“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a person in possession of a mobile phone, must be in want of a mobile cover.”- (not) Jane Austen

Owning a phone case is as common as owning a phone. There is nothing revelatory about that statement. Just a fact. For a device that we paid thousands for, the desire to protect it is universally-recognized. 

But have we ever stopped and wondered how they came to be? Which is the most commonly used material that goes into the making of a phone case? The answer is, of course, plastic. 

The debate surrounding the use of plastic is not new. With each passing year, we become more and more conscious of its harmful and irreversible effects on the environment. Most plastics do not fully degrade and instead remain in the environment for hundreds (sometimes even thousands!) of years. It inevitably puts the lives of humans and wildlife at risk and also pollutes the oceans and landfills. 

One might ask, "If the plastic phone cases are so harmful, why don't we use some other material?" And here lies the problem. The consumers who wish to move away from plastic phone cases are led to the equally ineffective rubber phone cases. It is the lack of eco-friendly options in the market that puts the consumer in a tough spot. 

Go Goa Green

Let us introduce you to A Green Co. : a brand that caters to the need for a 100% natural and biodegradable phone case. 

The idea of building a brand like A Green Co. sparked in the mind of Mr Govil Khattar, the founder, while vacationing in Goa. After witnessing the extent of damage that plastic waste had caused to the oceans, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Mr Khattar aimed to find materials that could prove to be a potential alternative to plastic in everyday products. He soon came up with the idea of using wheat straw, which is left-over after wheat grains are harvested, and a Bio-based polymer derived from an annually renewable harvest. The material so formed is also free of phthalates, BPA, cadmium and lead. By using eco-friendly resources, the brand is truly making the best out of waste. 

Eco friendly phone cases: Free of plastic, it’s fantastic

A Green Co. offers an environment-friendly substitute to its consumers which comes in various aesthetically-pleasing designs embossed on the cover. Customers are also free to design their eco phone case as per their taste; with the option to add text or images, customize the font and more. Apart from being 100% natural, the designs are the unique selling point of the ‘green phone case’.

Currently, the wheat straw phone cases are available for various iPhone models including iPhone 12, iPhone XR and iPhone 8 Plus, and One Plus models 8 and 8 Plus. 

The brand describes its products as "Soft, Flexible and smooth to touch." The cases have been designed to shield your phone from drops and scratches. They also guarantee to be stain-resistant and fingerprint and smudge-proof. 

Packaged with love

Following their goal of reducing waste, A Green Co. also promises minimal, plastic-free packaging. 

If that wasn’t cool enough, they are also aiming to launch an initiative soon, which would allow customers to send back their cases at the end of their lifecycle. They would then recycle the old phone cases to create brand new ones! Did someone search for "phone case biodegradable" ? 

Food for thought... 

There is no denying that climate change is real. While we wait for our governments to wake up from their slumbers, you and I can make a difference, however small it may be. 

Renowned marine biologist Sylvia Earle said, "Knowing is the key to caring, and with caring, there is hope that people will be motivated to take positive actions. They might not care even if they know, but they can’t care if they are unaware." 

Now that we are aware, let's start with compostable phone cases? 

P.S We hope A Green Co. will soon include more Android users in the sustainable circle!