In the lead up to Earth Day, PopSockets has announced a new PopGrip in their ever-expanding line of phone grips and lifestyle accessories: PopGrip Plant!
Since 2019, the company had been looking for a way to reduce the company’s carbon footprint and tested various recycled and compostable materials, along with others. Research found that these materials ultimately led to the release of methane gases, which would make the product less eco friendly than the original PopGrip — and thus the decision to use plant-based plastic was made.
Available exclusively on the PopSockets website, PopGrip Plant is available in both Ice Blue and Light Jade, with more styles set to release this fall. The sustainable-sourced materials that make PopGrip Plant possible come from all around the world and the company makes a point to note they are not drawing from food supplies.
In terms of materials, the three stars of PopGrip Plant are canola oil, corn starch, and castor beans. Per a press release from the company, this PopGrip is 35% plant-based, with the top being 56% corn starch from Europe, the accordion being 52% canola oil (also from Europe), along with castor beans from India making up 70% of the connector. The only part of PopGrip plant that doesn’t contain these materials is the base, but the company is working on it.
PopSockets CEO, David Barnett, has said that the company is “committed to a sustainable future” and that they are not only focused on “…product innovation but also partnerships that offer short- and long-term solutions for carbon reduction.” In the final part of his statement, he says that the company hopes to “increase in the use of plant-based materials throughout the entire PopSockets product line.”
In addition to launching PopGrip Plant, a new social media campaign called #SmallStepsBigImpact starts today. The company will be posting plant-friendly activities on their website and social media channels and are encouraging their followers to both “engage in and capture their small but impactful daily efforts to reduce energy and emissions for opportunities to win a PopGrip Plant.”
PopGrip Plant also comes after a great 2020, where the company did the following:
- Increased the use of recycled and sustainably forested paperboard in packaging to 99%
- Recycled more than 55,000 lbs. of product, packaging and phone cases
- Reduced Shipping Emissions by 66%
- Diverted 75% of Headquarters Waste (pre-COVID closure)
- Donated more than $150,000 to environmental charity partners
- Expanded TerraCycle partnership from the US into the United Kingdom and Germany
After a great year of sustainability, it looks like PopSockets is getting off on the right foot in 2021 as well. Personally, I’m excited to see the company do this, as 2021 has been the year I’ve been trying to take those small steps myself — things like remembering to take my reusable shopping bags with me when I go grocery shopping or filling a water bottle instead of buying a disposable one. It’s important that we remember that we really do only get one planet to live on (I don’t foresee us colonizing Mars in my lifetime, regardless of what Elon says) so it is important we try and do what we can, when we can, to help keep our planet alive.
What’s one of your Small Steps that you’re taking in 2021 to try and help the environment? Share your answer down in the comments below! 👇👇👇
Dan Stransky 