Tuesday 6 April 2021

Thales and Veolia team up to create recycled plastic SIM card

Thales and Veolia have joined forces to create what is claimed will be the first eco-designed SIM card made from recycled plastic.

The plastic, mainly sourced from refrigerators, is transformed at Veolia's recycling plant in Froissy, France and using recycled granules, the two companies have developed a new manufacturing process for SIM cards that meets industrial requirements.

The Eco-SIM cards, which include both the SIM card and the bank card format support, will avoid the production of 5,000 metric tons of virgin plastic and the emissions of 15,000 metric tons of CO2.

They have a neutral carbon footprint as the CO2 emissions from the manufacturing process and electronic components that cannot be recycled are fully offset by Thales' comprehensive carbon offset programme.

The plastic used to make the cards can be recycled and used again at the end of life.

Emmanuel Unguran, Vice President, Mobile Connectivity Solutions at Thales said: “This innovation project with Veolia will support our telecom customers in their ecological transition by transforming waste into environmentally responsible SIM cards.

“This long term commitment is an integral part of the Group's ambitious policy of sustainable development and social responsibility and offers mobile phone operators a new opportunity to enhance their value proposition to consumers in terms of sustainability.”