to back that up.
- Certifications: B Corporation (B Corp), fair trade
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Environmentally, manufacturing and shipping methods matter almost as much as material, so we look for brands that use carbon offset programs, renewable energy, non-mechanized methods of production (handmade for life!), and minimal, responsible packaging.
Community & charitable giving:
It’s so great to see companies that give back to the communities they sell to, or the environment, or the world in general.
Since new flip-flops can’t be priced astronomically, we understand this might leave these smaller companies with limited means to be proactive with their charitable work.
Final Thoughts On Eco Flip-Flops
Are flip-flops eco-friendly?
They can be if you know where to look. and considering traditional flip-flops are can be made of really harmful types of plastic like PVC, the bar is pretty low.
Remember that repairing the ones you have or buying second-hand should be your first choice. You might even score some decent ones through online thrift stores.
However, if nothing flips out at you, choosing to buy sustainably made flip-flops from ethical brands is the next best thong, err…thing.
Before you start looking for where to buy eco-friendly flip-flops, make sure you properly recycle your broken, plastic flip-flops. Terracycle offers recycle boxes in assorted sizes, so convince your friends and family to join in your flip-flop recycling journey.
While you’re at it, flip this article into their DMs, so they know what brands to replace them with.
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Most comprehensive list of brands and thanksnfor sharing all the details. So helpful.
Hey,
just wanted to let you know that original corks flip flops are not 100% cork! Neither the fabric that they use is 100% cork nor is the footbed …. there is actually a much better alternative out there, also all locally produced in Portugal but with a footbed that is 100% biodegradable (made from natural latex + cork) and doesn’t use a rubber-cork-mixture like original cork 🙂
they are cimasandals.com
It’s all well and good reading all this but where do I buy them, theres no product list
Hi Jamie, We provide links to retailers where you can buy them under each of the write ups about the brand – the the line that says “Available”