Compostable phone cases made from flax and plant-based materials in Canada.
Photo credit: Pela Case
Pela Case makes compostable phone cases and accessories from flax shive and a plant-based biopolymer as an alternative to conventional plastic cases. Founder Jeremy Lang started the company after seeing plastic wash up on a Hawaii beach with his son in 2008; the first Pela case launched in 2011.
Over 80% of cases are made at Pela’s Kelowna Sustainability Studio in British Columbia, where the company also tests compostability and develops new products. Cases are sold for Apple, Google, and Samsung phones, with artist-designed collections and a $500 screen-protection guarantee when used with Pela’s screen protector.
Pela’s stated goal is a waste-free future: plant-based materials, plastic-free packaging, and products designed to break down instead of persisting in landfill. Lomi, a home food-waste appliance, is part of the same mission-driven family.
Pela replaces petroleum plastic in everyday phone accessories with flax straw (a farm leftover) plus a plant-based biopolymer. Cases are designed to compost rather than last centuries in landfill, are tested free of BPA, lead, cadmium, and phthalates, and are mostly manufactured in Canada instead of as disposable imports.
The model is product-level material substitution plus take-back/composting education: customers hold a daily object (a phone case) that is meant to return to biological cycles. Pela also pairs cases with a screen protector under a paid repair guarantee, so protection is not an excuse to stay on conventional plastic.
* Cases made from flax shive and a plant-based biopolymer (Flaxstic-style flax + biopolymer blend described on pelacase.com)
* Over 80% of cases made at the Kelowna, B.C. Sustainability Studio
* Site-reported footprint vs conventional plastic cases: 30% less carbon, 34% less water, 80% less waste
* Site counter (Aug 2026): equivalent of 100,049,717 plastic bags kept out of waste streams
* 2+ million customers cited on pelacase.com
* Products marketed as non-toxic, BPA-free, and free of lead, cadmium, and phthalates
* $500 screen-protection guarantee when a Pela case is used with Pela’s screen protector
Plant-based, compostable cases
Cases use flax shive and a plant-based biopolymer so they can break down instead of remaining as conventional plastic waste.
Made in Canada
Over 80% of cases are produced at Pela’s Kelowna Sustainability Studio, which also hosts compostability testing and product development.
Non-toxic materials
Pela states cases are BPA-free and tested free of lead, cadmium, and phthalates, and marketed without forever chemicals.
Drop protection with a repair guarantee
Cases are sold as drop-proof everyday protection; Pela offers a $500 screen repair guarantee when the case is used with its screen protector.
Artist-designed collections
Limited artist series and collaborations sit alongside core colors, so the compostable case is also a designed object rather than a generic accessory.
