Electronics accessory brand Casetify has launched a series of public art installations in five cities around the world using recycled phone cases as the key material.

These installations form part of the brand's 2024 Earth Month campaign Journey to Re/Birth, which invited local artists from the US, South Korea, China, Australia, and Thailand to create art and design pieces made out of discarded phone cases collected by the brand's Re/Casetify upcycling program.

"All of these are part of the brand's ongoing efforts to make sure the end of any phone case is the beginning of a new one in all possible ways," said Casetify.

New York-based studio Wade and Leta created a table and stools at Brooklyn's Devoción Cafe with plastic pellets from 12,000 recycled phone cases from Casetify.

"We characterise the creation of the texture on the pieces as a water-based plaster with granulated plastic case pieces mixed in," explained the studio.

The surfaces were painted in bright green, yellow and blue, then sanded down to reveal the natural character of the granulated plastic.

The vibrant colours are intended to complement the rustic and earthy aesthetic of the space and engage customers in conversations about sustainability, according to the studio.

Emerging artists Surin Kim, Dayoung Hwang, and Youngmin Kang from Seoul presented a large-scale outdoor installation at the Seoul Arts Center's Music Square.

Kim recreated a traditional Korean stone pagoda made of raw cornstarch materials and recycled pellets. Hwang's sculpture was informed by the shape of seashells, referencing the union of people and nature, while Kang created a four-metre-tall giant chair.

In Bangkok, Casetify worked with local organisation Tlejourn Shoes Project, a non-profit that makes shoe soles out of ocean waste.

It collaborated with volunteers from Trash Hero, polymer scientists from Prince of Songkla University's Pattani Campus, fashion designers and the Pattani community to transform old phone cases into a limited edition of 500 pairs of sandals at Casetify Studio store.

Elsewhere, Australian furniture design studio Eva was commissioned to create a Re/Treat Sofa in the Casetify Studio Store in Sydney. The old phone cases were repurposed as a structural base for the sofa, giving the piece a dynamic colour pattern.

Each artist was challenged to come up with new solutions for the recycled pellets – or full discarded phone cases – supplied by the brand's Re/Casetify upcycling program.

Through the program, customers are encouraged to donate their old smartphones and earbud cases into bins located at over 40 Casetify Studio Stores globally in return for store credit.

These old cases are shredded and separated into pellets at the brand's partner upcycling facilities, removing any metallic or non-recyclable parts, and later processed to be used as recycled plastic for new accessories, including phone cases, airpod cases, and more.

According to Casetify, over 84,000 kilograms of plastic have been recycled since the launch of the program in 2021.

The tech accessory brand recently opened a new shop in Osaka, Japan, designed by Hong Kong-based interior designer Andre Fu.

In London, local studio Hemingway Design created furniture from recycled clothes for charity retailer Traid.

All photos are courtesy of Casetify.