There’s never been a better selection of cool phone cases to protect your most-used piece of technology. And what makes a phone case especially cool? Well, not only does it look good while protecting your phone, it also does its part to lessen its impact on the Earth.
Today, there are laser-engraved bamboo phone cases, cases made from recycled skateboards, and other styles made from sustainable cork, recycled plastic, and even compostable bioplastic. And just because these phone covers are gentle on the Earth doesn’t mean they’re not tough enough to protect your phone. I looked for the best mobile phone cases available based on their combination of innovative Earth-friendly materials, creative and unique designs, and their reputations for being durable enough to protect your phone.
So, whether you’re looking for the perfect wood phone case for your iPhone or a recycled plastic case for your Samsung Galaxy, search no more. But just in case you need a little more convincing, here’s some additional intel on why eco-friendly phone cases are the coolest phone cases you can buy.
Here’s why it’s cool to get a phone case made of sustainable materials:
- 5 billion is the number of cell phone users around the globe. (Statista)
- 22 months is the average time people keep their cell phones before getting a new one. (Business Insider)
- 1 billion mobile phones are bought every year. (The Guardian)
At this rate, if everyone buys a new case when they upgrade their phone, and they throw their old case away, that’s a heck of a lot of phone cases going into the landfill or the ocean year after year. This is why I try to avoid as much petrol-based plastic as possible.
What makes a phone case eco-friendly?
If you’re in the market for a new cell phone case, here are some things to look for. The phone cases in this post all have at least one of these qualifications.
First, it’s made with:
- Natural, sustainable, and easily biodegradable materials, such as bamboo, cork, or sustainably-harvested wood
- Biodegradable plastic or recycled plastic
- Other non-toxic materials (glues, adhesives, lining)
Second, and ideally, it comes with:
- Carbon-neutral validation
- Environmental certifications
And with that, here are the coolest phone cases on the market today:
COMPOSTABLE PHONE CASES
1. Pela Case Biodegradable Phone Cases
Pela Case founder, Jeremy Lang, was raised in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, where most the global supply of oil seed flax is grown. Watching many seasons of the flax harvest, he believed there should be some sort of consumer use for the leftover flax straw once the flax oil was harvested. And being someone who cared about the environment, he was aware of the tremendous waste problem that our species needs to address.
He also found it odd that the average person replaces their smart phone every 22 months, yet the conventional plastic phone case used to protect the phone would last for hundreds of years. Making the connection, he developed a biodegradable and compostable material based on leftover flax straw, which he named FlaxsticTM, and the Pela Case was born. In addition to making their bioplastic phone cases, Pela Case gives back by donating at least 1% of their sales to environmental nonprofits through 1% for the Planet.
Here’s a cool video from Pela that shows you just what goes into their sustainable and biodegradable phone cases:
Pela Case fits:
These cases fit:
iPhone X, XS, XR, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, 6, 6s, and 5
Samsung Galaxy S9+, S9, S8+, S8, S7 Edge, and S7
Google Pixel 2XL and 2
Huawei P20 Lite
WOOD PHONE CASES
2. Wood Phone Cases by Evutec®
Evutec produces Earth-friendly cases made from wood and bamboo that is certified as harvested from responsibly managed forests by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) Chain of Custody Standard. These FSC certified cases come in a variety of woods, such as white ash and ebony. They fit a range of cell phones, including the Samsung Galaxy and iPhone. Evutec’s cases are made from a blend of organic materials that are woven together with wood veneer to create a strong case that is resistant to warping from heat and moisture.
You may be wondering how well these sleek wood cases will protect your phone. You can see for yourself in this video:
Evutec Wood Series fits:
iPhone 5, 6, and 7
Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6
3. Wood Phone Cases by Carved
Carved offers such a wide variety of colors and styles of wood phone cases that you’ll have a hard time choosing just one. I reached out to Carved to find out where they source the wood for their cases and they told us they always look for wood that is responsibly harvested. They also source reclaimed wood from old structures and from locally downed trees after storms. Based in Elkhart, Indiana, the Carved team puts their love of technology and craftsmanship into every case they make.
Here’s a video featuring John Webber, the founder of Carved, and his team at their workshop:
Carved wood phone cases fit:
iPhone 5, 6, 6 Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, and X
Samsung Galaxy S5, S6, S7, S8, S9, and S10
Google Pixel XL
4. Wood Phone Case in Walnut Burl by Carved
Carved creates so many beautiful, cool wood phone cases that they make it hard to choose. So, I had to include one more design in this post. This wood phone case is hand-carved with real walnut burl. Carved will make your case to order from their woodshop in Elkhart, Indiana.
Carved’s walnut burl phone case fits:
iPhone XS Max, XS, XR, X, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, and 6s
Samsung Galaxy S10, S9+, S9, S8+, S8, S7 Edge, and S7
Google Pixel XL, 2XL, and 2
5. Wood Phone Cases by The Eco Owl
Based in Dublin, Ireland, The Eco Owl makes some truly unique phone cases. In addition to their laser-cut wood cases, they make natural aromatic cases, which you can see in the Vegan Phone Cases section below.
The Eco Owl’s wooden phone cases fit:
iPhone XS Max, XS, XR, X, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, and 6s
Samsung Galaxy S10, S9+, S9, S8+, S8, S7 Edge, and S7
Google Pixel XL, 2XL, and 2
6. Socially Conscious Wood Phone Cases by Ottos Case
Otto Cases creates ornate, customized phone cases in bamboo, rose wood, cherry wood, and other woods. There’s a design for everyone, and it’s fun to check out their Etsy shop just to see the variety. Otto Case donates 10% of sales to charities.
Fits:
iPhone XS Max, XS, XR, X, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, and 6s
Samsung Galaxy S10, S9+, S9, S8+, S8, S7 Edge, and S7
7. Laser-Engraved Wood Phone Case by Sugar Yeti
Sugar Yeti’s philosophy is that we all need to get closer to nature. And for those times when you can’t be in nature, you should surround yourself with things from nature. This is one of the founding principles of why they make their phone cases from natural materials. Their unique, laser-engraved phone covers are made in Orange County in Southern California. They’re durable, yet have a slim and sleek low profile, so they don’t add a lot of bulk to your phone.
Sugar Yeti fits: iPhone X, XS, 6 Plus, 6, and 5
8. Laser-Engraved Wood Phone Case by Wdpkr
Wdpkr puts a slight spin on the wooden phone case. They cover the wood in a black coating, and then laser-engrave a design that reveal the natural wood underneath. Each piece is unique. Their philosophy: “Be bold and showcase your inner beauty.”
Fits: iPhone 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, and 6
9. Laser Engraved Wood Phone Cases by Cutly
Cutly is another designer that laser engraves artwork onto wooden phone cases. They offer an array of designs and patterns, including geometric, floral, animals, and abstract. Check out their Etsy store to see them all.
iPhone X, XS, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, 6, 6s, and 5
Samsung Galaxy S9+, S9, S8+, S8, S7 Edge, S7, and S6
Google Pixel 2XL and 2
10. Socially Conscious Laser-Engraved Wooden Phone Cases by Otto Cases
Otto Cases donates 10% of the proceeds from their laser-engraved phone cases to charity. In addition to bamboo, they engrave on rose wood, cherry, and walnut. Plus, they’ll do custom order – just send them a photo or other design via their Etsy store.
Fits:
iPhone X, XS, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, and 6
Samsung Galaxy S9+, S9, S8+, S8, S7 Edge, S7, and S6
11. Custom Laser-Engraved Photo on an iPhone Case
For another laser-engraved phone case that’s truly your own, Manual Paradise will laser-engrave a design for you from a photo on to a cherry wood case.
Fits:
iPhone X, XS, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, and 6
12. Cool Laser-Engraved Wooden Phone Cases by Engraver’s Dungeon
Then there is Engraver’s Dungeon. Located in Valencia, Spain, husband and wife team Diego and Camelia, create some very cool and truly unique – if a little scary – cell phone covers. I must say, with all the phone case research I’ve done, I have never seen anything quite like this. Engraver’s Dungeon also does custom orders.
So, for all you Goths, Alien, Predator, and Creature from the Black Lagoon fans out there, be sure to visit their Etsy store to see them all. Warning: It’s not for the feint hearted.
Here’s a cool video from Engraver’s Dungeon:
These cases fit:
iPhone X, XS, XR, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, 6, 6s, and 5
Samsung Galaxy S9+, S9, S8+, S8, S7 Edge, S7, and S6
VEGAN PHONE CASES
Technically, all of the phone cases on UniGuide are vegan because everything on UniGuide is vegan. And none of these phone cases have leather or other animal products in them. But, aside from the Pela Case above, these next few phone cases are truly “plant based”, so I included them here.
13. Phone Sleeve Made from Woven Grass by Autumn Grain
Autumn Grain is another cool phone case designer I found that is creating something truly unique. This eco-friendly phone sleeve is made with a woven grass and it has a vegan cotton lining. Autumn Grain will personalize your case with your name or initials (and that’s a faux leather square on the corner.)
Fits: All size phone cases. Made to order.
14. Biodegradable Phone Case Made from Woven Palm Leaves
Another beautiful design by Autumn Grain, this eco-friendly phone sleeve is made with woven palm leaves and it has a cotton lining.
Fits: All size phone cases. Made to order.
15. Aromatic Coffee Bean Phone Case by The Eco Owl
Yes, those are real coffee beans. And yes, this phone case smells like coffee. The Eco Owl takes hand-picked sustainable organic materials and encases them in a polyurethane cover. Check out The Eco Owl’s Etsy store to see more of their unique designs.
This phone case fits:
iPhone X, XS, XR, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, 6, 6s, and 5
Samsung Galaxy S9+, S9, S8+, S8, S7 Edge, and S7
16. Eco Phone Case Made with Austrian Alpine Hay
And yes, that is real hay, and this phone case smells like hay! Hay from the Austrian Alps, to be specific. Another truly unique design by The Eco Owl, this vegan phone case is made with hand-picked Alpine grass and encased in a water-resistant polyurethane cover.
This phone case fits:
iPhone X, XS, XR, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, 6, 6s, and 5
Samsung Galaxy S9+, S9, S8+, S8, S7 Edge, and S7
BAMBOO PHONE CASES
17. Sustainable Bamboo Cell Phone Cases by Reveal
Reveal was born out of founder Terry Omata’s love of nature and technology. After working in manufacturing in China for a decade, he experienced a crisis in his career, which he talked about in a conversation I had with him, which I shared in a UniGuide blog post. Terry knew there had to be a better way of designing products – one that revealed the beauty of nature, of sustainable materials, and a new way of looking at the world.
Reveal makes a variety of sustainable tech accessories, including wood and bamboo iPhone cases, iPad Mini cases, and a portable solar powered speaker that is accented with bamboo. As a company that is dedicated to stopping the destruction of the Earth’s natural ecosystems, Reveal plants a tree for every product they sell. To date, in conjunction with the nonprofit American Forests, they’ve helped plant over 40 million trees around the world.
Reveal fits:
iPhone X, XS, XR, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, 6, 6s, and 5
18. Bamboo Folio Case for iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, and 8 Plus by Reveal
If you want a cool phone case that has a cover over your screen and a built-in stand, this design by Reveal will fit the bill. It is also made with bamboo and comes in both a dark wood color and a light wood color.
This Reveal folio fits:
iPhone X, XS, XR, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, 6, 6s, and 5
19. Custom Bamboo iPhone Cases by I Make the Case
I Make the Case creates a wide assortment of eco-friendly phone cases in laser-engraved bamboo, and they do custom designs as well. The offer so many designs that you’d be hard pressed not to find one that “speaks” to you.
According to I Make the Case, “Bamboo is revered as ‘eco-friendly’ because it’s fast-growing and can yield 20-times more wood than trees. Bamboo also releases 35% more oxygen into the air than trees of similar size. The Japanese expression wabi-sabi sums up the wonder of bamboo. It means, ‘There’s beauty in imperfection.’ We love that each bamboo skin has its own unique coloration, grain, and flow, and we value the opportunity to be connected to nature with these small treasures. We think it’s the perfect yin, to the high tech iPhone yang!”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Amen.
I Make the Case fits:
iPhone XS Max, XS, XR, X, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, and 6s
CORK PHONE CASES
20. Sustainable Cork iPhone Cases by Reveal
Another material that sustainable products company Reveal uses in their phone covers is cork. Cork is a sustainable and renewable natural resource, as cork trees don’t have to be cut down to harvest their bark. Cork forests serve as important habitat for over 13,000 species of animals, plants, and insects, which are not found anywhere else. Like their bamboo phone covers, Reveal’s cork phone cases are ultra-durable and well-made. There are a variety of patterns in Reveal’s “cork leather” cases, from the Japanese wave shown above to hibiscus flowers and styles with a more unfinished, organic look. There’s also a folio style if you like to cover the screen of your phone.
Reveal fits:
iPhone X, XS, XR, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, 6, 6s, and 5
21. Eco Quote Cork Phone Cases
Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Eco Quote creates phone cases and other vegan accessories from sustainable cork.
Fits:
iPhone 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, 6, 6s, and 5
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, and S7
22. Cork iPhone Cases by Hey Love Bag
Hey Love Bug makes eco-friendly accessories with sustainable cork. Check out this cork iPhone case and other designs, including cork iPhone wallets, in their Etsy shop.
These cork phone cases fit:
iPhone XS, XR, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, and 5
RECYCLED PHONE CASES
23. Recycled Skateboard Phone Case by Carved
These recycled skateboard cases by Carved are definitely crowd favorites. The combination of recycled, super colorful, and skateboard roots make them a standout on the eco phone case scene.
Carved skateboard cases fit:
iPhone XS Max, XS, XR, X, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, and 6s
Samsung Galaxy S10, S9+, S9, S8+, S8, S7 Edge, and S7
Google Pixel XL, 2XL, and 2
24. Skateboard Phone Case by Skate4create
Dedicated skateboarders, Skate4create hand makes phone cases, jewelry, and accessories out of recycled skateboards in their workshop in Vilnius, Lithuania. Check out their shop on Etsy to see more.
Skate4Creates skateboard phone cases fit:
iPhone XS Max, XS, XR, X, 8 Plus, 8, 7 Plus, 7, 6 Plus, 6, and 6s
Samsung Galaxy S10, S9+, S9, S8+, S8, S7 Edge, and S7
UPCYCLED PHONE CASES
25. Recycled Tire Phone Sleeve by Velo Culture
Made with upcycled bicycle inner tubes, this cool phone case is practically waterproof and it comes with plenty of rubber cushioning.
Velo Culture’s upcycled tire sleeve can be custom made to fit any model of phone.
26. Upcycled Junk Food Wrapper Phone Cases
My Little Sweethearts creates phone sleeves and other accessories with colorful used candy and junk food wrappers. If you’ve got a Doritos lover in the house, this may be just the thing they need!
Fits: A variety of phone sizes
27. Upcycled Tennis Ball Phone Sleeve
If you have any tennis enthusiast friends, this makes a fun gift. But watch out if they have tennis ball enthusiast dog. :o)
Fits: iPhone 4 and 5
If you’re also looking for eco-friendly and vegan cases for your iPad, iPad Mini, or other tablet computers, check out these other posts on UniGuide:
Wood, Bamboo, and Cork iPad Cases (That Are Also Vegan!)
Eco-Friendly, Recycled, and Vegan iPad Cases and Tablet Sleeves
Eco-Friendly and Vegan iPad Mini Cases
