Tabby Cat with Flowers by Nene Thomas iPhone 15 Plus Waterproof Case
Skip. Waterproof phone case coating likely contains PFAS.
Waterproof phone cases typically use fluorinated water-repellent coating coatings to repel water and oil. Brand provides no PFAS disclosure or third-party verification of materials used.
The safe swap
Apple
Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max TechWoven Case with MagSafe
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
TPU/silicone blend with unspecified waterproof coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
other is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof coating leaching (fluorinated compounds)
Unspecified waterproof topcoat in phone cases typically contains fluorinated polymers that can leach onto skin with sweat and friction over time. No independent testing of this specific product is on record, but the material class and lack of disclosure indicate elevated risk.
TPU degradation and off-gassing
TPU can slowly degrade with UV exposure and heat, releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with a plasticizer-like odor. This is more noticeable in cheaper TPU formulations and does not necessarily indicate toxicity but suggests lower material quality and durability.
Silicone degradation under stress
Silicone in blended cases can become tacky or sticky after prolonged exposure to body heat and sweat, indicating polymer breakdown. This does not pose acute toxicity risk but signals material aging and potential loss of water-resistance properties.
Microplastic shedding from coating wear
As the waterproof coating and TPU surface wear with daily use, microscopic fragments may shed into pockets, hands, or the environment. No specific data on this case exists, but this is a known concern for mass-produced phone cases used for 1-3 years.
What’s reassuring
Colorant or pigment safety (dyes in printed design)
The Nene Thomas flower artwork is likely applied via screen printing or heat transfer. No specific testing or complaints about this product's pigments have surfaced, but low-cost phone case printing sometimes uses azo dyes or heavy-metal-containing inks without third-party verification.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This case is a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) and silicone blend with an unspecified waterproof topcoat. The waterproof layer is the critical unknown: phone case manufacturers typically rely on fluorinated polymers or Teflon-type coating-based coatings to achieve water resistance, both of which are chemically stable but sourced from PFAS-containing precursors. TPU and silicone themselves are relatively benign, but the coating is where leaching risk concentrates, especially during thermal stress or with frequent hand contact and perspiration.
The brand's record and disclosure
CAT (the brand) has no public transparency record on waterproof coating chemistry or PFAS mitigation. The brand has not published material safety data sheets, manufacturing standards, or commitments to fluorine-free alternatives. This silence is notable because responsible case manufacturers increasingly disclose coating composition or certify PFAS-free status. Without disclosure, there is no way to verify whether the waterproof layer uses legacy fluorinated compounds or newer alternatives.
How it compares in its category
Phone cases occupy a gray zone: they are not food-contact items, but they contact skin, hair, and pockets for hours daily. Most mass-market waterproof cases use similar fluorinated coatings without labeling. Premium alternatives (OtterBox, Spigen with published materials) have begun moving toward non-fluorinated waterproofing, though cost and durability trade-offs are real. This CAT product offers no competitive advantage in safety disclosure and sits in the lower-transparency tier of the market.
If you buy it
Minimize skin contact and wash hands after prolonged use. Avoid exposing the case to sustained heat (hot vehicles, direct sunlight for extended periods) which can accelerate coating degradation and leaching. Do not intentionally submerge for extended periods; waterproof coatings degrade over months of heavy water exposure. Replace if the coating shows visible cracks, peeling, or discoloration, as this signals barrier failure and increased leaching risk.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- CAT has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Waterproof Phone Cases
Blackview
C03 Leather Protective Case with Shoulder Strap For Active 7/Active 10 Pro
leather (primary material), shoulder strap
Lead
Limited concern
Synthetic dyes and colorants in leather and strap fabric
Limited concern
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from tanning and finishing
Moderate concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Lower concern. Leather cases rarely treated with PFAS.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Griffin
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Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing
Limited concern
Lower concern phone case.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Griffin
Survivor Strong for iPhone 11 Pro GIP-023
TPU, polycarbonate, recycled plastic
Heavy metals
Limited concern
VOC off-gassing (polycarbonate/TPU)
Limited concern
Phone case materials lower concern.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
More waterproof phone cases grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.