There are approximately 6.37 billion people in the world who use smartphones. This means that approximately 80.63% of the world's population has a smartphone. That’s why Samsung and Apple are working to make their products more sustainable, removing harmful substances and improving manufacturing processes with the objective of becoming carbon neutral. Customers are also more conscious about the importance of making more sustainable purchases. However, how can we make sure that the accessories we use with devices have the smallest or no impact on the environment?
Phone cases help to protect our devices, but most of them are made of plastic and end up in landfills or the ocean after being used. If you’re looking for a greener alternative to plastic phone cases, there are sustainable options to choose from.
Many people are concerned about the environment, and there is a need for products that are eco-friendly and reduce pollution. An average of 426,000 phones are thrown away every day across the world and almost certainly every single one of them has a case on. The problem with traditional phone cases is that they can't be recycled or reused because the plastics are blended together.
However, eco-friendly phone cases are becoming a great alternative to plastic covers. Using an eco-friendly phone case will help you, not just to protect your phone and extend its lifespan but also to reduce plastic pollution. If you are on the lookout for a case that does not harm the environment, these are some of the features to look for:
There are so many different factors to consider when choosing a sustainable phone case. To make it easier for you to pick the one, we’ve looked at various brands that make eco-friendly cases for iPhone and Android and reviewed their products based on environmental impact, durability and aesthetic appeal. This helped us to compile a list of six recommendations where you can buy an ethical case for your smartphone.
Uunique started around 10 years ago and they have become one of the leading tech accessory brands. Their mission is to reverse the cycle of pollution and help save the planet by creating sustainable protective accessories.
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Image: Uunique
Their products are completely plastic-free, as they are made from plants or plant elements. This means that they are 100% biodegradable. Phone cases are shipped in zero-waste, plastic-free and 100% biodegradable packaging.
Case models offer both screen edge protection and full screen protection, and are designed with drop-proof features.
Designs available in a wide range of colours and prints and even Chrome-free leather finishes. Some phone case models can be customised before purchase.
Wavecase makes eco-friendly phone cases and other accessories that are designed to be biodegradable. The cases are made from wheat straw, which makes them affordable and sustainable.
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Image: Wavecase
Wave cases are a great option for people who are looking for durability without having to worry about plastics. Wave uses biodegradable materials in their products, carbon neutral shipping, and 100% plastic-free mailers without any cardboard waste.
Each case is designed with a unique shock-absorbing corner that saves the device from drops and falls. Meanwhile, the 2mm lip around the case protects the screen and camera from getting scratched.
Cases come in a range of vibrant colours and designs to add personality to your phone. The style is easily identifiable as an eco-friendly phone case due to the natural fleck shown in the material.
Loam & Lore is a family-run eco-friendly business. They claim to help rid the world of plastic. They noticed that a lot of mobile phones and plastic phone cases are thrown away every day, and decided to do something about it.
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Image: Loam & Lore
Their cases are composed of plant-based materials that will break down in an industrial composting environment within 6-12 months. After the use customers can compost these cases in their garden or return them back for recycling. Cases are delivered in 100% recyclable packaging.
The phone covers are designed to be durable and shock-resistant, with a raised rim to protect the screen from damage. The cases have survived 5-foot drop-tests and are good at shock absorption.
Loam & Lore’s offer includes different collections of phone cases, such as antibacterial, designer, eco and engraved phone cases. Customers can choose from a large variety of colours and shapes.
Agood Company claims to follow sustainability principles from production to shipment of its products. They have been awarded several ecological certifications, which shows their products are kinder to the environment.
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This brand uses waste linseed plants to avoid plastic, waste and inorganic fertilisers. The plants are grown by an ecologically certified farmer in Sweden. Agood Company are avid supporters of circular economy and are encouraging their customers to return used cases for reuse. Products are transported with carbon neutral shipping and for packaging stone paper is used, which is a planet-friendly alternative to tree-based or fossil fuel packaging.
Phone cases made from recycled materials are not as resistant to drops as other types of phone cases, so you need to be careful not to drop your phone when using one of these cases.
There’s a large variety of collections with original and unique designs and patterns. You can find both themed and plain designs to suit your preferences.
Pela pioneered compostable phone cases. Their cases are made with 30% less carbon emissions, 34% less water, and 80% less waste than a mainstream plastic phone case.
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Pela's cases are made of compostable bioplastic elastomer and flax straw, so they will break down in a standard compost when they are discarded.
Pela says that their cases are shipped using minimum packaging, but there is no mention of whether the packaging is recyclable. The manufacturing of cases takes place in China which requires raw materials to be transported overseas before they can be made into ready products. Transportation is one of the biggest contributors to Pela’s carbon footprint.
Pela makes phone cases that they claim are the most protective on the planet. If a phone breaks while in a Pela case, the company will pay for repairs.
Pela offers a wide range of soft and flexible cases, with or without enhanced grip, or transparent to show off your phone's original appearance.
This company manufactures eco-friendly and recyclable phone cases in Barcelona. They have been recognised with multiple circular economy certifications. Popsicase aims to reduce the plastic pollution from our oceans by using fishing nets to create phone cases.
Learn More: Popsicase
Image: Popsicase
Supporting the circular economy, Popsicase reuse discarded fishing nets for their cases. The process of sourcing, washing and chopping nets is very laborious, but it's worth it for a good cause to reduce ocean plastic pollution. After use, cases can be recycled again to make new products.
Popsicase has disclosed that they still generate CO2 emissions. To offset these emissions, they have committed to planting a forest in Peru. This forest will act as a carbon sink, absorbing the CO2 generated during Popsicase's manufacturing process.
Flexible, long-lasting material that protects effectively against drops and scratches. Many designs have a foldable handle that can be extended and help to hold your device during use.
There’s a choice of different designs that are split into collections featuring patterns, plain colours and textures.
Next time you need a case for your phone, switch to an eco-friendly phone case and make a difference! Eco-friendly cases not only protect your phone, but can also be composted in your garden. This way, you can have a fun experience and you will know for sure that you're not contributing to creating more plastic waste. Keeping your phone protected from day one will make sure that when it’s time for you to sell your used phone, you get the most money for it.
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