Bioserie bioplastic iPhone 4 cases: Review and giveaway

Is there a better way to start a new year than to get an innovative new case for your iPhone 4?

Bioserie recently sent TUAW two of their iPhone 4 cases to review and give away to our readers. As you know, we get a lot of different iPhone and iPad cases to test, so what makes these different? It's that they're not made out of petroleum-based plastics like most of the other cases we receive. Instead, the Bioserie cases are made of bioplastics derived from plants.

The company does a very good job of using environmentally friendly materials in their packaging of the cases as well. The cardboard box is made of 100 percent recycled materials printed with soy inks, and the plastic "window" of the box is also made of bioplastic.

The cases we received are rather simple in design, but they do a good job of protecting the back glass and sides of an iPhone 4 while allowing easy access to the ports and buttons. The case snaps onto the iPhone 4 in a flash and can also be removed for cleaning. There is a texture to the Bioserie cases that makes them less slippery than some cases I've reviewed.

It appears that the bioplastic material might not be as hard or scratch-free as some other plastic case materials, as the company notes that their cases will "age gracefully like denim or leather." Frankly, I like the look of well-worn denim and leather, but I'm not sure if an "aged" iPhone case is going to be all that attractive.

However, the Bioserie cases do what they're designed to do -- protect a lot of your iPhone 4 -- very well, and they do it in an environmentally responsible way. The company makes the cases in six different colors: white, black, dark green, light green, orange and red.

If I have any concern about the Bioserie cases, it's that they're rather costly at US$34.95. Similar slimline cases like the iSkin solo for iPhone 4 run about $29.99, and a quick look at Amazon showed a number of cases that could be purchased for as little as $5. However, if you want to support green products and the use of bioplastics, the extra cost might be acceptable.

Now it's time to give you an opportunity to win one of two Bioserie iPhone 4 cases. To enter, just leave a comment with your top choice for the color you'd like -- black or green. The giveaway winners are chosen through a random pick, so you might not get the color you want.

Here are the rules for the giveaway:

• Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
• To enter, leave a comment telling us which color Bioserie case -- black or green -- you'd prefer.
• The comment must be left before Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time.
• You may enter only once.
• Two winners will be selected and will receive a Bioserie iPhone 4 case valued at $34.95.
• Click Here for complete Official Rules.