joining sustainable materials and technology since 2013

building a better future

Local

Over 90% of our materials are sourced within 100 Miles of our workshop.

solid wood

Other companies sell plastic cases with wood veneer, or reclaimed or recycled plastic which is originally made from Oil and petroleum by products. Nothing is better at storing carbon than wood. KerfCase wooden phone cases are cut from solid wood.

Mission driven

Our commitment demonstrates the urgency to preserve the environment while encouraging customers to make environmentally conscious purchases to reduce waste. Our mission drives all of our decisions - from the materials we use, to the building we occupy.

Wood for the win

Wood cases require less energy to produce than aluminium or plastic, and on top of that wood continues to store carbon for years, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. Carbon stored by wood products offsets nearly all of the greenhouse gas emissions related to their production.*

Even recycling plastic is not as environmentally friendly as some people may think. “When you are recycling plastic you use too much energy,” said Nadege Nzoyem, Central Africa manager of the conservation non-profit Rainforest Alliance.

colorful autumn leaves on tall trees and blue sky showing above

Environmental commitment

our roots go deep

Made from 100% natural wood, by their nature every wooden KerfCase is unique from all others.  From the cases themselves to the 100% post-consumer recycled packaging, we obsessively reuse and recycle as much as we can.  Avoiding waste isn’t just good business; it’s the right thing to do in our increasingly disposable world.

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"Material is at the core of all the design choices we make. The materials we work with are a reflection of ourselves."

Ben Saks, Founder of KerfCase

Sourced locally and ethically

Our partnerships include Urban Tree, which rescues felled trees in the Pittsburgh area, local mills in Pennsylvania, and specialty lumber suppliers around the United States. They provide us with beautiful, local wood that does not rob the planet of oxygen and shade. Our exotic hardwood collection is not sourced from countries that exploit their natural resources or deal in endangered species. We monitor wood for ICUN Red List Staus and avoid these species.

A history of ecological passion

founding story

interior view of Carnegie Mellon University CFA domed painted ceiling

When it all started

Unsatisfied with existing cases, Ben spent an evening in the wood shop of Carnegie Mellon University's architecture school and created a case for his new iPhone 5 from a reclaimed windowsill.

better for the planet

Made to order

Our products are made to order and ship within five business days.  This helps keep our footprint small, and drastically reduces waste.  Keeping a large inventory of finished products creates waste when phone models change in a yearly cycle. By keeping our wood supply in raw lumber it reduces the risk of un-sold product.