Changing the world doesn’t happen overnight, but it always starts with showing up.

how nuoceans started

Flip-flops were piling up on our beaches. Bright plastic, rubbers and foams, abandoned.

Everyone walked past them. We didn’t.

A few uni mates. No big investors, no master plan, just one simple thought:

Why are we making more stuff when there’s already too much?

So we started with what was washing up. We took discarded flip-flops and turned them into something wearable. Not as a gimmick. Not as a “green” marketing move. But because waste is a design flaw and we’re not okay with it.

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

Nuoceans was built on one belief: If you want change, build it yourself. Fast fashion moves fast. We’d rather move differently.

We upcycle, redesign and challenge what “normal” production looks like. And we refuse to pretend sustainability is optional.

At our core? Ocean waste. Sharp design. 0 BS. We’re not here to be another eco brand.

We’re here to prove that waste has value and that responsibility can look bold.

Because the future doesn’t need more products. It needs better ones.

MAterials matter

We design with care and make with responsibility

Our colourful, iconic midsole is made from 300g of rescued flip-flop waste, while the recycled cork footbed is topped with a soft foam layer for extra comfort. The strap and outsole are made from recycled, vegan materials, with straps that are leather-like or crafted from bio-based fibres like palm, so every part is chosen to protect the planet.

vegan, because this should be the standard

We choose vegan materials because a cleaner future means using fewer resources, causing less harm, and building a world where no life - human or animal - has to pay the price for fashion.

Palm Fibre

Recycled Standard: GRS
Our Coco straps blend recycled, durable materials (post-consumer waste) with 52% plant-based palm fibre. This is part of our ongoing search for better, lower-impact alternatives.

100% flip-flop waste

Made from 100% recycled flip-flops rescued from the ocean, then cleaned, shredded, and pressed into our signature soles. Each pair is one of a kind, and the reason Nuoceans exists. 100% Ocean flip-flop waste and a dash of non-toxic, water-based PU glue to hold them together.

Recycled Vegan Leather

Recycled Standard: GRS 4.0
Made from a blend of recycled pre-consumer waste and virgin polyester, giving existing materials a second life instead of creating new ones. Is it 100% perfect? Not yet. We’re actively phasing out virgin materials and pushing toward more natural and fully recycled alternatives.

recycled cork

Made from 80% recycled cork, sourced from used bottle corks and production scraps, blended with 20% natural latex. Finished with a soft foam layer on top for extra comfort underfoot.

Recycled eva

Recycled Standard: RCS 2.0
Made from a blend of recycled pre-consumer waste (sourced from the shoe industry) and virgin materials, keeping material out of landfill while providing durable, reliable soles. It’s not perfect yet. We’re still working to eliminate virgin plastics completely and replace them with more natural or higher recycled-content alternatives.

recycled cardboard

Our recycled cardboard box used for our packaging is made in Spain, fully ECO-certified, recyclable with paper, and FSC-approved.

the process

STEP BY STEP

1. 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.

2. SHREDDING & PRESSING

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.

3. OUR Signature midsole

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 in spain

The Nuos layers are shipped to Spain where they are assembled with the rest of our recylced materials into the final sandals. This is all done by hand by our skilled and experienced team under strict EU standards. Safe, ethical, and fair - always.

a small team making waves

Valentina is from Austria. She loves sports, travelling, and speaking up when something isn’t right. The environment, equality, LGBTQ+ rights. She doesn’t just care about these things, she acts on them. That energy shapes a lot of what we do.

Hadrien is our Belgian with a sweet tooth. He brings heart, humour and a strong sense of responsibility to the team. He cares deeply about what kind of world we’re building, and keeps us moving when things get tough.

Terence is our UK guy. Big food lover, big panda fan, but also deeply committed to making a change. He’s the reminder that you can care about the planet and still enjoy life along the way.

how we met

We met at university. Different backgrounds, different personalities, different ways of thinking. That’s exactly why it works. We challenge each other. We balance each other out. And we’re building this together, turning our differences into something that actually makes a difference.

A young start-up from europe

We’re also proud to be a young start-up figuring things out as we go. It’s not easy building something responsible in a world dominated by fast fashion giants with massive budgets and louder voices. Standing out is hard. Being heard is harder. So every single person who chooses our sandals - who makes a statement by wearing them - genuinely helps us keep going. Your support isn’t just a purchase. It’s fuel.