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We get a lot of questions about what to do with old phone cases. Sometimes you upgrade your phone, and are left with the old cell phone case that no longer serves you.
Surprisingly, there's not a ton of manufacturers who're willing to step up and take ownership over the products they produce, which really shocks me!
If you're going to all the trouble to make sure that your product is one of those tough cases that's super focused on protection and will last FOREVER - then why aren't they willing to take it back?
After all, they designed it to last forever, right?
Here at Pela, we're big believers in not only focusing on protecting your cell phone, but we want to do it in the most environmentally conscious way.
We sell phone cases made from plants meaning they'll compost at the end of their life. We even have a zero waste screen protector, how cool is that?
Shop Our Liquid Screen Protector Here
If you don't have access to composting, you can send us your old Pela case back as part of our trade-in program and we'll compost it for you!
But, now we've upped the ante. Not only will we take back OUR old cases, but we'll also take back ANY of your old cell phone cases whether they're tough cases, a clear case, plastic case, even a silicone case!
Our newest program is called Pela 360! We will find a graceful end of life for your conventional plastic case by either upcycling it into a new Pela product or making sure it gets recycled properly.
Things to Do with an Old Phone Case: Our Top Ideas
If you're not ready to trade-in, here are a few other ideas on what to do with your old smartphone case.
- Upcycle: Looking for a few clever ways to upcycle your phone case? Check out our Pinterest board full of crafty ideas.
- Sell it: If you have a phone case in great working order, sell it to make a little bit of extra cash.
- Donate: Give your old phone case a bit of a scrub down, and donate it to your local Goodwill, Salvation Army or Savers! You can always list your case for free on a Freecycle group or a local buy nothing group on Facebook.
- Donate to a Specific Charity: I like to donate to specific charities because I know that they specialize in what I'm sending. Most of the charities that accept old cell phones sell the phones and accessories and use the proceeds to help with their cause.
Of course, with these specific charities it would be best if you were donating the old phone with the case, but I figured I'd go ahead and include them in this list in case you're interested in donating your phone too.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence takes unwanted cell phones and phone cases and sells them fund projects helping domestic violence survivors.
The 1 Million Project Foundation sells cell phones, their accessories, and wireless services to provide one million low-income high school students with access to close America's homework gap.
Secure the Call distributes old phones and their accessories to people who can't afford cell service for emergency usage.
Medic Mobile funds healthcare programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America using your donated cell phones or tablets. Donated phones are also used directly by health workers to monitor medicine stock, track diseases, register pregnancies, and communicate during emergency situations.
Give Old Products New Life
At Pela, we realize we only have one Earth, and it’s our goal to do whatever we can to minimize waste. We hope these ideas inspire you to upcycle your old cell phone cases and strive for a minimal-waste lifestyle!
