What it is
Pela makes phone cases from Flaxstic, a proprietary material combining flax straw waste and plant-based biopolymers. The cases are fully compostable in industrial composting facilities (breaking down in 6 to 24 months) and will biodegrade in landfill conditions over 3 to 5 years. Available for iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models. Drop protection rated to 6 feet. Pela also makes compostable AirPods cases, watch bands, and sunglasses.
Why we picked this
Over 1.5 billion phone cases are sold globally each year, almost all made from petroleum-based plastic or silicone that will persist in landfills for centuries. Pela cases perform identically to conventional cases (6-foot drop protection, precise cutouts, wireless charging compatible) but decompose when you are done with them. The company's Lomi composter (also in this kit) can process Pela cases at home. For an item that most people replace every 1 to 2 years with their phone, switching to compostable eliminates a small but persistent source of plastic waste.
Key takeaways
- Flaxstic material is made from flax straw agricultural waste and plant-based biopolymers, requiring no petroleum inputs in production.
- Cases compost in industrial facilities within 6 to 24 months and biodegrade in landfill within 3 to 5 years, compared to centuries for conventional plastic cases.
- Over 1.5 billion phone cases are sold globally per year, with the vast majority made from non-recyclable petroleum-based materials that persist indefinitely.