I have seen plastic footwear washed up on the beaches of three continents. Most inexpensive flip flops are made from Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA).
The most enviro-friendly choice for summer footwear is bare feet. That being said, going barefoot is not for everyone and it poses some risks. There is a lot of gross stuff on the ground and also some sharp objects.
Ethletics makes all natural rubber flip flops that are Fair Trade. I love the business model employed by FairDeal Trading, but I am too cheap to buy their $60 sneakers. If you are a shoe fetishist AND an ethical greeny, you need to get a pair of green low tops. The flip flops are affordable and when you kick them off at a pool party, the Ethletic label will let people know that you care.
We often have to choose between plastic and leather when we are shopping for footwear. I am hesitant to recommend leather because of the host of environmental negative involved in its creation. Canvas and natural rubber seem like better choices. Sticking the words ‘vegan shoes’ in your search query is the best way to avoid leather.
