The Beach That Changed My Business (And Why Your Phone Case Matters)

Noosa North Shore was supposed to be paradise.

Turquoise water. Golden sand. The kind of place where you forget your to-do list exists. But halfway through our afternoon walk, I stopped mid-step. The beach wasn't just beautiful—it was buried in tiny pieces of plastic washing up with every wave.

That afternoon spent picking up rubbish with Rod became the reason my first product exists. If you've ever wondered how one small choice can make a real difference, keep reading. Your phone case might be more important than you think.

The Moment That Shifted Everything

I'd seen beaches in Indonesia, the Philippines, South America—places where plastic pollution was heartbreakingly visible. But I never thought I'd see it washing up on Australian shores. Not like this.

We grabbed bags and spent hours collecting. Small bits of plastic. Bottle caps. Unidentifiable fragments that used to be something. The ocean was literally returning our waste to us.

And it hit me: this isn't happening "somewhere else." This is here. This is us.

The Problem We're All Part Of

Here's the uncomfortable truth: 99% of us wrap our phones in plastic.

I was one of them. My phone case was cheap, protective, and completely forgettable. I never thought about where it would end up when I was done with it. Spoiler: landfill, where it would sit for literally 1,000 years. Or worse—it would break down into microplastics and end up exactly where I was standing: on a beach, in the ocean, in the food chain.

We all want to protect our phones. But at what cost?

One Small Swap That Actually Matters

When I got home from Rainbow Beach, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Everyone has a phone. Everyone uses a case. What if that one everyday item could be different?

I'd heard of biodegradable phone cases before—Pela was doing amazing work—but shipping from America felt expensive and complicated. I wanted to make it easier. More accessible. More beautiful.

So I learned how to source biodegradable cases and started designing my own patterns to put on them. Hand-drawn art. Ocean-inspired. Made from materials that would actually break down, not sit in landfill for millennia.

What "Biodegradable" Actually Means

Let me be real with you: when I'm done with my phone case, it goes in my compost bin.

In 6 months, it becomes dirt. Not microplastics. Not toxic residue. Just... dirt. Back to the earth.

Compare that to the plastic case you might be using right now, which will outlive your great-great-grandchildren. The math is pretty simple.

5 Small Swaps to Reduce Ocean Plastic (Starting With Your Phone)

You don't have to revolutionize your entire life overnight. Start with one thing. Let it matter.

1. Switch to a biodegradable phone case Every single person with a phone can make this swap. If you're going to protect your device anyway, why not choose something that won't harm the planet when you're done with it?

2. Say no to single-use plastic bags Keep reusable bags in your car, your handbag, everywhere. The best reusable bag is the one you actually remember to use.

3. Bring your own coffee cup Most coffee shops will happily fill your reusable cup. Bonus: your coffee stays hot longer.

4. Choose bar soap and shampoo over plastic bottles One bar replaces multiple plastic bottles. Your shower will look prettier too.

5. Take a bag on your next beach walk Rod and I make this part of every trip now. Half a day picking up rubbish. It's become a ritual—and honestly, it feels good to leave a place better than we found it.

Why This Became Product Number One

I'm not naive enough to think one phone case will save the world. But here's what I do believe: small choices, made by lots of people, create real change.

When you choose a biodegradable phone case over a plastic one, you're voting. You're saying, "I care about where this goes when I'm done with it." You're choosing ocean wildlife over convenience. You're choosing future generations over the status quo.

And if my hand-drawn designs can make that choice feel joyful instead of preachy? Even better.

The Bigger Picture

Starting Nomad's Palette with biodegradable phone cases wasn't just about launching a product. It was about proving to myself that my art could serve a purpose beyond looking pretty.

I wanted to create things that mattered—not just aesthetically, but ethically. Things that reflected my values: beauty, sustainability, individuality, and a deep love for the ocean and the planet we're borrowing.

Rainbow Beach trip taught me that we're all connected to this problem. Every choice we make ripples outward. And sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is choose differently in one small, everyday way.

But What About Your Old Plastic Phone Case?

If you're ready to make the swap, you might be wondering: "What do I do with my current plastic case?"

Great question! Here are your options:

1. MobileMuster (Australia) MobileMuster is Australia's free, government-accredited mobile phone and accessory recycling program. You can drop off your old phone case at participating locations—check their website for drop-off points near you.

2. Brand take-back programs Some phone case brands like CASETiFY and Tech21 have recycling programs where they'll take back old cases (even from other brands) and recycle them into new products.

3. Get creative with reuse

• Use it as a paint palette for crafts

• Turn it into a small organizer for cables or jewellery

• Donate it to schools or community centres for art projects

The good news? Once you switch to biodegradable, this won't be a problem next time.

Your Turn

What's one small swap you could make today? It doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be intentional.

Maybe it's your phone case. Maybe it's something else. But whatever it is, let it matter.

Because the ocean—and the beaches we love—are counting on all of us to care a little more, choose a little better, and remember that every single action adds up.

Ready to make the swap? Check out the biodegradable phone cases in the shop—hand-drawn designs, eco-friendly materials, and a choice you can feel good about every time you pull out your phone.

Have you made any small swaps to reduce plastic waste? I'd love to hear what's worked for you—drop a comment below or message me. Let's inspire each other.

xx Meg