Last updated on:
Smartphones have almost become an extension of our physical selves; you only have to walk down the street to see this to be true. And this was further ingrained with the release of phone cases.
Now we can have our smartphones match our style and mood; the number of customization options is forever growing. And while customizing our phones might seem like harmless fun, the truth couldn’t be further away.
The thing is:
Most people don’t think about the damage this is doing to our environment. I know it’s not the biggest trash problem we’re facing, but it’s still something we should be considering, and here’s why:
It’s thought that in 2019, well over 1.5 billion phones were sold. And to make it worse, 3.5 billion people own a smartphone worldwide, that’s almost one phone per three people.
And the worst bit is:
Nearly 80% of these smartphone users will have one or more phone cases to protect their phones. For me, this is a horrifying thought. The thing is, most of these phone cases are not made with eco-friendly materials, and this is an issue for our landfill system.
So, now is the time to make the switch to a biodegradable phone case, and luckily for you, I’ve listed the best the market has to offer.
Our Reviews Of The Best Eco-Friendly Phone Cases
Pela Case Phone Cases
BEST OVERALL
smartphone brands’, but it’s best to check on their website to see if your phone is compatible. Pela Case is trying to secure a more sustainable future by making the world’s first 100% compostable phone case.
The eco-friendly phone case is made using plant-based biopolymers and flax shives to give added strength.
Flax shiv is a waste product from farmers, which adds shock-absorbing qualities to the phone. The best bit is, all of the materials used meet the compostability standards set by ASTM D6400.
Another nice feature is they leave all traditional plastics out of the packaging, which you’ll find most companies forget about.
All the cases are non-toxic to plants and wildlife, so you don’t have to worry about what happens afterward. Pela Case claims the phone protector will last the lifetime of your device (around 2-years).
Technical specifications
- Size: Fits iPhone 5 to 11 Pro Max, Galaxy S7 to S9+, Google Pixel, and Huawei P20 Lite
- Material: Flax Shiv & Biopolymers
- Designs: 7+
- Eco-Friendliness: 100% Compostable
REVEAL’S BAMBOO PHONE CASES
RUNNER-UP
This particular model of phone case was made from bamboo and can be used for the iPhone X/XS.
Reveal wanted to design an elegant and stylish phone case that offered protection to your phone while remaining sustainable. The bamboo phone case protects against drops and scratches.
The wood phone cases are made with 100% renewable resources, and because bamboo grows so quickly, it’s also very sustainable. They even plant a tree for every product brought, which further helps the sustainability of the phone case.
The slim design of the case makes it to slip in and out of your pocket without feeling and bulkiness. The case is cut in a way that provides access to all the ports and buttons on your phone while remaining a tight fit. It also features a non-slip design around the edges.
Technical specifications
- Sizes: iPhone XS Max/ X/XS/XR
- Material: Bamboo
- Designs: 1
- Eco-Friendliness: Made with biodegradable materials
WUDN PHONE CASES
BEST ALTERNATIVE
Wudn phone cases come with a variety of design options, 34 of them, in fact.
They use real wood within the protective phone case, which can vary from Mahogany, Black Walnut, Carmalized Bamboo, and Aromatic Cedar. The phone case can be used for the iPhone 11 Pro Max.
One notable feature is the ability of the wood phone cases to work with Qi wireless charges, meaning yours don’t have to take the phone case off to charge your phone.
The handmade phone case provides you with easy access to anything valuable, including the buttons, charging ports, and a large camera opening.
The case is compatible with screen protectors, which adds an extra level of protection to your smartphone. The eco-friendly phone cases are light-weight, making it easy to slip in and out of your pocket.
Finally, the raised lip and impact resistant corners make this a tremendous protective phone case.
Technical specifications
- Sizes: iPhone 11 Pro Max
- Material: Wood/Bamboo and Polycarbonate
- Designs: 34
- Eco-Friendliness: Made with biodegradable materials
SKATE4CREATE RECYCLED PHONE CASES
Skate4Create uses recycled skateboards to make their protective phone case. The case was designed to fit around the iPhone Xs Max, XR, XS, X, 8 Plus, 7 Plus, 6S Plus, 7, and much more.
The case is perfectly cut and shaped to ensure you have access to all your ports and buttons.
Because it’s made from recycled skateboards, it makes the perfect gift for anyone that loves skateboarding. The primary benefit of this phone case is, it doesn’t use any virgin materials to make the phone. In the end, it makes it a very sustainable phone.
On the sides of the phone case, it uses a polycarbonate casing, which helps the phone case stay in your hands.
The lip of the cases also slightly protrudes over the screen; this is so the screen will never touch the floor is the phone is dropped face down.
Technical specifications
- Sizes: Fits to XS Max, XR, XS, X, 8 plus, 7 plus, 6s plus, 7, 8, 6s and 6
- Material: Recycled skateboard + Polycarbonate
- Designs: 1
- Eco-Friendliness: Made with recycled, biodegradable materials
MOUS BAMBOO PHONE CASES
The tight-fitting case is made with rigid materials at the ear of the phone; this helps to prevent twisting when you drop your phone.
The phone case is fitted out with high impact AiroShock technology, which keeps your phone against drops and knocks.
Each phone case comes with a screen protector included, which is made with a blend of TPU, PET, and Silicon.
The TPU material is added to the screen protector to give th phone case an anti-shock design. The sleek and stylish design is made using authentic, high-quality materials.
It uses a Limitless 2.0 design to protect your smartphone; th best bit is, it doesn’t add any bulk to your smartphone.
It also uses AutoAlign technology, which allows you to connect a range of Limitless 2.0 accessories. And it does all this while reaming easy to remove for our Qi charging kit.
Technical specifications
- Sizes: Fits iPhone SE/8/7/6S/6
- Material: Bamboo
- Designs: 5
- Eco-Friendliness: Made with biodegradable materials
Eco-Friendly Phone Cases FAQs
I’m use you have a few questions about eco-friendly phone cases, so I’m going to answer them for you here:
What Are Eco-Friendly Phone Cases Made Of?
When the first phone case was released, there weren’t many/if any eco-friendly phone cases available. And I guess that’s the beauty of today’s world. Nowadays we have a wide range of selections out there, granted some are more environmentally friendly than others, but at least we have some options now.
There’s a wide range of materials that are being used to create these eco-friendly cases, and if I’m honest, there hasn’t been a better time to go eco-friendly. Here are a few of the materials I’ve seen being used to create phone cases with a low carbon footprint:
- Bamboo
- Bioplastic
- Recycled skateboards
- Recycled ocean plastic
- Cork
- Wood
As you can see, people are getting pretty creative with how they make iPhone cases. Now not all of these materials can biodegrade. `But they are more sustainable than using virgin products. If you’re looking for the most eco-friendly case on the market, there is only one option.
And that’s the Pela Case, it’s the world’s first genuinely compostable phone, which means it will disappear without a trace. I guess the next question is…
Is Pela's Case Good?
Their biodegradable phone cases are something special; you really don’t get any more eco friendly than Pela. There 100% compostable, so you don’t have to feel guilty once you’ve finished with the case. And I know what you’re thinking, “Surely a compostable case is not a good idea.”
I thought the same, I really did, but here’s the thing:
Pela promises the case will last as long as your smartphone does, which for most people, is about two-years. They also say the phone case won’t start biodegrading until it’s in a composting setting.
From the point of you discarding the phone to the point of it turning to nothing can be 6-months to 2-years, depending on the conditions.
I know, two-years sounds like a long time, but when you put it into perspective, it’s a reaction of the time that traditional plastic will last.
Another that makes Pela cases so good is the strength and durability is holds. It’s more than enough to protect your phone against bumps and scraps. They also come with so many designs sustainable for any phone, including the iPhone X and Galaxy S9.
Some come with a slot to hold your credit cards in one place, while others have a pretty design at the rear. You can also add the Pela Canopuy liquid screen protector for added protection.
If you’re interested in learning more about Pela, you should check out my Pela Case review.
Are Phone Cases Bad For The Environment?
made with plastic, which, as we all know, does not biodegrade. This is causing huge problems at landfill sites; they just have nowhere else to put it all.
Then you have the issues plastics are having on our health. Your iPhone case might seem harmless enough, but beneath the surface, there’s a load of harmful toxins, including BPA. This chemical has been proven to cause all sorts of problems, including infertility.
So yes, phone cases are bad for the environment, which is why we need to stop using plastic iPhone cases and start moving to something more eco friendly.
Are Pela Cases Vegan?
If you’re a vegan, I can understand your frustration at trying to find a vegan-friendly phone cover. Luckily for you, Pela is vegan. Pela is made using 100% plant-based materials, which is excellent. Now you don’t have to spend hours reaching a vegan-friendly phone case.
Conclusion
In the end, you have so many choices when it comes to eco-friendly phone cases; all you have to do is pick the right one. But here’s the thing:
There is only one genuinely eco-friendly iPhone case on the market, and that’s Pela. If you do anything useful today, it should be ditching your phone case for something a little more environmentally friendly. And if you’re still not sure, I want you to think about all the phone cases you’ve used in your lifetime.
These phone cases will still be around in 100 years unless we do something about it. It’s time to start thinking about the future and how we want to leave it for generations to come.
Did you like the article? Please rate it:
I'm a professional freediver that runs the Sakurra Mermaid School and I'm on a mission to help you create a more sustainable life style with small changes. You can (and should) learn more about me and my mission here.
