Sustainable Sandals: Why Natural Rubber Beats EVA Foam or Plastic

When we talk about sustainable sandals, most people think of recycled plastic — but that's not the same as a truly natural raw material. There's an important difference between natural rubber, EVA foam and recycled PVC.

The difference between EVA and rubber sandals

Many sandals and flip-flops on the market are made from EVA, a synthetic foam plastic that's light and cheap to produce, but barely breaks down and is almost always based on fossil raw materials.

What about recycled plastic?

Some brands opt for recycled PVC or other plastics. That's better than new plastic, but at its core it's still plastic — not biodegradable and not made from a renewable raw material.

Why natural rubber is the more sustainable choice

Natural rubber is a renewable raw material: it comes from a tree that, if well maintained, can keep producing latex for decades without needing to be cut down. At the end of the product's life, natural rubber also biodegrades, unlike most synthetic alternatives.

Functionally stronger too

Natural rubber is also naturally slip-resistant and shock-absorbing, making it not only a more sustainable but also a functionally stronger choice for everyday use. At Fipper, we deliberately choose this material — for every model, in every colour, for everyone from size 26.