Griffin · Waterproof Phone Cases
Griffin Survivor Waterproof And Catalyst For Iphone 5/ 5s - 4 Colors
Skip. Waterproof phone cases often contain PFAS; Griffin provides no disclosure.
Griffin's waterproof phone case uses undisclosed water-resistant coating. Waterproof consumer products frequently contain PFAS, and the brand offers no transparency or PFAS-free certification.
The safe swap
Apple
Beats iPhone 17 Pro Max Rugged Case with MagSafe and Camera Control
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
Polycarbonate/thermoplastic with 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.
BPA & bisphenols
Polycarbonate in phone cases can release BPA under heat, UV exposure, or contact with acidic substances (sweat, cleaners). Risk is elevated if the case is used in direct sunlight or high-temperature conditions.
Source: FDA ↗PFAS
Waterproof phone case coatings almost universally contain fluorinated polymers (PFAS) for water repellency. Griffin provides zero transparency on this chemistry, and no safer alternative is documented for this product.
Source: ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and secondary leaching
Polycarbonate waterproof cases are subject to wear, peeling, and cracking over time, particularly around seams and stress points. Degraded coatings may shed microparticles and increase leaching rates of both the coating itself and underlying polycarbonate.
Phthalates
The thermoplastic rubber gaskets and shock-absorbing elements may contain phthalates as plasticizers to maintain flexibility. Testing of this specific product is not publicly available.
Source: ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This case uses polycarbonate (a rigid plastic) combined with thermoplastic rubber and a proprietary waterproof coating. Polycarbonate can leach BPA, especially when exposed to heat, UV light, or acidic substances like sweat and phone cleaners. The waterproof coating is almost certainly a Teflon-family coating resin, standard in waterproof phone cases, which typically contains PFAS (PFAS "forever chemicals") for water repellency. Griffin provides no material disclosure or breakdown of this coating.
The brand's record and disclosure
Griffin Technology is a long-established accessory manufacturer but maintains a notably opaque material and chemical safety stance. No public certifications (ISO 14001, bluesign, etc.) or third-party chemical testing results are available for this product line. Griffin has not published statements about PFAS use, BPA avoidance, or supply-chain chemical controls. This silence on waterproofing chemistry is consistent with the broader phone accessory industry's reluctance to disclose fluorinated compounds.
How it compares in its category
Waterproof phone cases as a category almost universally rely on PFAS-containing coatings or films; Griffin's case is typical in this regard and offers no comparative advantage. Some competitors (e.g., LifeProof, OtterBox) have similarly poor or undisclosed chemical profiles. Cases using non-fluorinated water barriers (rare) or mechanical sealing designs exist but are far less common and often sacrifice durability. This product sits squarely in the high-risk, low-transparency tier of its category.
If you buy it
Avoid prolonged contact with skin, especially on hot days or during/after exercise when sweat exposure is high (increases BPA leaching from polycarbonate). Do not expose to direct sunlight for extended periods or store in hot vehicles. Clean only with plain water and soft cloth; avoid alcohol wipes or acidic cleaners that can degrade the coating and release leachables. Replace if the waterproof seal visibly cracks, peels, or discolors, as degradation compromises both water protection and chemical integrity.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Griffin 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
Survivor Case with Belt Clip for Apple iPhone 4/4S GB01902
Polycarbonate, silicone, TPE
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.