As the telecommunications sector works to make the globe more sustainable while still providing consumers with convenience and flexibility, the omnipresent SIM card is being phased out. Ultimately, the transition from regular SIM cards to eSIMs – the most environmentally friendly SIM cards – will aid mobile network operators in meeting their sustainability goals.
Understanding the environmental impact of SIM Cards
SIM cards' impact on the environment may seem negligible due to their modest size. However, their aggregate weight equates to an estimated 20,000 tons of plastic and other polymers used annually.
With customers using a increasing number of SIM cards, waste is expanding (for example, changing carriers, replacing lost or broken SIM cards, or temporary subscriptions). 4.5 billion plastic SIM cards were manufactured in 2020. If they were strung together, they would cover 11,250 kilometers – the distance between Delhi, India, and Montreal, Canada.
Exploring the environmental benefits of the eSIM
Although industry efforts to utilize recycled plastic SIM cards are a start in the right direction, further solutions may help reduce the environmental impact even further. With the eSIM, users may take advantage of the newest technological breakthroughs in telecommunications while also reducing their environmental impact.
The eSIM provides a durable, scalable solution to the plastic SIM card challenge. Embedded SIM cards or eSIMs eliminate the need for a physical SIM card by digitally storing the network authentication credentials typically saved on the plastic SIM. Essentially, an eSIM provides the same function as a standard SIM card, as it manages authentication and service access for mobile devices.
eSIM benefits for manufacturers:
· Fewer materials - Most importantly, eSIMs do away with wasted plastic and packaging, since the SIM chips are soldered directly into the gadget. Reduced reliance on plastic and other physical materials reduces the resources required to produce communications devices and the toxic chemicals and trash generated by industrial operations.
· Streamlined Logistics - Plastic SIM cards generate a complicated logistical chain that extends worldwide. By contrast, the eSIM requires no physical logistics such as warehousing.
eSIM benefits for users:
· Easier to switch operators - Users won't have to wait to get a SIM card shipped or go to a store to get a new one installed.
· Access to additional mobile operators - Anyone can supplement their regular domestic operator with others that they can use in specific countries or worldwide to ensure best coverage and/or pricing when traveling. And two operators can be used at the same time.
· Provides more security. No-one can steal or clone a SIM card for unauthorized mobile service.
Use GigSky eSIM plans to stay connected in more than 190+ countries when you travel for business or for pleasure. Download the GigSky app today on the App Store or Google Play.