Last year Google committed to making its
hardware business sustainable. By 2022 all of “Made by Google” products will
incorporate some recycled materials. That’s still two years away, so baby steps
for now.
The official fabric cases for the Pixel 4a
are made out of 70% recycled materials (PET and polycarbonate). Much of that
comes from recycled plastic bottles – two bottles can be converted into enough
fabric for five cases. This is the same fabric that is used on the new Nest
Mini smart speakers, by the way.
These cases are made to be durable too.
The fabric is knitted in a jacquard pattern, which helps disguise signs of wear
and tear. Recycling is good, never having to buy a second case because the
first one got scuffed up is better. Inevitably, however, the fabric will pick
up dust and absorb some grime. You can hand wash it or just chuck it in the
washing machine with the laundry. Google has some tips on machine washing and
stain removal.
The Pixel 4a fabric cases are available in
three colors: Blue Confetti, Static Gray and Basically Black. The power button
on the side and G logo on the back are painted in a contrast color to make them
pop. You can pre-order a case for US$ 40/€ 45/£ 35. There seems to be a fourth
color, but we didn’t find it available in any of the Google stores.
