We can’t keep on polluting our planet with plastic. The environmental impact of single-use plastics is so severe that if things don’t change by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans. It’s a scary prospect, and one that we’re working hard to prevent.
Vodacom has eliminated all unnecessary plastic and disposable single-use items across our retail stores and offices, including removing plastic straws, stirrers, cups and cutlery in our office canteens. We haven’t used plastic bags in our stores since 2019, and we’ve cut down drastically on our paper consumption by switching to e-mail receipts.
Taking Charge Of SIM Card Waste
One of Vodacom’s biggest contributions to the fight against plastic pollution was the introduction of our Eco-SIM cards in 2021. Eco-SIM cards are made from recycled plastic, unlike the old SIM cards that were made from new plastic.
The introduction of the Eco-SIM cards was another way in which Vodacom is attempting to minimise the impact they have on the environment.
You don’t even have to apply for an Eco-SIM card; it’s standard issue for every physical SIM card sold in South Africa.
The Other Environmental Benefits of Eco-SIM Cards
Eco-SIM cards are half the size of the old SIM card holders, and that change in size alone has enabled Vodacom’s parent company, Vodafone, to reduce the amount of plastic used to provide customers with SIMs by around 340 tonnes a year. That’s the same as a reduction of 1 760 tonnes of CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent).
And because of the Eco-SIM’s smaller size, Vodacom’s Starter Packs are smaller and require less packaging. All in all, the Eco-SIM initiative has saved more than 550 tonnes of paper and 350 tonnes of plastic so far.
Even Better Than An Eco-SIM
But Eco-SIMs are just one step in our sustainability journey. While less plastic is good, no plastic is better – which is why Vodacom has introduced digital e-SIMs. These electronic SIMs are small chips that are embedded into compatible devices (smartphones, tablets, wearables, etc), and that allow you to link up to eight virtual numbers to a single device without needing to swap physical SIM cards. Zero plastic, loads of benefits.
Introducing Eco Rating
Eco Rating is another way Vodacom is helping to drive environmental sustainability. This system lets you evaluate your mobile phone’s durability, recyclability, repairability, resource efficiency, and climate efficiency, to see how it scores in terms of its environmental performance. The Eco Rating label also assesses your phone’s lifecycle, from its raw materials and production to its packaging, transport, durability during use, and how effectively it can be recycled at the end of its life.
Saving the planet requires big ideas and small changes, and Vodacom is proudly playing its part. Whether you’re choosing a new phone based on its Eco Rating, installing an e-SIM instead of a physical SIM card, or just using an Eco-SIM that uses less plastic, you’re playing your part, too. Find out more about how Vodacom is striving to save the environment by clicking here.
