Vodafone Group Plc HALF-SIZED SIM CARDS TO REDUCE PLASTIC WASTE
December 06 2019 - 1:00AM
RNS Non-Regulatory
TIDMVOD
Vodafone Group Plc
06 December 2019
6 December 2019
VODAFONE LAUNCHES HALF-SIZED SIM CARDS TO REDUCE PLASTIC
WASTE
Vodafone commits to reduce all non-essential plastics at retail
and in offices by April 2020
New 'Red Loves Green' eco-friendly accessories in stores from
Christmas 2019
Vodafone is replacing the standard credit card-sized SIM holder
with a new half-sized format that reduces by 50% the amount of
plastic used to produce SIMs as part of a wider strategy to
minimise the company's use of all non-essential plastics.
Starting from Christmas 2019, Vodafone stores will offer
customers a range of eco-friendly accessories under the label 'Red
Loves Green'. These will include 100% biodegradable or recyclable
phone cases made from, for example, reused ocean plastic, plus
charging banks and docks made from sustainable materials and
plastic-free packaging. Vodafone plans to expand its range of 'Red
Loves Green' products at retail during 2020.
The more ethical, reliable and sustainable Fairphone 3
smartphone will also be available in the run up to Christmas in
five Vodafone markets - Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, and Ireland - as
part of a strategic partnership between the two companies.
Fairphone 3 is sold with sustainable and reusable packaging and
manufactured from responsibly sourced, conflict-free tin and
tungsten, recycled copper and plastics, and gold sourced by
Fairtrade.
Vodafone Director of External Affairs, 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 roll out of half-sized SIMs, tackling unnecessary
plastics in our offices and offering our customers eco-friendly
accessories."
These initiatives align with Vodafone's purpose to improve the
lives of 1 billion people while halving its environmental impact by
2025. This commitment by Vodafone includes halving its carbon
footprint and purchasing all electricity from renewable sources by
2025. Vodafone has also committed to reuse, resell or recycle 100%
of its network waste and help customers extend the lives of the
devices they already own.
The new half-sized SIM cards will be provided to our customers
in several European markets from the beginning of 2020 and will
progressively replace the use of full-sized card holders across all
Vodafone's 24 markets.
The initiative alone will reduce Vodafone's plastic waste by
more than 340 tonnes per annum, and will save up to 15 tonnes of
the CO(2) e emitted during production and transportation for every
tonne of plastic reduced - a reduction of more than 5,000 tonnes of
C0(2) e annually.
Eliminating plastics at retail and in offices
Building on initiatives already in place in several Vodafone
markets, Vodafone has also committed to eliminating all unnecessary
plastics and other disposable single-use items where there are
lower impact alternatives across all Vodafone retail stores and
offices in 24 countries by the end of March 2020.
Vodafone's 7,700 retail stores worldwide will no longer use
disposable plastic bags and will also remove or restrict plastic
marketing or promotional materials, replacing them with
alternatives with a lower environmental impact.
In Vodafone's offices, commonly used plastic office consumables
- including pens and folders - will be substituted where feasible
with reusable, recyclable office stationary. Vodafone will also
ensure that disposable, single-use plastic bottles, cutlery, plates
and straws used in catering are eliminated, while encouraging the
use of reusable bottles, cups or glassware.
Vodafone is also engaging suppliers to reduce, remove or recycle
excessive packaging in order to minimise plastic packaging in
warehouses.
- ends -
A selection of images showing the new half-sized SIM card can be
found on our image library at:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/vodafonegroup/g81n6d
For further information:
Vodafone Group
Media Relations Investor Relations
GroupMedia@vodafone.com IR@vodafone.co.uk
About Vodafone Group
Vodafone Group is one of the world's leading telecoms and
technology service providers. We have extensive experience in
connectivity, convergence and the Internet of Things, as well as
championing mobile financial services and digital transformation in
emerging markets.
Vodafone Group has mobile operations in 24 countries, partners
with mobile networks in 42 more, and fixed broadband operations in
19 markets. As of 30 September 2019, Vodafone Group had
approximately 625 million mobile customers, 27 million fixed
broadband customers and 22 million TV customers, including all of
the customers in Vodafone's joint ventures and associates. For more
information, please visit: www.vodafone.com.
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