Eco-Friendly Phone Cases: How You Can Make A Difference

We have a new trash problem that’s struggling to reach the limelight. But now it’s time to expose the issue to the masses. And that is our sacred phone cases! Most people have multiple phone cases for different occasions, but they don’t see the damage this is causing the environment. You’re probably thinking, “They can’t do that much damage, can they?” Well, the answer might shock you. 

How Phone Cases Impact The Environment

Nearly 3 billion people use smartphones, and this number continues to grow with the population. 

To make things worse, over 80% of these users have a phone case on their phone, that’s a lot of phone cases being used worldwide. 

And here’s the kicker:

That doesn’t account for the people with multiple phone cases for their phones or those that have more than one phone, which probably pushes the number of cases being used sky high.  

The thing is most people are not considering the damage these cases cause the environment once you chuck it away.

The main problem with phone cases is the material they use to make them. Most phone cases are made with the dreaded plastic material. 

And as you’re aware, plastic is not causing any benefits for our environment. Here are a few reasons phone cases aren’t made with the environment in mind:

• They don’t biodegrade. 
• Producing them increases the risk of climate change.
• They contain harmful chemicals.
• They release harmful chemicals. 
• The number produced is not sustainable. 

It’s thought that over 1 billion phone cases are produced every year, and when you look above, you can start to see the problems this causes the environment.

But what makes all this even worse is the phone cases are only used for a couple of years (people usually discard them once they get a new phone).

Once the phone cases have been discarded, they will spend centuries in the landfill system, or even worse, in the water sources. 

Now, it’s understandable you want to keep your phone safe from damage, but at what cost? Are you willing to sacrifice the safety of the planet for your phone?

Well, you don’t have to! 

You see, with the introduction of eco-friendly phone cases, you don’t have to sacrifice anything.

Switching To Eco-Friendly Phone Cases

By switching to an eco-friendly alternative, you still get quality protection for your mobile phone, but you also help save the planet. 

Eco-friendly phone cases are made with sustainable products that won’t harm the environment when they are discarded. 

This means they are either made with recycled materials or biodegradable materials. So, what should you be looking out for in an eco-friendly phone case?

The Material 

One of the first things you should look at is the material they use to make the phone case. You see, some phone cases claim to have eco-friendly materials, but it isn’t always true.

Here are some of the materials you can expect to find:

Bamboo – It’s one of the fastest-growing plants and doesn’t die when it’s chopped down; instead, it continues to grow. The best thing is, it can grow anywhere with minimal effort or water.  

Bio-Plastics – This can be made with multiple products, like cornstarch, wheat straw, and plant fibers. This means they don’t use any harmful petrochemicals which damage the planet. More importantly, it means the material can break down without causing harm.

Cork – This material is widely used around the world, but what many people don’t know is it’s actually a natural material from cork oak trees. The best thing about this material is you don’t have to chop the tree down to harvest the cork.

Wait there; it gets better:

A peeled cork oak tree can process more CO2, which helps keep the climate protected.

Is It Compostable?

Compostable products are more eco-friendly than biodegradable items. This means where possible; you should try and find a compostable case.

Why?

Because they produce zero toxins while they are degrading and leave no trace behind, it’s not an easy task, but you do have some options, which will be mentioned later.

BPA-Free 

Some cases aren’t BPA-free (Bisphenol A), so it’s something you should look out for. This is an organic compound that is found in many plastic products. 

The problem is it can cause extreme harm to your body and the environment. Studies have shown that exposure to this chemical has led to issues such as:

• Obesity 
• Memory problems
• Mood
• Learning abilities 

For these reasons alone, you must reduce your exposure to BPA.

Vegan-Friendly 

For some people, it might not be a factor they consider as a problem. But if you’re a vegan, it’s definitely something you want to consider.

Vegan-friendly products mean no animal products are inside, and the chemicals weren’t tested on them. 

The Size

The phone cases will come in various sizes to fit your phone. Before purchasing anything, you need to ensure the case can hold your phone.

Seems obvious but a mistake this is still made all too often.

Design

Protection isn’t the only reason people look for phone cases; it also acts as a fashion accessory. 

The phone cases come with multiple designs, which is great if you’re looking to add some extra style to your phone. The multiple designs offered also make the perfect eco-friendly gift.

Recommended Brands

There are hundreds of brands out there that claim to offer an eco-friendly design, but this isn’t always true. In the end, this makes it pretty tricky to find reputable brands. Check some of these out:

Pela

They are one of the most popular eco-friendly phone cases on the market, which is due to them being 100% compostable.

The phone cases are made with flax straw, which is the waste from a wheat harvest, and a blend of plant-based biopolymers. 

They wanted to use organic materials in order to meet ATSM D6400 (compostability rating) standards. 

Not only is the case fully biodegradable, but it also offers shock resistance against drops.

Reveal

The phone case is made with cork leather, which makes it entirely vegan-friendly. And just as importantly, it’s sustainable because cork is renewable. 

The case features stunning designs at the rear, which you get to choose from.

The major benefit of cork is that it has natural shock-absorbing qualities that help keep your phone protected against drops.

To make things better:

Cork also has water-resistant qualities, which means your phone remains protected in the rain. 

Wrapping Up

If you want to help the planet, it’s time to start looking at your choice of phone accessories. 

But of course, these options might not be for you, in which case you can check out more eco-friendly phone cases. Saving the planet isn’t easy unless you’re looking in the right places.

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