No matter your taste, your phone needs a case, but when cases are designed to survive years of sweat, strain, and abuse, they also tend to last a long time in a landfill once you're done with it. Thankfully, you can buy cases that are friendly for the planet — made from sustainable materials and/or for easy composting. Eco-friendly cases is still a small market, especially for the brand-new Galaxy S20, but here are the best ones you can buy today.
Available in six colors — from the brightest Cherry Red I've ever seen to more subdued blues and black — this 32% plant-based case is thin, vibrant, and features an anti-microbial coating.
Incipio's case is made with 100% compostable materials, meaning that when the end of your phone's life comes and you throw out the case, it won't take decades to break down in a landfill.
Tech21's clear case is made from 37% sustainable, plant-based materials while still offering up a crystal clear (or smoky black) look and 10 feet of drop protection. Its packaging is 100% recyclable, too.
Gear4's folio case is made with recycled plastics, but it's no slouch on drop protection thanks to D3O's impact protection. There are also a few slots on the inside for credit cards, so you can ditch your wallet.
Kerf's hardwood cases are custom-made. Not only can you get custom engravings on the back, you can choose the hardwood for the case from 14 varieties, from purpleheart to mahogany.
Picking a case that's right for you and the planet
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I'm pleased to report that there are far more choices for ecologically responsible cases now than there were in previous years, with offerings from well-known casemakers like Tech21 and Gear4. I especially like the Tech21 Studio Colour for its vibrant colors and thin profile. The Cherry color is so bright and alluring you'd think it was a OnePlus case, but Bolt From the Blue and Coral My World are pretty adorable, too. It may only be made with 1/3 sustainable materials, but it also doesn't start shedding material as the case's life wears on the way some biodegradable cases do.
On the note of biodegradable cases, the Incipio Organicore if you best bet for a compostable S20 case today. It has some nice pastel colors and can still withstand a 6-foot drop, which should cover most of our clumsy falls. While we know there are biodegradable cases from Pela and Moment, neither is available for purchase at this time.
Check out our list of the absolute best Samsung Galaxy S20 cases!
