Phone manufacturers are introducing new smartphones like on a conveyor belt, so older models disappear from sale after a while. But what to do with unsold TPU cases for these phones? At FIXED, we give them a second life: thanks to an innovative approach, we use them in the Czech Republic to produce recycled (and equally high-quality) ReStory cases for new mobile phone models.
The idea had been brewing inside us for a long time. "What can we do to avoid burdening nature with thousands of unused cell phone cases? Is it even possible?" we asked ourselves.
Under normal circumstances, unsold packaging would end up in landfills and incinerators in Asia, in addition to recycling lines. And we didn't want that, because we have long strived to minimize the environmental impact of FIXED products .
But then we thought...
Grind, melt and press
Many people change their phones (and therefore their cases) for new ones after a year and a half of use. There's nothing we can do about it, but there's one thing we can do - instead of throwing away unsold TPU cases, we can take them and make them into cases for the latest smartphone models on the market.
So we took a close look at unused transparent TPU cases and started using a special process to create recycled ReStory covers that are just as good as the original ones. Because production takes place in the European Union (even directly in the Czech Republic) , their carbon footprint is significantly lower. We write more about this later in the article.
To give you a better idea of the ReStory cover manufacturing process, here is a brief description:
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We transport unused TPU cases to a local production facility where they are ground into particles . We carefully measure and inspect each batch, ensuring the excellent quality of every ReStory case.
- Add additives to the mixture (e.g. to prevent the cover from yellowing) and melt it into a uniform mass ready for pressing.
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We press cases precisely tailored to individual phone models.
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We pack the finished packaging into all-paper packaging and transport it locally to customers.
For now, we are recycling transparent TPU cases, but soon it will be black and colored ones as well.
Recycled, yet just as good quality
Just because a case is recycled doesn't mean it's inferior. On the contrary, the ReStory case is just as good as the original TPU case and you won't notice any difference when using it . Plus, the price remains the same, so you don't have to worry about higher costs, as is sometimes the case with other sustainable products.
And what about the properties of the cases? We make them so that they fit perfectly on the given mobile phone model, of course there is maximum protection of the phone from scratches and the consequences of falls. As we have already indicated above, the case also includes ANTI-UV protection, thanks to which the cover will last much longer without yellowing . By the way, we worked on the material together with the Tomas Bata University in Zlín, thanks to which the cases are even more durable.
We make cases for all iPhone and Samsung smartphone models from recent years (including older models such as the iPhone 11 or iPhone 7).
Local production of cases reduces carbon footprint by up to 46%
From the beginning of our work on ReStory packaging, we were clear that we didn't want to just talk about sustainability in general terms, but to come up with clear and measurable results. Which we ultimately succeeded in doing.
Because the production of the cases takes place locally in the European Union , there is no need to transport them by ocean freight across the world, which significantly reduces emissions. As confirmed by a study by Prof. Ing. Vladimír Kočí, Ph.D., MBA from the Institute of Sustainability and Product Ecology at the Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague, local production reduces the carbon footprint by 36% in the case of transparent and 46% in the case of opaque anthracite cases.
The packaging also has ISCC certification, proving that the product meets sustainability requirements and that its carbon footprint is minimized.
"Both in terms of carbon footprint and overall environmental impacts, the recycled TPU ReStory cases, manufactured by FIXED, have a significantly lower environmental burden," Vladimír Kočí comments on the results of the study.
We don't stop at recycling our unused TPU cases. We have already agreed with other manufacturers of mobile phone cases from the European Union to recycle their cases as well. We believe that by joining forces with others, we can help nature even more.
If you have any questions about FIXED ReStory covers, feel free to write to us in the live chat here on the website.