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9 Eco Friendly Phone Cases to Protect Your Phone

Eco-Friendly Tech

Last Updated on November 16, 2023

Eco friendly cases are a must-have if you live in the present day because you certainly have a phone attached to you all day. In fact, I have two phones — one for filming videos and taking high quality pictures, and another for everyday calls and texts. Both need phone cases to help protect them from breaking and prolong their life.  

Over one billion plastic phone cases are sold each year. Unfortunately, most of them are made from virgin plastic. Choose an eco friendly version by opting for a biodegradable phone case to ensure your phone is sustainable and stylish! You can even choose a compostable phone case if that’s more your style. Either way, I’m sharing the 9 best sustainable phone case brands to keep your phone stylish and protected.

A hand holding an eco friendly phone case with overlay text reading "The Best Eco Friendly Phone Cases"

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links; for more information please see my disclosure policy.

sustainable phone cases

Virgin plastic has a big carbon footprint. Crude oil is extracted from the earth by fracking, then fossil fuel powered factories turn it into moldable plastic. This whole process is incredibly energy and resource intensive.  

The average smartphone lasts between 2 to 4 years, and that’s assuming you don’t decide to upgrade to new technology every two years. During that time, you could change your cellphone case multiple times — either because it breaks, or because you simply want a different design.  

Phone cases are packaged in excessive and unrecyclable plastic packaging too. While packaging isn’t the only thing that you should be looking at, it is something to consider.  

Making the switch to eco friendly phone cases is a better move for the planet. Here are the most sustainable phone cases that will actually protect your phone.  

a phone in a biodegradable phone case with a tote, sunglasses, Tiffany & Co box and teal water bottle.

what is the most eco friendly phone case? 

The most eco friendly phone case is the one you already have. Don’t toss yours out until it breaks. Otherwise, that will just create more waste and defeat the purpose.  

Instead, use it until it’s worn out. Then, replace it with an alternative like the phone cases on this list.  

An eco friendly phone case doesn’t use virgin materials. This means no plastic, which is extracted from the earth as crude oil and then made into plastic. Instead, it will utilize recycled or compostable materials from ethical sources.  

Ideally, its end of life won’t be a landfill. The best phone case can be recycled into something new or composted back into the earth.  

Here’s what criteria eco friendly phone cases must check off: 

  • Recycled, compostable, or sustainable materials 
  • Ethical and transparent manufacturing 
  • Low waste packaging/delivery is a bonus 
  • End of life is being recycled or composted 

RELATED: How to Recycle Cellphones + Why You Should

are pela cases actually eco friendly? 

Yes, Pela cases are both eco friendly and functional. I have been using Pela cases for years, and they always do a great job protecting my phone. 

Pela is a popular and sustainable phone case brand that also makes other phone accessories and sunglasses. Every product is compostable. They make their phone cases from flax shive and a plant based biopolymer. 

For more information on Pela cases, be sure to check them out along with the other brands listed below!  

A hand holding a green compostable phone case

are biodegradable phone cases good? 

Be aware that biodegradable does not mean compostable. Be wary whenever you hear a phone case company claiming they’re biodegradable.  

Here’s what the difference between the two are: 

  • Biodegradable: Simply means an item breaks down. In plastic’s case, it breaks up into tiny pieces of microplastics which continue to pollute over time. Biodegradable also doesn’t have a time stamp — it can biodegrade in 15, 50, 100, or 500 years. This means up until whatever time it breaks down, it’ll still be lingering in the environment or a landfill. To put this into perspective, all plastic ever created is still with us today. 
  • Compostable: Materials break down in weeks or months, like an apple in the soil. They return to nature with the help of naturally occurring microorganisms (like fungi). Compostable products must fully break down, leaving nothing behind within a year, and can only compost in a composting environment, not a landfill. 

This is not to say biodegradable phone cases cannot be sustainable — that depends on the specific materials found in them. Just be wary when you hear “biodegradable” and then see the phone case is just made of virgin plastic.

You can play it safe by opting for compostable options over biodegradable. However, please be advised certain places do not accept compostable products, so double check with your local drop off center if it’s allowed. 

4 sustainable phone cases - 1 light pink, 1 bright pink, 1 navy, and 1 sky blue.

what are compostable phone cases? 

Compostable phone cases are able to break down at the end of their life and return to the earth without leaving any toxic residue. Similar to how food scraps become compost that feeds garden plants, compostable phone cases must be able to do the same. 

I’ve listed several compostable phone case options in the brands below. However, not everyone has access to compost, which means sometimes even compostable items end up in the trash.  

This kind of defeats the purpose, so I advise double checking if you have the proper means to properly dispose of your compostable cellphone case first before purchasing. Some drop off locations won’t accept compostable plastics. Your product may need to be sent back to the manufacturer or sent to an industrial compost facility. 

gzw approved eco friendly phone cases: 

I’ve rounded up a list of phone cases that get the Going Zero Waste seal of approval. All these phone cases are made from compostable, recycled, or sustainable materials. 

Many of these companies offer take-back programs and are part of other sustainable initiatives as well, like donating to non-profits or being certified Climate Neutral.  

Please note that there are a few phone case companies listed that only have biodegradable options available. These aren’t perfect solutions, but I included them because they’re still better than using a phone case made from virgin plastic.  

I’ve gone ahead and highlighted some of my favorite features of each brand, but it isn’t an exhaustive list. Be sure to check out their websites for more information. 

Pela: 8 Eco-Friendly Phone Cases to Protect Your Phone

1. pela

  • Made from flax shive and a plant-based biopolymer 
  • Compostable  
  • Plastic-free shipping 
  • Donates to ocean cleanup + preservation 
  • Take-back program 
  • B Corporation 
  • Climate neutral 

2. ecoblvd 

  • 100% Compostable, Made From Plants 
  • 6FT Drop Protection 
  • Plastic-Free & FSC Certified Packaging 
  • Roundabout Recycling Program: Send back old cases/chargers for a discount
  • 1% for the Planet Member
  • Discount code: GOINGZW15 – 15% off your whole purchase 

Nimble: 8 Eco-Friendly Phone Cases to Protect Your Phone

3. nimble  

  • Base case made from 72% certified recycled plastic 
  • Clear cases made from recycled compact discs 
  • Take-back program for any used plastic phone cases 
  • Plastic free packaging 
  • B Corporation 
  • Climate Neutral 
  • 1% For the Planet 

Casetify: 8 Eco-Friendly Phone Cases to Protect Your Phone

4. casetify 

  • Compostable cases made from a blend of plant-based biopolymers and starch, and a bamboo particle texture finish 
  • Re/CASETiFY cases are made of 65% recycled and plant-based materials from recycled phone cases 
  • Take back program: Send old case (from any brand) for discount 

Skate 4 Create: 8 Eco-Friendly Phone Cases to Protect Your Phone

5. skate 4 create 

  • Made from recycled skateboard wood from broken boards 
  • Handmade 
  • Sources most materials locally from friends, skate shops, and skate parks 

Wave: 8 Eco-Friendly Phone Cases to Protect Your Phone

6. wave 

  • Made of wheat straw, PLA, and PBAT 
  • Biodegradable 
  • UK based 
  • Deliveries are carbon neutral 
  • Plastic-free mailers 
  • Each purchase helps support Surfers Against Sewage 

Wilma: 8 Eco-Friendly Phone Cases to Protect Your Phone

7. wilma  

  • Made from corn-based bioplastic 
  • Certified biodegradable by European Standard 
  • Donates $1 of every sale to various ocean conservation projects 
  • Plastic-free packaging 

Reveal: 8 Eco-Friendly Phone Cases to Protect Your Phone

8. reveal 

  • Made out of bamboo, hardwoods, and cork 
  • Vegan and cruelty-free 
  • For every product sold, they plant a tree in an endangered forest 

A Good Company: 8 Eco-Friendly Phone Cases to Protect Your Phone

9. a good company 

  • Made from plants 
  • Compostable 
  • Take back program with A Good Loop system 
  • One tree planted with every order 
  • Climate neutral shipping 
  • B Corporation 

faqs

can sustainable cases still be cute?

Absolutely. In fact, that’s what many of these companies hinge their business model around. They pride themselves in offering eco friendly, stylish cases so consumers can get the best of both worlds.

do these cases work as well as plastic phone cases?

You’re unlikely to get military grade drop protection from one of these sustainable options. However, aside from being a clever marketing tactic, how many of us truly need that? These eco friendly phone cases will surely protect your phone from the occasional drop, bump, or skid and offer more than enough protection for the average consumer.

So, what do you think of these eco friendly phone cases? Let me know your favorite in the comments below!

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