Sea Sense Flip Flops

Sea Sense Flip Flops, natural rubber flip flops with an ocean focus

Sea Sense Flip Flops is a British company based in London that designs and sells flip flops made from biodegradable natural rubber. The firm was founded in 2020 by Luke, a marine biologist who, after fifteen years working in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America and dedicated to campaigns against plastic pollution, decided to create an alternative to conventional plastic footwear. The company operates under the name Sea Sense Flip Flops Limited.

Origin and motivation of the project

The founder conceived the brand from his experience on beaches around the world, where he saw flip flops washed up by the sea. His stated goal was to offer a planet-friendly alternative within a sector that, according to the company's data, sells 3 billion pairs of plastic flip flops a year worldwide. The company cites biology professor Stephen Mayfield of the University of California, San Diego, to point to polyurethane from flip flops as one of the main ocean pollutants.

Material and product features

Sea Sense flip flops are made from biodegradable natural rubber, with the aim of avoiding the use of plastic. The company highlights that this material provides softness, joint support and a lower risk of blisters compared to conventional flip flops. The natural rubber is sourced in China and Vietnam.

Environmental and social impact

The company uses part of the profits from every pair sold to clean oceans and pay plastic collectors in developing countries. According to the data it publishes, it has collected the equivalent of more than three million plastic bottles that were going to end up in the sea and has provided a wage to more than 500 collectors. The company states it has collaborated with organisations in countries such as Sierra Leone and Indonesia. It also declares that all its employees receive a fair wage and adequate working conditions, a point it presents as non-negotiable.

Track record and awards

Since its founding in 2020, the team has grown from a shed in a garden to a consolidated structure, incorporating the founder's family members in logistics and organisation from the start. The company presents itself as a finalist and winner of several awards, and describes itself as the UK's top-rated flip flop brand and the world's favourite eco-friendly flip flops. These ratings correspond to the company's own presentation.

Catalogue and sales

The Sea Sense website was in the process of being renovated at the time of the analysis, with a notice of an upcoming new version. The catalogue shows a winter promotion consisting of two pairs for £39 with free UK shipping. The company also offers a gift card, affiliate programme and store locator, and provides information about its returns and exchanges policy.