Biodegradable Phone Cases - What They Are And Why You Should Use One

We all want to protect our much loved phones from scratches, cracks and general damage, and of course phone cases are our best bet. But did you know that most phone cases are made from dense plastics, and with more than 1 billion phone cases produced every single year, after 1-2 years use, they then spend centuries in landfills, in our oceans, and contribute to environmental pollution. 

The answer? Biodegradable phone cases. These eco-friendly cases are made from organic materials that will naturally compost within a short time when discarded. Some of the most popular biodegradable phone cases are made out of bamboo, cork, wood, bioplastics, plant fibres, and recycled materials, which is great because all these materials are ecologic, respectful of the environment and renewable! Here at Tom’s Totes, our biodegradable phone cases are made from PLA plant polymer and bamboo fibres - all the good stuff. 

5 Reasons Why You Should Use A Biodegradable Phone Case

They Are Eco Friendly 

First and foremost, biodegradable phone cases are environmentally friendly and help reduce waste in our oceans. 

Beyond protecting your phone, phone cases are often made from non-biodegradable materials like rubber, silicone, plastic, and metal, which can take 500 years or more to break down in the environment.  Since over a billion plastic phone cases are sold every year globally, tons of long-lasting plastic cases are sitting in oceans and landfills, and they will not degrade over hundreds of years. When they get chucked in the bin, they can also find their way into natural features such as rivers, oceans, and forests, contributing to the ecosystem’s destruction. 

 According to The Ocean Cleanup, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch covers an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometres, an area three times the size of France. Every minute of every day, the equivalent of one truckload of plastic enters the ocean, some of which is phone cases. 

They Are Unique 

Phone cases made from natural materials like bamboo means every individual product will have its own little uniqueness, for example small variations in texture and grain. We personally think this is pretty exciting! 

They Are BPA-Free

Another important reason why you should switch to biodegradable phone cases is that they are all BPA-free. If you don't know what BPA (or Bisphenol A) is, it’s a chemical compound found in plastic. Not only is BPA bad for the environment, but it can also have detrimental effects on our health. 

According to research too much exposure to this chemical can lead to issues such as possible health effects on the brain and prostate gland of foetuses, infants and children. There is also a possible link between BPA and increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

So, the more we can stay away from this chemical, the better. 

They are Vegan

Most biodegradable phone cases are also completely vegan! 

They Are Hardwearing And Protective 

One other benefit of using a phone case is that it will prevent your phone from being damaged or destroyed, which as well as obviously saving you money when replacing it, also reduces waste. Every time you throw a phone in the bin or replace a broken screen, materials such as metal and glass are thrown into the landfill, and they will not break down for a very long time. So, by using a hardwearing, protective case like that of a bamboo case, you are helping your phone last longer, thus, limiting the amount of waste. 

What To Look For In A Biodegradable Phone Case

What Materials Are They Made From?

You want to ensure they only use non-toxic materials throughout their design. In production, it is best for companies to use less synthetic, petroleum-based material and to reduce the energy required to produce their phone cases. Phone cases that use bio-based materials in their products will often market this as "plant-based" or "made from plants". 

How Long Do They Take To Decompose?

Understanding the phone cases end of life is super important if you are looking to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in our oceans and landfills. The ideal phone case will fully decompose within a reasonable period of time e.g. less than 1 year, not break down into microplastics and not leech any harmful chemicals into the soil.

Tom’s Totes Biodegradable Phone Cases

Made from premium quality PLA plant polymer and bamboo fibres, our phone cases are lightweight, slim and natural biodegrade 160 days after disposal. They also support wireless charging for hassle-free battery charging on the go. 

. Shop our full case collection here, available for both iPhone and Samsung devices

We are Tom's Totes. Our mission is to make plastic bags and phone cases completely out of fashion, and to make sustainable lifestyle choices stylish. Support independent artists and join our mission to ditch plastic with our collection of biodegradable tote bags, prints and paint kits online.