First Eco-SIM Card Made of Old Fridge Plastic Produced

The multinational company which develops electrical systems Thales has made the first eco-SIM card in cooperation with the company Veolia. The first orders for cards made of plastic recycled from old refrigerators are already being delivered to mobile operators.

The use of recycled materials in the production process will eliminate the need for nearly 5,000 tons of new plastic a year and reduce CO2 emissions by 15,000 tons. Although the card weighs barely 4 grams, last year, 4.5 billion SIM cards were produced worldwide, which is equal to the amount of 20,000 tons of plastic or two Eiffel Towers, the two companies emphasize.

It all began when a team of researchers from Thales pointed out to Veolia, the world leader in resource management, that SIM cards used nearly 20,000 tons of PVC and other polymers a year and that there was room for a greener way of production to be found. After three years of joint efforts, Thales launched the first SIM card make of plastic, which is 100% recycled from polystyrenes from old refrigerators. At the end of its life cycle, the plastic from the cards can be recycled again.

– This innovative project with Veolia will support our TC customers in ecological transition, by transforming waste into environmentally friendly SIM cards – Thales says.

M. D.

THALES AUSTRIA Gmbh ogranak Beograd

Predstavništvo Veolia Central & Eastern Europe Beograd

Thales

Veolia

eco SIM cards

recycled plastic

plastic recycled from old refrigerators

mobile operators