Why Flip Flops are Bad for the Planet and YOU

Flip flops can do damage to feet and legs

Flip Flops Are Cheap and Ugly, Plus They Wreck Your Feet

By now, we all know that flip flops are bad for your feet ... but what about their impact on the environment?

Things are looking bleak there too.

Your perfect summer footwear -- flip flops -- aren't doing your feet any favors, nor are they helping the environment.

First, let's chat about your feet.

Read: Flip Flops Are Bad For Your Feet

All that toe scrunching you do to keep the thongs in place on your feet is bad news for your feet and legs, with a 2008 study finding: "When you wear flip-flops, you kind of scrunch your toes to keep the flip-flop on your foot. By engaging the muscles that scrunch your toes, you are turning off the muscles that would bring your toes up."

The lack of foot support in flip flops is also problematic, as Dr. John E. Mancuso, a podiatrist at the Manhattan Podiatry Associates in New York told Forbes in 2010: "Flip-flops have a spongy sole, so when the foot hits the ground, it roles inward and the sponge allows it to roll even more than usual. This is called pronation, and it causes many problems in the foot."

The lack of arch support can do damage to the heel and foot as well, causing pain and plantar fascia, in addition to tendon damage.

Aside from all of that, flip flops are pretty dreadful for the environment as well because they're constructed of labor-intensive man-made materials, plus, since they're your annual cheapie summer footwear of choice, you're likely throwing them out at the end of the season and restocking again the next year.

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It's a lot more wasteful than owning better quality shoes that you wear and hold on to over time.

Do your feet and the planet a favor and invest in some decent sandals, stay away from the thong variety and go for those with straps.