no mESSing AROUND
Every year, over 3 billion flip-flops are thrown out after just a brief sunny weekend. Most of these plastic sandals either end up in landfills or get lost at sea, adding to the pollution mess. At Nuoceans, we believe in giving these flip-flops a second shot at life, by rescuing them and transforming them into new materials for our products.
But it wouldn't be us, if we stopped here.
We believe people are capable of way more than just creating waste. Empathy, inclusivity, and respect fuel every decision we make, from sourcing materials to final design. Each piece we create is a reflection of our vision for a sustainable future, a future built by everyday choices and a little rebellion against the status quo.
Vegan leather
Our straps are made from a blend of recycled and long-lasting materials. Yes, there’s still some plastic, but, part of it has already lived a past life. For us, it’s all about using what’s already out there and giving materials another chance. We’re also constantly exploring even better options like fibers from palm leaves or other plant-based sources. Because we truly believe we can always do better – for the planet, and for the people who walk on it.
Cork footbed
Colourful Nuo sole
OUtsole
Making of the Nuo sole
IN DETAIL
COLLECTION, SORTING & CLEANING
Every year, we team up with Trash Hero to rescue thousands of flip-flops from Southeast Asia's beaches. We sort them by colour and give them a thorough cleaning. This prep work is the first step in transforming these discarded sandals into the vibrant materials for our unique creations.
SHREDDING
We have special machinery that shreds those flip-flops into tiny little pieces which make the colourful confetti-like base for our Nuo soles. The shreds go through another cleaning session before they are heat pressed into the final layers.
OUR ICONIC NUOS LAYER
We do our best to mix the shreds in bright colour combinations. Every sheet that we make is unique, some are darker, some light, some more red, blue, green or black, which is the beauty of our Nuo layers.
ASSEMBLY
The Nuos layers are shipped to Spain where they are assembled with the rest of our recycled materials into the final sandals. This is all done by hand by skilled and experienced workers.
