In keeping with its Project Zero objectives to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reach net zero emissions by 2040, African telecom behemoth MTN Nigeria announced on Friday the launch of paper-based biodegradable eco-friendly SIM cards.
It is said that the paper-based biodegradable SIM card is safer for the environment because it encourages circularity and waste reduction in the management of products throughout their lives. Just one week has passed since the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) declared its intention to release an updated corporate governance code. The 2016 version of the code will be updated, with a major emphasis on requiring telecom companies to report on sustainability.
In a statement available to BrandSpur telecom and IT News, MTN stated that it would greatly aid in the avoidance of plastic pollution by gradually phasing out SIM cards made of plastic. This demonstrates the company’s dedication to consistently looking for methods to incorporate sustainable practices into its daily operations.
The advantages of using 100% biodegradable paper-based SIM cards over those made of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastic are that the former can decompose spontaneously and can be recycled, which lowers waste pollution.
Additionally, it reduces the manufacturing and disposal footprint of carbon emissions. This lessens the material issues with plastic SIM cards, namely their disposal in landfills or incinerators, their restricted recycling possibilities, and their contribution to waste pollution.
According to MTN, this action is in line with its commitment to “Doing for the Planet,” which includes emphasizing environmental responsibility and reducing the company’s environmental impact through sustainable and ethical waste management techniques.
According to the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer Tobe Okigbo: “Our new eco-friendly SIM cards represent part of our continuous commitment to environmental responsibility, as well as our dedication to reducing waste, supporting local Nigerian vendors, and integrating sustainability into business operations as well as the daily lives of the people.”
Adekemi Adisa, General Manager of Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN, also offered commentary on the development, saying: “Our people and the environment where they live drive the innovative measures we take.
“The launch of our recyclable SIM cards embodies our commitment to sustainability, encouraging our customers to make eco-friendly choices, reducing waste, and paving the way for a more environmentally conscious future for Nigerians,” Adisa added.
Global mobile network operators are lowering their carbon footprint as people become more aware of how our actions affect the environment. Paper-based, biodegradable SIM cards have resulted from this.
Conventional SIM cards, which have been the standard across the continent, are usually composed of plastic that is not renewable and is sourced from fossil fuels.
The increasing amount of plastic garbage in the world is a result of these SIM cards; millions of discarded cards wind up in landfills and the ocean, endangering the ecosystem and marine life. On the other hand, 100% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper is used to create paper-based SIM cards, or bioSIMs, which indicate that the paper comes from ethically and sustainably managed forests.
