Globe debuts first ever Eco-SIM in Asia

• Globe is the first mobile operator in Asia to roll out innovative technology, contributing to environmental sustainability
• The cards are made of 100% recycled materials, including polystyrene waste from refrigerators and it was deployed last year
• Global “SIM Cards Market” Report 2021 predicted that the market revenue will reach US$4428 million in 2025

Globe Telecom debuts Eco-SIM, its first-ever postpaid SIM card that provides customers with a convenient way to support renewable energy projects. 

With this new initiative, Globe is the first mobile operator in Asia to roll out innovative technology, contributing to environmental sustainability.

Globe said it adopted the advanced technology firm Thales for the eco-SIM cards just in time for Zero Waste Month in January.

Eco-SIM made of 100% recycled materials

The cards are made of 100% recycled materials, including polystyrene waste from refrigerators and it was deployed last year.

The telco was also the first to introduce electronic SIMs or eSIM, a new SIM card that does not require any physical presence for activation. 

With Globe as one of the first telcos to offer this service, it’s no wonder it provides its customers with an innovative brand experience. 

According to Panoroma Data Insights, the Global E-SIM has market sales of US$ 182.5 billion, for the forecast period 2021 to 2030.

A digital SIM card eliminates the need for a physical SIM card to be inserted into a device by embedding all the necessary information in mobile phone models, allowing users to switch lines that fit any purpose effortlessly.

Billions of SIM cards are manufactured worldwide 

In an age where people are increasingly connected, it’s no wonder that there are now more mobile devices on the planet than people. 

Global “SIM Cards Market” Report 2021 predicted that the market revenue will reach US$4428 million in 2025.

This year alone, an estimated 4.5 billion SIM cards will be manufactured worldwide to keep up with this growing demand for connectivity. 

The weight represents an estimated 20,000 tons of plastic and other polymers.

Thales developing the Eco-SIM

Thales, the global leader in advanced technologies, first developed its Eco-SIM Card in 2020 with Veolia and had a neutral carbon footprint. 

Thales is helping Globe meet its ambitions to cut e-waste, reduce its carbon footprint, and contribute to sustainability in the Philippines.  

The strategic partner is crucial to customers in civil aviation, defense, digital security, air traffic management, and ground transportation sectors.

The company’s comprehensive carbon offset program fully offsets the CO2 emissions from the manufacturing process and electronic components.

“As consumers become more environmentally conscious, the onus is on companies to innovate to introduce sustainable technology solutions to remain competitive. As a Group, Thales has pledged to get to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, and we align with the ambitions of many organizations to work for the better good and build a sustainable future. 

The Eco-SIM card is small, but it has a significant impact on plastic and polymer waste and is another example of how we innovate to drive change. We are excited to partner with Globe on this pioneering initiative in the Philippines to roll it out throughout Asia,” said Jon Cahilig, Head of Mobile Connectivity Solutions for Asia, Thales Digital Identity & Security.

Reducing carbon emissions and driving energy efficiency

Another company that launched the Eco-Sim is Vodafone, intending to reduce its impact on the planet.

The new Eco-SIM cards are made from 100% recycled plastic, which means they will be much kinder to the environment than regular SIMs when they’re discarded. 

The new cards will initially only be available in 12 European markets. Still, Vodafone is rolling them out globally, starting with Egypt, Turkey and South Africa as demand grows.

 

---

---

---

---