The hunt for greener iphone accessories
By Karina | August 25, 2008
Now that I’ve drank the KoolAid and have Sparky the iPhone, I have been on the fence about getting a case. The iPhone feels pretty awesome when you hold it all by itself, I’m not that concerned about scratches (um, I bought this thing to USE it) and less is more, right? but I also have a habit of flinging things at the ground, especially things like cell phones or my Sigg bottle. So I thought maybe I’d better get a case after all.
To start with, there are not a lot of cases yet available for the iPhone 3G. I briefly looked over the ones on the wall at the Apple store when I bought my iPhone, and did buy a white one (the contour flick case) but after I put it on Sparky I didn’t care for it at all. It felt flimsy, really, and didn’t fit snugly. I felt like it really bulked up little Sparky the wonder-iPhone, too. So I returned the case, and while I was staring at the Wall Of Cases I noticed one that was making some pretty specfic claims.
The Agent18 EcoShield is made from recycled soda bottles and has a “reduced carbon footprint.” (Which I interpret to mean it’s made from recycled soda bottles.) There’s a great analysis of the case over here, which points out that it comes in a plastic package that is much larger than the original product, and which is of unknown origin - though the Apple store says that “EcoShield is made of a hard-plastic derived from recycled plastic bottles, even the package is made of recycled paper and easily recyclable plastic.” My package has a big “PETE” on the back, and a recyling #1 symbol hiding behind the price tag. It also has a tweeand cartoony narrative:
- You do this [recycle]
- GE does this [a beaker and some chemistry]
- we do this [VERY rough drawing of case saying “it’s ecofriendly!”]
Before I bought this case, there was a brief case interlude - my friend Felicia has a cork case, and it is super amazing. Beautiful! I wish it was available for the 3G, even though I think it’s a layer of cork on a plain old plastic shell, just like a normal case. I guess I wish that there was a cork-on-recycled-plastic shell available for the 3G. Also while I was researching this post I came across this photo of a wooden case: the iWood! but as I wrote the vendors website wouldn’t open up. That is so neat, though.
And of course, this case solution is “temporary” until I find out if I have to purchase a new Solio product to power my iPhone (it doesn’t charge the 3G, they’re working on it - I hate having to buy a new one, but it’s not like no one would want my old one, so that’s ok. Also I really love Solio products! So I don’t mind supporting them!) or if I will be getting a solar charging iPhone case to solve the battery problems. It’s dorky, but so cool at the same time.
All in all I’m happy with the case. It feels very similar to the nekkid iPhone, it’s ecofriendly, and I am more comfortable taking wee Sparky on the road next week for vacation.
How do you feel about electronic land-sliding, when you buy one thing and then need lots of gadgets and accoutrements to accompany it? Do you have an eco-phone or ipod case that you love?
Photo from flickr user DuaneStorey (who I linked to a whole bunch in this post!) via creative commons license.
i wanted something to put my iphone in so it wouldn’t get scratched up kicking around in my bag . found one on etsy: handmade, felted wool, inexpensive, adorable, and has been working marvelously for many months.
you know you could make one right? or are you looking for something that just sheilds the back and lets the front show through (?).
I could make something to keep it from getting scratched, but I was most concerned with 1. keeping the sleek form and 2. preventing any catastrophes from dropping it on the floor. I don’t know if I could do both of those things at once with a handmade item, I’m just not that skilled!
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