OtterBox’s new iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands and MagSafe wallets might look and feel like they’re made of leather, but they’re not. They’re made from nopal cactus leaves.
The exclusive Desserto leather alternative used in OtterBox’s Symmetry Series Cactus Leather iPhone cases is “a luxury material that is durable, cruelty-free and sustainable,” the company said Tuesday in a press release.
OtterBox Symmetry Series Cactus Leather iPhone cases
Apple famously (or, more accurately, notoriously) replaced its well-liked leather iPhone cases and other accessories with a new material called FineWoven last year. The polyester-based microtwill didn’t exactly set the world on fire. Consumers and tech journalists instantly dragged FineWoven for its high price, its tendency to scratch easily and its inability to deal with oil. (Greasy fingers are FineWoven’s kryptonite.)
And because FineWoven is “a twill weave with microfibers,” it didn’t even ace the green test, according to a professor of apparel design and retail merchandising. “Microfibers are actually bad for the environment. They have created a new form of plastic pollution,” Kathryn Reiley, from the University of Minnesota College of Design, told Consumer Reports. (The publication’s review did not recommend FineWoven iPhone cases.)
A vegan leather alternative iPhone case
So, can OtterBox do the green leather alternative iPhone case better? The company certainly seems to think so.
“OtterBox knows innovation occurs within every aspect of designing a product, including the materials,” OtterBox CEO JC Richardson said in the Cactus Leather series press release. “We’ve teamed up with Adriano di Marti to source this innovative cactus-based biomaterial that is durable, beautiful and sustainable to create a product unlike any other for both brands. These cases look good, feel good and you can feel good about using it, too.”
OtterBox made a name for itself for producing iPhone cases that offer maximum protection. The company said that just because the new Cactus Leather cases look high-end, that doesn’t mean they won’t protect the devices they cover.
“Crafted from rich, resilient cactus leather-alternative, this case is built to defy drops and withstand wear, scuffs and stains,” OtterBox said. “Symmetry Series Cactus Leather may have a lux look, but still has a 3X MIL-STD drop protection rating.”
MagSafe wallets match the Symmetry series iPhone cases
Photo: OtterBox
Adriano di Marti, the company that developed Desserto, markets the vegan leather material for the fashion industry. The company also produces Deserttex for the automotive industry.
In its press release, OtterBox outlined the environment-friendly attributes of the humble nopal cactus. The hardy plant serves as the raw material for making the Desserto material.
“Nopal cacti are able to thrive in harsh conditions and do not need irrigation or constantly warm weather,” according to the PR. “The cacti support a biodiverse ecosystem and the Desserto farm sequesters substantially more CO2 than the farming process produces. Plus, only mature leaves are harvested, allowing for regrowth of the cactus to be harvested again in six to eight months.”
OtterBox did not reveal pricing for the new line of iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands and MagSafe wallets. They all come in matching black, brown, green and purple colors. Look for Symmetry Series Cactus Leather in the near future on the OtterBox website.
Photo: OtterBox
Other iPhone cases
Looking for an iPhone case and want to explore your options? Check Cult of Mac’s buying guide to the best iPhone cases.
It includes Mujjo cases, widely known as the best leather iPhone cases around, as well as plenty of other options.
