Category: Gift Guides

The variety of cool eco and vegan laptop cases and sleeves you’ll see in this post may make your head spin. It’s fun – and very reassuring – to see more product designers developing accessories that are both sustainable and cruelty-free.

Some of these laptop cases utilize old school upcycling principles, as you’ll see in the design that was created with upcycled saris, which were then turned into quilts, and then turned into laptop sleeves. And some are made out of cutting edge materials like Piñatex, a sustainable faux leather developed by entrepreneur Carmen Hijosa, which is made from pineapple fibers. And then, there are others: like the laptop case made with real leaves from a Tung Tree.

Too often the materials used in computer sleeves are not Earth- or animal-friendly. For example, materials like leather and traditional neoprene use a number of harmful chemicals in their production that aren’t good for workers or the planet. And it’s draconian in this day and age to be making any kind of accessory out of animal skin when we have so many other beautiful vegan materials to choose from.

This post includes laptop cases and sleeves made with materials in a few different categories. You can click the two big links below to get to each section, but I recommend you scroll through and view them all. Enjoy!

Laptop Sleeves Made with Natural Fibers

• Palm Leaf Laptop Sleeve
• Sustainable Tung Tree Leaf Laptop Case
• Cork Laptop Sleeves
• Piñatex Pineapple Leather Laptop Cases
• Hemp Laptop Sleeve

Recycled Laptop Cases and Sleeves (Upcycled too!)

• Laptop Cases Made with Upcycled Wetsuits and Eco Neoprene
• Recycled Plastic Laptop Sleeves
• Repurposed Paper Laptop Cases
• Laptop Cases Made from Upcycled Tires
• Laptop Cases Made with Used Seatbelts
• Cool Upcycled Laptop Cases Made with Unusual Materials

Laptop Sleeves Made with Natural Fibers

1. Woven Palm Leaf Laptop Case by Kante Decor

Kante Decor works with indigenous communities around the world whose livelihoods depend on the artisanal products they create. Thus, when you purchase their unique crafts, you help preserve their centuries-old artistic traditions like weaving and hand-embroidery.

This eco-friendly laptop sleeve is woven with natural palm leaves from Puebla, Mexico. Each case takes about three weeks to create, from picking the palm leaves to getting them ready to weave, and then turning the woven sheets into a beautiful, one-of-a-kind laptop case.

Fits a 13″ MacBook Air and other small tablets. It measures 14″ x 12″.

Price: $51.00

2. Cork Laptop Case by Moana Cork

Moana Cork creates handbags, tote bags, and minimalist laptop sleeves out of 100% vegan, sustainable cork. Cork is durable and has natural, built-in cushioning, which makes is an ideal sustainable material for protecting your tech accessories. Check out more designs by Moana Cork in their Etsy store.

This cork sleeve measures approximately 15″ x 10.5″.

Price: $31.70

3. Eco-Friendly, Sustainable Laptop Sleeve Made from Leaves

By Copala is a sustainable products designer that creates accessories from natural materials, including cork and leaves, as well as upcycled paper. Every product maintains the look of its original materials, while being functional and well-made. Be sure to their visit their Etsy store to see more.

This laptop sleeve made from leaves is really in a class all its own. The Tung Tree is found in southern China, Burma, and Vietnam. The leaves are a sustainable material – when they’re harvested, it does not harm the tree. The juxtaposition of a leaf protecting a sophisticated piece of technology somehow gives me a ray of hope that we can advance as a civilization, while still protecting our natural world – it’s just a matter of our values, integrity, and ingenuity.

To make this laptop case, the leaves are treated with a wax coating, making the sleeve water repellent. This eco-friendly laptop case will fit a 13”-14” laptop.

Price: $48.18

4. Cork Laptop Sleeve by Copala

This 100% cork computer leave is sleek and low-profile, with colorful flecks to accent in the cork. It measures 14.2″ x 9.8” by 1.2” and will fit 13″-14″ notebook computers, like MacBook Pro or Air.

Price: $49.44

5. Cork Laptop Sleeve by Eve and Adis

Berlin-based product design team Eve and Adis infuse sleek minimalism into their eco-friendly, sustainable accessories. Their approach is to “combine clean lines and shapes with bohemian chic. We believe the simplest, sustainable way is always the best.” Visit their Etsy store to see more of their designs.

This cork laptop sleeve comes in two sizes that will fit a 13″ or 15″ computer. It also has an extra sleeve for a pad of paper or other items.

Prices: $87.70 – $100.41

6. Piñatex Pineapple “Leather” Laptop Sleeve by Eve and Adis

When I first saw this unique laptop case, I thought, Can it be true? A laptop sleeve in Piñatex!?

And true it is. Just as leather has traditionally been used for countless shoes, clothing, and accessories, so can leather-replacer Piñatex. Theses sustainable laptop sleeves, also by Eve and Adis, come in crinkled gold, black, or bone white. Bring on the plant-based vegan leather! Its time has come!

Price: $87.70 – $100.41

7. Sustainable Laptop Sleeve in Piñatex by Maniwala

A member of 1% for the Planet (which means they donate 1% of sales revenue to environmental non-profits), Maniwala is a 100% sustainable and vegan design studio based in the U.S. They create a range of high-quality faux leather accessories out of eco-friendly Piñatex and hemp. You can see even more of their designs in our post “14 Cool Shoes and Accessories Made from Piñatex Pineapple Leather.”

Price: $150.00

8. Laptop Case Made with Hemp and Wild Nettle Fibers

If you want to go even more au naturel with your laptop case, check out this sleeve made with organic hemp and wild nettle fibers. No chemical dyes were used in its creation.

This laptop case was handmade in Kathmandu, Nepal by workers in ethical working conditions. It will fit 13″ and 15″ computers.

Price: $36.23

Recycled and Upcycled Laptop Cases and Sleeves

9. Upcycled Wetsuit Laptop Sleeve by LOOPTWORKS

Looptworks is based in Portland, Oregon, where they make cool accessories out of abandoned, pre-consumer, and post-consumer materials. They intercept materials that are headed to the landfill and turn them into great-looking functional products. Each style is produced in a limited edition.

The company’s philosophy centers around avoiding the use of the Earth’s precious natural resources. According to Looptworks, “The only thing we scrap is the typical way of doing business. We’re a design brand on a mission: to use only what already exists.”

Looptworks’ upcycled laptop sleeves come in variety of colors and sizes. You’ll find sleeves that fit 10″, 11″, and 13″ computers and tablets.

Price: $19.99 – $30.00

10. Eco Laptop Sleeve in Neogreene by GreenSmart

GreenSmart has an answer to traditional Neoprene, which is not an eco-friendly material. The production of traditional Neoprene can include phthalates, chlorine, and volatile organic compounds (short for VOCs, which are carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate into the atmosphere.) GreenSmart’s “Neogreene” is considered non-toxic because it doesn’t use these harmful chemicals in its production.

The company’s eco-friendly laptop sleeves are made with water-based adhesives vs. chemical-heavy, solvent-based adhesives. And the fuzzy interior liner is made with 100% recycled plastic bottles.

Prices: $27.95 – $44.95

11. Recycled Plastic Laptop Sleeve by A Bag Recycling and Upcycling

A Bag Recycling and Upcycling repurposes materials like used plastic bags and coffee packs into unique quilted laptop sleeves and other accessories. The bags are colorful, water-resistant, and durable. The company will do customer orders too, so reach out to them on their Etsy store and get the perfect recycled case for your laptop.

Prices: $32.92 – $57.00

12. Laptop Sleeve Made with Recycled Plastic Bags

Sawni is a mission-based company that handcrafts unique accessories in Myanmar from recycled and upcycled materials, including old clothes, plastic bags, and tire inner tubes. They focus on helping the urban poor in Yangon, Myanmar.

This colorful laptop sleeve is made with upcycled plastic bags. It comes in three different sizes: 14″, 15″, and 17″.

Price: $20.05

13. Reclaimed Paper Laptop Case

The Wren creates unique accessories from reclaimed packaging paper from a local packing factory. They digitally print on the paper, then fuse it to cotton, and then treat it with Nano Liquid Glass, which makes it water-resistant. This design is entitled “African Safari Memories.” Check out their Etsy store to see other cool prints with bicycles and more.

Price: $57.75

14. Laptop Case Made from Upcycled Tires by Alchemy Goods

Seattle, Washington-based Alchemy Goods transforms bicycle inner tubes into hip, sustainably-produced bags and accessories.

Tires are 100% recyclable, which is a good thing because in the U.S. alone, we scrap 300 million tires annually. To date, Alchemy Goods has kept over 500,000 bicycle inner tubes out of the landfill.

Recycled tires make great laptop protectors because they’re durable and have built-in cushioning. Plus, the material is water-resistant and easy to clean.

This laptop case measures 12″ x 7.5″.

Price: $23.34 – 37.98

15. Laptop Case / Sitting Mat Made with Upcycled Tires and African Fabric

KMS Kilometres is based in Nairobi, Kenya, where they create these unique dual-function laptop cases and sitting mats, as well as other cool accessories. The outside of this case is made with recycled inner tubes, which is reinforced with foam for extra padding. The inside is lined with fabric in traditional African prints.

A socially conscious business, KMS Kilometres invests its profits into professional training courses for job seekers.

All of their products are handmade, and they take custom orders.

This laptop case will fit 15″ or smaller computers.

Price: $44.48

16. Recycled Seatbelt Laptop Cases

Repurposed seatbelts make great bags, guitar straps, and other accessories because they’re super strong and durable. Urchin Bags makes cool accessories from used seatbelts and upcycled tire inner tubes. They’ll make custom orders if you provide your color specifications. This vegan laptop case measures 13” x 10”.

Price: $41.45

17. Upcycled Candy Wrapper Laptop Case by Upcycling by Milo

Used candy wrappers never looked so good.

Upcycling by Milo’s founder, Naveh, was inspired by the craft work of artisans he met while travelling in Indonesia. But he was troubled by the amount of trash he saw, and its impact on the natural environment. This was the inspiration behind Upcycling by Milo.

In addition to this colorful laptop case made with used candy wrappers (the silver on the case is the inside of the wrappers), the company makes a wide variety of fun, one-of-a-kind accessories. Be sure to visit their Etsy store to see more.

Price: $85.00

18. Upcycled Advertising Banner Laptop Case by VahoUp

VahoUp reclaims used advertising banners and signs and repurposes them into colorful, unique bags and accessories that have a cool, urban vibe.

This upcycled laptop case has handles and can also be converted into a backpack. It’s made from upcycled advertising banners and it’s water resistant. It will fit a 15” MacBook Pro or other similarly-sized laptop or tablet. It measures: 16.5” x 12.6” x 4.7”.

Price: $143.70

19. Laptop Sleeve Made with Upcycled Life Vests by Makers Unite

A socially conscious company, Makers Unite helps refugees enter the job market in their new homes. Based in The Netherlands, the company pairs local designers and refugees to create sustainable products. They then direct the money from product sales to help fund social inclusion programs.

This unique laptop case is made from life vests. It won’t be easy to misplace this one!

Measures 14.6″ x 11″

Price: $57.19

20. Laptop Case by from Upcycled Military Tents

This unique, upcycled laptop case is designed by Regina’s Vault. It’s made with 100% repurposed military tents. It will fit a small laptop or tablet computer and measures: 13” x 10” x 0.25”.

Price: $49.99

21. Laptop Case Made with Upcycled Saris by the Kantha Project

Kantha is a quilting technique that originated in Bangladesh and eastern India. Artisans repurpose used saris into beautiful, colorful quilts. Purchasing kantha products helps to support craftspeople living in rural communities.

The Kantha Project’s laptop sleeves are Fair Trade and one-of-a-kind. This sleeve comes in two sizes: 12.6″ x 8.9″ and 11.5″ x 4.3″.

Price: $19.85 – $20.65

 

22. Recycled Plastic Laptop Sleeve by Caseza

This eco and vegan laptop sleeve by Caseza is made with recycled PET plastic bottles. Features include a two-way zipper and an extra zippered pocket. In addition to pink, it comes in heather gray and black.

It measures 13″ x 9.3″ and will fit a 13″ MacBook Air, a 13″ MacBook Pro, a Microsoft Surface Book, and other similarly-sized notebook computers.

Price: $22.95 – $24.95

 

23. Recyclable PET Plastic Felt Laptop Sleeve by Hairy & Hairy

This case by Hairy and Hairy is made with 100% recycled materials and it can even be recycled when you’re finished with it. The fabric is certified by Intertek’s Eco-Textile Certification.

This eco laptop case measures 15.4″ x 11.2″ x 1″ and will fit Apple MacBooks, ASUS Chromebook, Toshibas, Dell Inspirons, Lenovo, HP, Samsung, Sony, and Acer computers.

Price: $19.99

Are you looking for other eco-friendly and vegan tech cases and sleeves? 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

 

Get the Best iPad Mini Cover

 

The Best Eco-Friendly Phone Cases

Are you looking for the best iPad Mini cover ever? Look no further. Here are some cool iPad Mini cases that are all eco-friendly and vegan.

In a couple recent posts, I presented unique iPad cases and sleeves made of wood, bamboo, recycled materials, and more. Some readers emailed and asked – “But what about iPad Mini cases?”

Did you really think I’d forget Mini Me? No way, José!

Here are some of the best iPad Mini covers ever.

If you’re looking a particular material, you can click the links below and jump to that section in this post. (Isn’t it time to ditch the leather, plastic, vinyl, and other undesirable covers?) Let’s go!

Wood and Bamboo iPad Mini Cases

Cork iPad Mini Cases

Hemp iPad Mini Cases

Recycled and Upcycled iPad Mini Covers and Sleeves

Wood and Bamboo iPad Mini Cases

A wood iPad Mini case looks and feels great in your hands. The natural aesthetic strikes a perfect balance with the high tech accessory inside. Plus, a well-made wood case will protect your device while still being light weight and low profile.

1. Wood iPad Mini Cover by Maderacraft Handmade

Every Maderacraft case is one-of-a-kind and hand-carved. This unusual iPad Mini cover is made with black walnut wood. It’s a two-piece case, which makes it easy to take on and off your device.

Price: $29.99

2. Bamboo iPad Mini Cover by Maderacraft

Maderacraft’s bamboo iPad Mini cover has the look of blond maple wood, and it’s sleek and low profile. Like the wood cover, it’s a two-piece case. Bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant on the planet. Sustainable and eco-friendly, bamboo is a wonder material in that it can be used to create a huge array of durable products with a natural aesthetic.

Price: $29.99

3. iPad Mini Cover in Bamboo by Woodcase

Woodcase makes a wide variety of cool wood and bamboo phone cases, so I was happy to see their design for the iPad Mini. This cute case is handmade from sustainable bamboo and has a dandelion design etched into the outer shell.

Price: $12.99

4. Bamboo iPad Mini Cases by Reveal

Sustainable tech accessories company Reveal offers a couple of well-made bamboo iPad Mini cases: one has the look of a dark hardwood and the other a blond wood. The cover of the case folds out to make a stand. Reveal’s cases are all sleek and low profile.

In partnership with the nonprofit American Forests, Reveal plants a tree for every product they sell, making them a truly environmentally conscious company in product and practice.

Reveal lines its cases with a 100% vegan fabric that is made of recycled plastic bottles.

This case fits iPad Minis 1, 2, and 3.

Price: $39.99

Cork iPad Mini Covers

5. Cork iPad Mini Case by Reveal

Another cool iPad Mini case from Reveal, this folio is made with natural, sustainable cork. Like bamboo, cork is a superb material for eco-friendly products. When cork bark is harvested, it doesn’t hurt the tree. And cork forests are the natural habitat for many species, some of which are endangered. When we buy products made of sustainably-harvested cork, we help to ensure these important forests are preserved.

This eco-friendly case fits iPad Minis 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Price: $29.99

6. Custom iPad Mini Case in Cork by Branzuletka Bags

Branzuletka Bags creates a number of accessories from eco-friendly cork. They source their cork in Portugal, where the cork trees are protected by law. This iPad Mini sleeve is lined with cotton fabric and have a metal button enclosure. Branzuletka welcomes custom orders. Simply reach out to them via their store on Etsy.

The sleeve measures approximately 9″x 6.5″.

Price: $35.00

And now for something completely different… Yes, there are iPad Mini covers made with hemp!

Hemp iPad Mini Cases

7. 100% Vegan iPad Mini Cover Made with Hemp

I didn’t think I’d find one, but sure enough I did – an iPad Mini case made with hemp, brought to you by Cover-Up. Hemp is another superstar sustainable material because it’s easy to grow without the use of harmful pesticide and herbicides. The hemp fabric used in this case is blended with cotton, and the lining is faux leather.

Price: $43.60

Recycled and Upcycled iPad Mini Cases

(Technically the following cases are all “upcycled” because they’re made with materials that are still in their original form vs. being broken down and converted into a new material, which more closely defines recycled. But since “recycled” is a much more commonly used term – I’ll occasionally use the term recycled for upcycled…

8. Custom iPad Mini Case Made with Upcycled Inner Tubes by Planet Rubber

I’m a huge fan of any artisan who is keeping tires and inner tubes out of the landfill and converting them into useful, cool-looking products. Used tires are an environmental scourge, but thankfully, they can be recycled and upcycled into a wide array of products, from carpeting to playground materials to shoes and bags.

Used rubber lends itself especially well to making bags and cases because it’s super durable and water-resistant. (Plus, it’s easy to clean!)

Planet Rubber will custom-make bags and other accessories out of used tire inner tubes. Just reach out to them in their Etsy store.

Price: $27.00

9. Upcycled Tire iPad Mini Clutch by Blue Dragon Craft

Blue Dragon Craft is another artisan that is doing their part to keep used tires out of the landfill. This clutch-style iPad Mini case, made with used inner tubes, is handmade and sewn. Even the tie that closes it is made with upcycled rubber.

Price: $26.00

10. Upcycled iPad Mini Cases by Upcycling by Milo

Upcycling by Milo creates unique and colorful accessories from an array of upcycled materials. These iPad Mini cases are made with used advertising signage and candy wrappers. Be sure to visit Milo’s store on Etsy to see all of their cool upcycled accessories.

These cases measure 8.6″ x 6.2″ x 1″ thick, and will fit iPad Minis 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Price: $30.00

11. Upcycled Book iPad Mini Covers by Book Grrl Bindery

Disguise your Mini in one of these whimsical iPad Mini covers made with used book covers. Each cover is handmade and one-of-a-kind. Book Grrl Bindery is doing their part to keep old books out of the landfill.

And it gets better: They do custom orders. Have an old hard cover that you’ve read and re-read but can’t bring yourself to throw away? Contact Book Grrl Bindery in their Etsy store and ask them about creating a unique iPad Mini cover just for you.

Price: $45.00

Are you interested in other eco-friendly tech accessories? Check out these other posts on UniGuide:

Eco-Friendly Phone Cases

Cool Wood, Bamboo, and Cork iPad Cases (That Are Also Vegan)

Eco-Friendly, Recycled, and Vegan iPad Cases and Tablet Sleeves

I was psyched to find a wide variety of cool vegan iPad cases (and tablet sleeves too!) when I did my product research. If you’re in the market for a new iPad case, it’s a great opportunity to buy one that’s not only cruelty-free, but also made with eco-friendly materials. Once you see this selection, I’m sure you’ll agree that iPad cases made from materials like leather, plastic, and vinyl should be things of the past.

Here are features to look for in an eco and vegan iPad case:

• Made from natural, sustainable, and biodegradable materials, such as sustainably-harvested wood, bamboo, or cork
• Made of toxic-free materials
• Not made of animal skin, such as leather or suede from cows, pigs, crocodiles, snakes, or any other living creature that will suffer
• Not made of traditional, virgin plastic or other virgin petroleum-based materials
• Made by companies that take efforts to lessen their environmental footprint and provide safe and fair working conditions for their workers

All of the iPad cases and sleeves you’ll find in this article are vegan. And for easy organization, I broke them down into different categories of eco-friendly materials.

Vegan iPad Cases by Category

To go directly to each section, you can click on these jump links:

Wood iPad Cases

Bamboo iPad Cases

Cork iPad Cases

Recycled and Upcycled iPad Cases and Sleeves

iPad and Tablet Sleeves Made with Upcycled Wetsuits and Eco-Friendly Neoprene

Cool iPad Cases and Tablet Sleeves Made with Upcycled Tires

Recycled Plastic iPad and Tablet Sleeves

iPad Cases and Tablet Sleeves Made with Upcycled Materials

Wood iPad Cases

1. Padauk Wood iPad Case by Hoentjen Creatie

Hoentjen Creatie hails from The Netherlands where they make a variety of tech accessories, watches, and sunglasses from natural wood. This wooden iPad Air case is made with African padauk wood, which naturally darkens over time. Each case is handmade and one-of-a-kind. This iPad cover comes with a fold-out folio that you can convert into a convenient stand. Hoentjen Creatie makes wood covers for iPad Air and Mini. Be sure to check out their other hand-crafted wooden designs in their Etsy store.

Price: $89.19

2. Wood iPad Case by Creative Use of Tech

Creative Use of Tech makes beautiful wood and bamboo cases and covers for Apple and Samsung products. This etched wood iPad 2 case is made with black walnut. They also make wood covers for iPad Air, 3, 4, and Mini, plus wood phone cases for iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. Visit their store on Etsy to see their wide selection of hand crafted wood and bamboo tech accessories.

Prices: $35.00 – $65.00

3. Wood iPad Case by Toast

Toast makes wood covers for iPads as well as MacBook Pros in ebony wood, white ash, and bamboo. The covers are real wood and attach to your iPad with an adhesive backing. They’re made in the USA.

Prices: $27.06 – $42.59

 

Bamboo iPad Cases

4. Bamboo iPad Case by Reveal

Reveal is a leader in the sustainable tech accessories space. Not only do they make beautiful products out of sustainable materials, they also plant a tree for every product they sell. In partnership with the non-profit American Forests, they’ve planted over 50 million trees on behalf of their customers. Company founder Terry Omata spent a decade getting products manufactured in China and he knows first-hand the environmental and human consequences of creating and disposing of products that are not made sustainably.

This bamboo iPad case fits a 9.7″ iPad and comes in a dark wood-colored or blond wood-colored bamboo. Bamboo is 100% sustainable and is the fastest growing woody plant on Earth. While it’s actually a grass, bamboo often gets put in the wood category because it’s just as strong and durable and has the same natural look.

Price: $49.99

5. Bamboo iPad Case by Maderacraft Handmade

Maderacraft creates a range of ultra-sleek wood and bamboo tech accessories for Apple computers and mobile devices. Be sure to check out their Etsy store to see their cool bamboo monitor stands and phone cases. This blond bamboo iPad case fits iPads 2, 3, and 4. It’s 100% handmade.

Price: $29.99

6. Customized iPad Case

Designer Sophia Victory Joy will personalize an iPad case with etched text of your choosing. Just email her in here Etsy store and send here your specs!

Price: $94.84

Cork iPad Cases

7. Cork iPad Air Case with Stand by Reveal

Another super cool iPad case from Reveal, this cork iPad folio will make it hard to decide between it and the bamboo design above.

Cork is a sustainable material because the cork tree isn’t harmed when its bark is harvested. And when cork bark is harvested, it enables the tree to absorb even more CO2 from the atmosphere. Cork forests are also home to a number of endangered species, so a demand for cork products helps to ensure these important forests are preserved.

This cork iPad case fits iPad Air 2 and 9.7″ iPads. It should be noted that it’s interior lining is made with a vegan fabric created from recycled plastic bottles.

Prices: $29.99 – $47.99

8. Cork iPad Cover with Stand by kwmobile

kwmobile makes a couple of styles of cork iPad cases in a blond-wood and dark-wood color. This cork iPad case comes with a fold over cover and stand. It fits iPad Air 2 and the new 9.7″ in iPads.

Prices: $12.40 – $16.40

9. Cork iPad Folio by Love and Cork

This cork iPad cover also comes with a built-in stand and a strap to keep it closed. It measures 9.7” x 7.5” and will fit iPads and Samsung tablets.

Prices: $40.00

Recycled and Upcycled iPad Cases and Sleeves

This next set of cool, vegan iPad cases are made with a variety of different recycled and upcycled materials. But first, here’s the distinction between upcycled and recycled:

What’s the difference between recycling and upcycling again?

• Recycling (as it relates to products) involves taking used products or the materials used in those products and breaking them down into more basic sub-materials, which can be used to create new materials and products. Most often recycling involved an industrial process. An example is plastic from plastic bottles that is melted down and then spun into fibers that can be used to create fleece material for jackets or a woven material for dog collars.

• Upcycling, on the other hand, does not require an industrial process because materials used from the original products are not broken down. Rather, the materials remain in their near-original, and often recognizable, state and are simply reused to create something new. An example is used tire inner tubes that are cut down and then sewn or glued together to create wallets, iPad sleeves, or belts.

Generally, recycling requires more energy than upcycling because it utilizes an industrial process. (Though artisans who make upcycled goods from used materials that they go out and salvage may have a different opinion about “energy” output!)

Even though recycling takes energy, it’s generally considered a better alternative to using virgin materials taken from our very depleted planet. The consensus by most environmentalists is that if you’re not using sustainable natural materials in your products (such as cork, bamboo, hemp, or sustainably-harvested wood), it’s best to at least use recycled or upcycled materials.

While the term “upcycling” is still a fairly new term in our vernacular, the concept of upcycling is as old as the hills. Think your grandmother’s patchwork quilt or wine cork bulletin boards.

Upcycling is a winner for a few key reasons:

1.  It keeps “waste” out of our landfills and waterways.
2. It generally doesn’t take much energy, and few if any raw materials, to create usable, high-quality products.
3. It sparks creativity and ingenuity that inspires us to re-think how we view “waste” and throwaway items.

iPad and Tablet Sleeves Made with Upcycled Wetsuits and Eco-Friendly Neoprene

10. Recycled Wetsuit iPad Case by LOOPTWORKS

Portland, Oregon-based LOOPTWORKS creates urban and active wear that is made entirely of upcycled materials. All of their fabrics come from leftover textile industry scraps that would have otherwise ended up in the landfill. LOOPTWORKS saves tens of million gallons of water by producing products that are not made from virgin materials.

This upcycled tablet sleeve measures 10.8″ x 1″ x 8.5″ and will fit iPads 1-5, as well as other similarly-sized tablet and notebook computers.

Price: $19.99

11. iPad and Tablet Sleeve in Neogreene by GreenSmart

GreenSmart creates tablet computer cases made with its “Neogreene” material, a better alternative to traditional neoprene.

Neogreene is considered a non-toxic material because it doesn’t contain unhealthy chemicals. It doesn’t use things like phthalates, volatile organic compounds (short for VOCs, which are carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate into the atmosphere), chlorine, or metals. It also requires less energy and petroleum to produce. In addition, Neogreene sleeves are constructed with water-based adhesives vs. chemical-heavy solvent-based adhesives.

And an extra bonus on this case: The interior fuzzy liner is made with 100% recycled plastic bottles.

It measures 10.4″ x 8.2″ x 0.7″.

Price: $24.95

Cool iPad Cases and Tablet Sleeves Made with Upcycled Tires

Tires are 100% recyclable, and it’s very important that we do recycle them. For one, we use a lot of tires, and we keep using them. In the U.S. we scrap about 300 million tires every year. Used tires take up a lot of landfill space. And if they’re burned, they emit toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. Tires can be recycled into useful materials for flooring, playgrounds, and the soles of shoes.

The tablet cases I showcase here are made with upcycled tire inner tubes. I appreciate how they serve not only their primary function – to protect your computer, but they also make statement about the power of upcycling. You can guess what they used to be in their past life.

13. Upcycled Tire Inner Tube iPad Case by Alchemy Goods

Alchemy Goods transforms bicycle inner tubes into cool, sustainably-produced bags and accessories. To date, they’ve kept over 500,000 bicycle inner tubes out of the landfill, or from polluting our planet elsewhere. All of their products are made in the USA in Seattle, Washington.

This super durable iPad case is water-resistant and measures 10.25” x 7.75” by 0.5”.

Price: $22.12

14. Custom Upcycled Inner Tube Tablet Sleeve by Planet Rubber

Planet Rubber makes a variety of accessories from used tire inner tubes, including wallets, purses, duffle bags, and dopp kits. All of their items are handmade to order. Just contact them through their Etsy store and give them the dimensions of your iPad or tablet.

Price: $27.17

15. Upcycled Tire iPad Zip Case by Ecoupcycle Studio

This zip-closure bag by Ecoupcycle Studio is made with used truck tire inner tubes. It has a handy wrist strap for carrying and dual zippers for easy access. It measures 9.9″ x 7.4″ x 1″ and will fit in iPad Air, Mini, or similar-sized notebook.

Price: $20.00

Recycled Plastic iPad and Tablet Sleeves

16. Recycled Plastic iPad Case by OWL Recycled

Like tires, we all know that virgin fossil fuel plastics are a scourge on our planet. OWL Recycled is doing their part to keep plastics out of the landfill and our oceans. These sleek tablet sleeves that are made with 100% recycled materials.

The felt fabric is made with 100 % recycled water bottles and other food containers and comes in a few super bright colors. It’s machine-washable too! It measures 11.5” x 9.2” x 1.5” and will fit a number of iPads and tablet computers.

Price: $17.97

iPad Cases and Tablet Sleeves Made with Upcycled Materials

17. Upcycled Kimono Zip Case by Kaz Style

Kaz Style creates lovely zippered tablet cases that are one-of-a-kind and handmade.

This iPad sleeve is made with upcycled obi and kimono fabrics. Be sure to check out Kaz Style’s shop on Etsy to see more designs. This sleeve measures 11” x 9.5”.

Price: $25.00 – $36.00

18. iPad Sleeve Made with Upcycled Juice Containers by Shabby She UK

Shabby She UK makes whimsical accessories, including tote bags, pencil cases, and phone cases, out of upcycled juice packs and other materials. I love this iPad sleeve made with upcycled Capri Sun juice packs because juice boxes are notoriously impossible to recycle. According the Sierra Club, Americans alone consume four billion disposable juice boxes every year. Let’s keep those things out of the landfill and put them to fun use!

This sleeve measures 10″ x 6.2″ and will fit a variety of e-readers, Samsung tablets, and iPads.

Price: $27.00

19. Upcycled Book iPad Cases by Book Grrl Bindery

The perfect blend of old and new, these upcycled book covers for your tablet are fun and protective at the same time. Visit Book Grrl Bindery’s Etsy store to see more fun titles.

Price: $55.00

 

Are you interested in eco and vegan iPad Mini cases? Check out our post:

Get the Best iPad Mini Cover

If you need a new phone case, check out our post:

Cool Eco-Friendly Phone Cases

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