Technological watch

Vodafone reduces size of SIM holder to reduce plastic use

body.single-projects .post-content :not(p) img, body.single-post .post-content :not(p) img { display: none; } Vodafone will offer a range of eco-friendly accessories under the label Red Loves Green. Credit: vodafonegroup. Telecommunications company Vodafone has reduced the size of its standard credit card-sized SIM holder by 50% to reduce plastic waste.By the end of December, Vodafone will start offering a range of eco-friendly accessories under the label Red Loves Green. The Red Loves Green product range will be available at retail stores next year.The range will include 100% biodegradable or recyclable phone cases made from reused ocean plastic, charging banks and docks developed using sustainable materials and plastic-free packaging.As part of the initiative, the company will also offer the sustainable Fairphone 3 smartphone across Germany, Italy, the UK, Spain and Ireland markets. Launching the new range is a part of Vodafone’s strategy to reduce the use of all non-essential plastics. It is expected to cut Vodafone’s plastic waste by over 340t a year while also eliminating up to 5,000t of the CO? annually.
Vodafone External Affairs director Joakim Reiter said: “Halving our environmental impact means not only tackling material issues such as our carbon footprint and e-waste but also taking action in other areas where we have an impact such as the non-essential or disposable plastics we use in our retail stores and offices.“Building on many of the initiatives launched across Vodafone’s markets, we want a consistent approach everywhere we operate. This begins with the rollout of half-sized SIMs, tackling unnecessary plastics in our offices and offering our customers eco-friendly accessories.”Vodafone will gradually replace the full-sized cardholders across all Vodafone’s 24 markets.

Publication date: 09/12/2019

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This project has received funding from the Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 837761.