Sustainable Living, Sustainable Product Reviews, Zero Waste

The Best Sustainable Phone Case: Pela Case Review

The Best Sustainable Phone Case: Pela Case Review

Disclaimer: This post is NOT sponsored and is my unbiased, independent review of Pela Case. All opinions are my own. This post does contain affiliate links. Read my full disclaimers/disclosures here.

Sometimes Instagram advertisers miss the mark (I am SO not interested in the long sleeve, giant avocado print swimsuit that keeps popping up on my feed). Other times, they score a slam dunk. I first learned about Pela phone cases from an Instagram ad! I’m really glad for that advertising, because I absolutely love my Pela case. I’m excited to share more about it with y’all, including my own list of pros and cons.

I’ve been using Pela cases for over three years now, so I’ve truly put them to the test for this review!

Pros:

Sustainability

The sustainability factor is what caught my eye the first time I saw Pela cases in my Instagram feed. The cases are made from biodegradable materials and can actually be composted. So much better for the environment than plastic cases, especially as our earth and oceans experience an ongoing plastic crisis.

Pela is also a member of 1% for the Planet, which means they donate a portion of their profits to environmental organizations. They also use minimal packaging when shipping their products. I love their eco-friendly approach!

Aesthetics

Let’s be honest – we all want our phone case to look good. This is a device that you carry with you 24/7. It needs to be cute!

Pela offers a variety of colors that range from neutral to bright and colorful. There are also a number of designs, like my ocean sunrise case (official name: London Fog Ocean Vista). There’s something for everyone, whether you want fun, earthy, or professional.

London Fog Ocean Vista Pela Compostable Phone Case | Fairly Southern

Durability

I was curious about how my Pela case would hold up since it is made of biodegradable materials. I am happy to report that it has held up just as well as any plastic case I’ve had! I’m not gentle with my phone. I drop it often, I toss it into my purse, and I clean it regularly with sanitary wipes. The case doesn’t just start dissolving when you get it wet or scrub it with chemicals. It looks good as new after months of use!

Texture

I really like that Pela’s cases are not slick like many plastic cases. The case is smooth, but it almost has a matte finish. This is great because my phone doesn’t slip out of my hands as much as it did when I had a slick plastic case.

Affordability

Sometimes sustainable goods tend to cost a bit more since they are produced more responsibly. However, I was pleased to find that Pela cases are quite reasonably priced. Depending on what model you get, they generally cost $30-$60. Pela often offers discounts for new customers, and they also offer free global shipping on all orders. In the past, I have definitely spent more thanthis on not-as-responsibly-made phone cases (cough, OtterBox, cough). I think these phone cases are a great deal, especially considering that you will be using the case daily!

Cons:

Texture

Yes, this pro can also be a con. A friend of mine who purchased a Pela case actually returned hers because she couldn’t get her pop socket to stick since the surface wasn’t slick. I don’t use a pop socket, so this was a non-issue for me. Also, it is very possible that the case does work with some pop sockets…just not the one my friend was using.

That’s really the only con I can think of!

Would I Buy It Again?

Yes! In fact, I have! I am currently on my third Pela case and only had to replace each one because I bought new phones that needed different size cases.

I purchased my first Pela case on Poshmark (because the only thing better than a compostable phone case is a secondhand compostable phone case….that’s double sustainability points!). For my two subsequent new phones, I needed different size cases and purchased them directly from Pela.

I have absolutely loved the Pela cases I have owned. I will definitely continue to buy, and I highly recommend them!

Have you tried Pela cases? If so, do you like them? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo Laura

Originally published 1/12/2020; updated 4/9/2022.

8 comments

  1. no my pela case died before my phone. they used to replace them or say they would back in the old days of 2015. sad days now

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