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| The family cat, Chewy Nougat, wanted in on this photo op. She likes the Pela case, too! |
We 'Believe in Better'... ♻️πΎ My first step in leading an environmentally conscious lifestyle began with reusable bags and water bottles, now this π²πPela is a Canada-based company that produces eco-friendly phone cases. They utilize plant material πΏ and bioplastic instead of traditional plastic and can biodegrade within your home composting environment. What exactly is their bioplastic? Quoted from Pela directly:
Flaxstic®, which is comprised of GDH-B1 compostable bioplastic elastomer and flax straw materials. Our material has been tested to be safe and free of phthalates, BPA, cadmium and lead... it meets U.S. (ASTM D6400-04) and E.U. (EN 13432) standards for composting in an industrial composting facility and has a lower carbon footprint and lower greenhouse gas emissions than traditional plastic.
[The] overall biobased content by weight to 45%. The remaining 55% of our current Flaxstic® formulation is comprised of non renewable resources. Our ultimate goal is to continue to work with the best bioplastic companies to advance the bioplastic and biopolymer science to get to 100% biobased content. We are not there yet, but we will keep trying and we believe 45% biobased is better than none.
So while it's not made with 100% biobased content, it is still more friendly to our oceans than the traditional plastic cases. The the best part of it all: the closed loop system means that once you're done with the case, you can toss it in the compost without worry of polluting the planet—or ship it back to Pela for them to recycle it into more Pela products!
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(via Giphy) Flax straw is naturally shock-absorbing, making the case durable for everyday wear and tear. This also incentivizes growers into making use of leftover flax straw instead of incinerating it as a waste byproduct. |
Onto the look and feel of the case itself. It is thick and durable without adding bulk, thanks to the natural material flax straw for the interesting white-yellow-brown speckles which give the Pela case its unique look. This is also a great conversation starter about environmental conservation!
It looks high-end, and has a great feel to it. The material is a bit rubbery-feeling that lends you grip and if you run your finger down it, you can feel the slight bumps from the flax. It is not shiny or reflective at all—in fact, the beautiful engravings on the back (should you choose to purchase one with engravings) do not stand out in shadow, especially with the black case. Another thing to consider is that a lighter-colored case may experience some discoloration over time from your clothing.
As for pricing, Pela cases run relative to a mid-range plastic case, at only $39.00 USD + free shipping. Limited edition cases are usually the same price, and these feature special colors or engravings based on the organization they feature (to which they donate a small portion of the case sales to). I happened to win a 20% off coupon on their website so I only paid $31.00 USD ✨ for my black "Believe In Better" case.
As new cell phone designs come out each year they leave behind not just older cell phone models, but also countless of plastic phone accessories and packaging in their wake. While there will always be companies who produce plastic for its low cost and consumers who buy said plastic for the range of choice, price and easy disposability, companies like Pela exist which choose to design products that are sustainable while still meeting the needs of the consumer.
Pela priced this product competitively, and it is actually more affordable than other comparable phone case options out there. However, for many other household items it may not be practical for a person to buy or practice everything sustainably (it can be expensive, time-consuming, requiring more space than one has, etc.) but I believe it's a worthwhile investment to do so if one has the means. π± With consumer support and financial backing for products like the Pela case, it may influence other manufacturers to follow our money and step away from plastic.
5 out of 5 stars
I LOVE my phone case not just for the cause that Pela stands behind, but for the its durability and its unique look. My black case doesn't stand out much, yet the flecks of flax and the inspiring engraving on the back give it sophistication. It's such a great case, and it is one more step towards living a sustainable, zero-waste lifestyle! π«π I couldn't be happier about that.
Are you trying to live more sustainably? Comment below the other ways you have implemented zero-waste concepts into your life!
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