Be environmentally conscious on National Flip-Flop Day
National Flip Flop-Day is May 31 a day to celebrate the comfortable summer slide-on sandals. The Virginia Zoo in Norfolk used the 2017 observance on June 17 to bring awareness to how flip flops are a danger to the environment and marine life. In 2023 the date was changed to coincide with Memorial Day and the beginning of summer and Virginians can celebrate keeping in mind the 2017 decision by making sure they dispose of the sandals properly. Millions of flip-flops have washed up on Australian beaches contributing to plastic pollution
flip flops are causing a bizarre and yet very real phenomenon. Thousands and thousands of flipflops are constantly washed up onto the East African coast creating an environmental disaster. Not only spoiling the natural beauty of our beaches and oceans, the rubber soles are swallowed & suffocated on by fish & other animals, they obstruct turtle hatchlings from reaching the sea and are a man-made menace to our fragile ecosystems.
Keep the Virginia Zoo's recommendations in mind
Flip flops have been around since 4,000 BC and were worn by the ancient Egyptians. They are comfortable and easy to slide on. In 2015 The Virginia Zoo partnered with Ocean Sole, the TheFlipflop Recycling Company, to conserve marine life and support sustainable community development. Martha Stewart recommends finding a recycling center for old flip-flops.
Ocean Sole collects discarded flip-flops that were previously blighting waterways and coastlines in Kenya, and artisans from local communities transform the collected waste into colorful flip-flop creations. The foamy footwear is collected and scrubbed, then carved, sanded and sculpted into colorful patchwork animals.
Don't forget to get out your slide-ons for National Flip Flop Day and be mindful when you are at the beach so that your flip-flops will not be carried away with the tide and end up on the shores of other continents.
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