While the iPhone 15 is the newest phone from Apple, people are still holding onto their iPhone 13 — and for good reasons, don’t upgrade if you don’t need to. If you enjoy using your iPhone 13, you can further extend its life by using a fancy but strong phone case. Plus, if you’re looking for a phone case that’s more environmentally conscious, there are plenty of options to choose from. Recycled and biodegradable phone cases have come a long way over the last few years and are just as smart, stylish and secure as the rest.
We’ve collected some of the best environmentally conscious iPhone cases, which are all made of recycled plastic or fully biodegradable plant-based materials. Below are our picks for the best eco-friendly iPhone 13 cases. Don’t have an iPhone 13? Many of these manufacturers make cases for other phone models too.
Read more: Best Cases for iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
It feels similar to a firm plastic case and has a slight bit of grip to it. It also seems pretty protective and has raised edges to help protect your screen in the event you drop your phone face down.
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Incipio’s Organicore cases are made with 100% compostable and biodegradable materials and also have eco-friendly packaging. Organicore cases offer 8-foot drop protection and are available in three color options: charcoal (pictured), natural and blue.
It feels similar to a firm plastic case and has a slight bit of grip to it. It also seems pretty protective and has raised edges to help protect your screen in the event you drop your phone face down.
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Yes, ZWM stands for zero waste movement and its slim iPhone cases are made from renewable organic materials that are completely biodegradable. The company says it’s also “climate neutral,” planting one new tree for every phone case sold.
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I’ve previously featured Nimble’s translucent Disc cases that are made out of recycled compact discs. Its Spotlight case for iPhone 13 is the company’s latest eco case. It’s kind of funky looking — yes, it spotlights its recycled nature — and although it’s pretty slim, it does offer good drop protection, with a 15-foot rating. Nimble says it’s made from 72% recycled materials, including recycled polycarbonate, TPU, silicone and old plastic phone cases. It’s available in 3 color options.
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Casetify also says the packaging is made of 100% sustainable, recycled and compostable materials including eco-friendly, nontoxic ink made from soybeans. The case has a raised edge design to protect your screen in the event of fall and is available in seven color options. The starting price is high at $50, but the case is customizable with personalization and prints.
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Casetify launched its Ultra Compostable Cases for the iPhone 12 and has since added plenty of eye-catching designs for other iPhones, including the 13. This eco model has 6.6-foot drop protection and is made with 100% compostable, plant-based material.
Casetify also says the packaging is made of 100% sustainable, recycled and compostable materials including eco-friendly, nontoxic ink made from soybeans. The case has a raised edge design to protect your screen in the event of fall and is available in seven color options. The starting price is high at $50, but the case is customizable with personalization and prints.
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Re/Casetify is Casetify’s line of eco-cases that are made of recycled materials, including old, discarded phone cases, manufacturing scraps and plant-derived bio-plastics. They come in a variety of color and print options ranging in price from $62 to $68 for models that include MagSafe.
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Inbeage also sells a Fabric Bio Case for around $23. It also has decent reviews but doesn’t seem as durable as this case.
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This is the only case on the list I haven’t yet tried, but the Amazon user reviews for it is positive and it costs less than $10. Inbeage says its case is built from 100% biodegradable plant-based biopolymers and harvested plants, including wheat straw and bamboo fiber. It fully covers your phone and has raised edges, so that should help with any face-down drops. It’s available in six color options.
Inbeage also sells a for around $23. It also has decent reviews but doesn’t seem as durable as this case.
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Lifeproof’s Wake case is made out of recycled ocean plastic. It’s attractively designed but I wouldn’t call it super tough — it isn’t enclosed at the bottom and has 6-foot drop protection.
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Lifeproof’s Wake case is made out of recycled ocean plastic. It’s attractively designed but I wouldn’t call it super tough — it isn’t enclosed at the bottom and has 6-foot drop protection.
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Lifeproof’s Wake case is made out of recycled ocean plastic (85% of it anyway). It’s attractively designed but I wouldn’t call it super tough — it isn’t enclosed at the bottom and has 6-foot drop protection. It comes in four colors, including gambit green, which I like. (If you’re going to get a “green” case, it might as well be green.)
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KerfCase has been making handmade wooden cases for a while, and its new Plywood case is not only more durable but less expensive than some, starting at $50, with 6-foot drop protection and a limited lifetime repair warranty. I like it better than other cases made of wood that I’ve tried. It’s also worth noting that Apple’s MagSafe charger will stick to the back of it, and KerfCase sells matching charging docks for the Apple MagSafe charger (yes, it’s an accessory for an accessory).
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