Smartphone accessories didn’t exist a few years ago and now they are a multi-million dollar industry. However, how good are they for you AND the environment?

In a world brimming with technology for the busy lives we all lead, it can be difficult to help support the environment. Being eco-friendly is a good thing on multiple levels, but doing so from a smartphone accessories standpoint isn’t always easy.

There is a lot of plastic involved in the entire process.Thankfully, some clever people out there have developed some eco-friendly smartphone accessories.

7 Eco-Friendly Smartphone Accessories

Solar Powered Charger Banks

One of the best ways to be eco-friendly with your smartphone use is to purchase a solar powered charger bank. A lot of these also come with the option to charge them through conventional means as well, so if you are in a hurry or need that extra bit of charge, you can plug it into the mains.

Using a solar-powered charger bank draws all of its energy from the sun which means that if used correctly, you will never need to pay to charge your smartphone ever again.

This is great because you are helping to save the environment, are able to charge your phone on the go, and you are saving money on electricity bills.

As with any tech product, you want to shop around to make sure that you are getting the best power dock for you and that it has good reviews. This is because some types of solar battery lose effectiveness very quickly and you don’t want to buy one of those.

Kinesis K3 Wind and Solar Powered iDevice Charger

If you like the idea of a solar powered charger, but want to take it one step further, then you should consider getting the Kinesis K3 Wind and Solar Powered iDevice Charger.

On top of charging through a solar panel, it also comes with a mini-turbine for generating wind energy, too. This is especially good if you are using your phone outdoors while hiking or camping (you’ll likely struggle to use the turbine indoors).

However, it is just another way that you can get some free energy for your smartphone, and it is a very effective way to do so as well. This won’t be for everyone, but for those who think this sounds like an excellent idea, they will love it.

Solar Powered Speakers

If you love solar powered things and already have the charger, then upgrade your speakers to being solar powered, too. Better yet make them Bluetooth as well.

Solar powered speakers work in a similar way to the solar powered battery, through solar panels and the power of the sun. If you use your phone to listen to music a lot (especially if it is outdoors), then getting a set of solar powered speakers will again help the environment and your electricity budget, too.

Bamboo Speakers

Solar powered speakers aren’t the only eco-friendly speakers on the market though. Made entirely of bamboo, these speakers use the phone’s existing speaker but amplify the volume through their design. Really cool smartphone accessories AND stylish.

They generally fit most phones and are hollow inside which helps to make the smartphone’s own speaker louder and can even allow for the phone to be charged at the same time.

Luvin Life offers a range of such bamboo speakers, so maybe it is time to ditch your regular speakers in favor of this eco-friendly alternative.

EcoxPower Pedal Powered Headlight and Mobile Device Charger

If you are an avid cyclist or perhaps you only use for your journey to work, then you should get yourself an EcoxPower Pedal Powered Headlight and Mobile Device Charger.

This fantastic device works as both a headlight for your bike and a smartphone charger. It is entirely powered by pedal power meaning that you are again saving money and the environment at the same time.

You would also be making the journey or exploring the outdoors anyway, so you might as well generate some charge for your bike’s headlight or mobile device at the same time. It isn’t intrusive on your bike and just clips onto the side of your bike.

Plus the light can be turned on and off through a wireless remote attached to your handlebars for even more ease of use. This really is the perfect mobile device charger (or Birthday/Christmas present for the cycling enthusiast) and will make any bike ride better as there is no longer any worries about phone charge or bike light battery life.

Use an eco-friendly water bottle on your bike from the Biome Eco Store.

BioLite Camp Stove

If you are into camping and the outdoors but also love your smartphone, then you might want to purchase a BioLite Camp Stove. This nifty gadget is both a smartphone charger and cooking stove.

You can cook your evening meal on the BioLite Camp Stove and charge your phone at the same time thanks to how it is designed. The heat from the fire is turned into charge for your phone.

So whether you have decided to take a break to make a cup of tea or are cooking up an evening meal, the BioLite Camp Stove is an extremely useful tool for the outdoor smartphone user.

It also helps that the BioLite Camp Stove is extremely light, durable and safe to use. You will need to do a little bit of foraging to get the fire started inside the BioLite Camp Stove as it only uses wood scraps or dried leaves to get it lit.

For all your outdoor equipment try Cotswold Outdoor.

Recycled or Wooden Cases

This is one of the easiest ways that you can be an eco-friendly smartphone user. Instead of buying a new regular case, purchase an eco-friendly one.

A smartphone case could be made entirely from recycled waste or a wooden version. Either one is better than buying a new plastic case. The same is true for any other cases for your other devices.

Some lines of eco-friendly cases have variants for laptops, tablets and cameras, too. This means that you can get a great looking and excellently made, eco-friendly case for all of your technology. Also when your case finally breaks, you should also not forget to get it recycled.