UniquEco - The (flip flop) Recycling Company

This is the story of a group of Kenyan people who collect the flip flops that wash up on the coast and craft them into jewelry, sculptures and toys. The business is UniquEco Designs and their focus is cleaning up the oceans, providing a sustainable income for local people and using art as a means for conservation and development.

Their motto: improving lives and the world with recycled products, is about brightening life with colorful and exciting items made from waste and providing opportunities to local communities. A must for those that love the world and its people!

A shining example of how the people of Africa are working to address the global problem of pollution! Do the world a favor and check it out!

To read more and order the fabulous products: www.uniqueco-designs.com

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• heymissk
• environment
• recycle
• Africa
• Kenya
• flip-flop
• conservation
• Kiunga

[ShutYourEyesAndSing]

This is great and I had a look at their online shop and I loved some of the animal sculptures but I don't know how I feel about buying them. This white woman and her company are obviously the middleman so I imagine they get a big chuck of the profits for themselves?

[heymissk]

@ShutYourEyesAndSing Julie is a white woman but she was born and raised in Kenya. She hires locals on the coast to collect the flip flops and hires locals in Nairobi to make the sculptures. I don't know what % of the profits she keeps but I do know that she is committed to hiring local people so they can earn a living through their art in a manner that also cleans the oceans. If you like the sculptures and art, I would encourage you to support these people and buy some. My % is zero. ;)

[2pandora4]

How do they get the layers of colours, fuse the together and get the perfect shapes? Is it melted?

[heymissk]

The flip flops usually have a streak of color inside. The cut them into rectangles and glue them together into giant blocks and then they sculpt them. It is pretty cool.

[fiahs]

respect good news is always good ...inspiration to the people ....a solution to help poor people....jah bless all who inspire with simple ideas...share them with the world....

[hailbrainiac]

Why do I have this mental picture of natives with poisonous blowguns hiding behind a bush waiting for unsuspecting tourists? lol

[malkiaj1]

This is amazing. My Kenyan people continue to amaze me every day! Congratulations to the people at UniquEco, keep up the great work.

[edwardjohnstone]

yeah, I agree. Send an email to them ,see what they can do.

[chezzetcooker1]

this is so cool more people should do this kind of idea!! Jamaica needs help!