Best eco-friendly and recycled iPhone 13 cases for 2023
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Just because the iPhone 14 is out doesn’t mean your reliable old iPhone 13 is suddenly obsolete. If you want to keep it running and make sure you’re not spending a ton of money on an unnecessary upgrade, you’ll want to use a good case to protect it. Those who care about the environment also have plenty of recycled and biodegradable options to choose from. You don’t have to sacrifice protection or style either, as there are a wide variety of eco-friendly options available. We’ve rounded up some of the best eco-friendly iPhone 13 Series cases below, although many are also available for other generations of iPhone.
Regular phone cases tend to turn into single-use items and end up in a landfill, especially with how often we upgrade our phones. Investing in an eco-friendly phone case is a great way to stop this cycle. We’ve rounded up some of the best eco-friendly iPhone cases, all of which are made from recycled plastic or fully biodegradable plant-based materials.
Eco-friendly cases may look and feel different from standard thermoplastic polyurethane, or TPU, cases, but most people probably won’t realize you’re using an eco-friendly case unless you tell them. Many offer good drop protection, and all of the cases on this list are compatible with wireless chargers. A few have MagSafe options.
Read more: Best iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max cases
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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 come in three color options: Charcoal (pictured), Natural, and Blue.
It looks like a firm plastic case and has a slight grip. It also looks quite protective and has raised edges to help protect your screen in case you drop your phone face down.
ZWM
Yes, ZWM stands for the zero waste movement and its slim iPhone cases are made from fully biodegradable, renewable organic materials. The company says it is also “climate neutral”, planting a new tree for every phone case sold.
ZWM cases come in a variety of color options and are some of the most attractive eco-friendly cases I’ve tried.
Agile
I’ve previously featured Nimble’s translucent record cases, made from recycled compact discs. Its Spotlight iPhone 13 case is the company’s latest eco-friendly case. It’s a bit funky – yes, it shows off its recycled nature – and while it’s quite thin, it offers 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 is available in 3 color options.
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Casetify launched its ultra compostable cases for the iPhone 12 and now offers many eye-catching designs for the iPhone 13. This eco-friendly model has drop protection from 6.6 feet and is made with the 100% compostable material based of plants.
Casetify also says the packaging is made from 100% sustainable, recycled and compostable materials, including eco-friendly, non-toxic soy-based ink. The case has a raised edge design to protect your screen if dropped and is available in seven color options. The starting price is high at $52, but the case is customizable with personalization and prints.
Casetify
Re/Casetify is Casetify’s line of eco-friendly cases made from recycled materials, including old discarded phone cases, manufacturing waste and plant-based bioplastics. They are available in a variety of color and print options ranging from $58 to $72 for models that include MagSafe.
Amazon
This is the only case on the list that I haven’t tried yet, but Amazon user reviews are positive and it costs less than $10. Inbeage claims its case is constructed from 100% biodegradable plant biopolymers and harvested plants, including wheat straw and bamboo fiber. It fully covers your phone and has raised edges, which should help you in a face down fall. It is available in six color options.
Inbeage also sells a Bio Cloth Case for around $16. It also has decent reviews but doesn’t seem as durable as this case.
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Lifeproof’s Wake case is made from recycled ocean plastic (85% of it anyway). It’s nicely designed but I wouldn’t say it’s super tough – it’s not bottom locked and has 6ft 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 crates for a while, and its new plywood crate is not only more durable but cheaper than some, starting at $50, with 6ft drop protection and a warranty. limited lifetime repair. I like it better than other wooden cases 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 stations for the Apple MagSafe charger (yes, that’s an accessory for an accessory).
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