Which sandals have no plastic in the footbed, the straps, the sole or the glue?
This category is being vetted. Nothing here is a recommendation yet.
Where plastic hides in sandals
The word "rubber" carries a lot of weight on a sandal. Flip-flop and slide soles are EVA foam, polyurethane or synthetic rubber, and a page that says only "rubber" has not said which. Natural latex and crepe rubber are plastic-free. Cork footbeds are cork granules bound with polyurethane or natural latex, so the binder decides. Straps on sport sandals are nylon webbing closed with nylon hook-and-loop, and the buckles are acetal or metal. Leather straps carry a polyurethane topcoat or an acrylic edge paint, footbeds are lined in microfiber, thread is nylon or polyester, and the layers are cemented together.
What to check before you buy
- Sole: natural rubber or crepe, leather or wood, or EVA, polyurethane and unnamed "rubber"?
- Footbed: leather, or cork bound with natural latex, or foam and microfiber?
- Straps: leather, cotton or jute, or nylon webbing and hook-and-loop?
- Buckles and rivets: solid metal, or plastic?
- Leather finish: unfinished or oiled, or topcoated?
- Thread and glue: cotton or linen thread and a named adhesive, or nylon and unnamed cement?