New technologies shape the world slowly but surely, making life easier and more sustainable. One such is an embedded SIM card, eSIM, for short, replacing the normal plastic SIM card. Apart from making the setup of mobile communication easier, eSIM greatly contributes to the current global effort of fighting pollution, specifically the plastic waste that is frequently used in the mobile industry. Here in this article, we will discuss the plastic issue in more detail and what role each of you can play in addressing the problem.
The packaging industry is one of the global largest contributors of single-use plastic waste products. About 36% of all the plastics generated are used for packaging purposes. This consists of plastic food and beverage containers that are disposable, 85 percent of which are dumped into official and unofficial waste disposal sites. To this, we can add the billions of plastic SIM cards manufactured every year and we get a planetary disaster.
These are microscopic particles of plastic that are several times thinner than human hair. From tires to cosmetics to dish soap, they are used in all sorts of products in which microbeads — tiny beads used for exfoliation — are also used. Synthetic fibers are also another important source. With each wash, garments release microplastics – or microfibers, which are a type of micro-plastic particle. Washing alone is said to emit around 500,000 tons of plastic microfibers into the world’s oceans every year; this is the same as throwing away almost three billion polyester shirts.
In 2022, the UN member states actually banned plastic pollution. A legally binding instrument on plastic pollution is under elaboration by an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee with a view to adopting it no later than 2024. Measures relating to the whole life cycle of plastics, i.e. from extraction, development of products, manufacturing, to disposal, will be negotiated in order to generate opportunities for recycling of waste 'waste before it has been produced as part of a closed economic system.
An eSIM is an embedded SIM usually in a device that takes on the role of a regular SIM card. It enables users to connect to mobile networks without having to use a physical SIM card. Setting up a global eSIM card from Yesim is simple: just install the app from the App Store or Play Market on your Android smartphone or iPhone and get your virtual number and built-in VPN. The eSIM is ideal for travel and eliminates the need to manufacture and ship plastic cards, which require polycarbonates and other materials that do not degrade well in nature:
The firms and carriers that are offering roaming data SIM cards are playing their part in promoting global sustainability goals. Some of the biggest brands in the world including Apple, Samsung, and Google are already offering eSIM support in their products which helps in protecting the environment. Telecom operators are also helping to reduce their carbon footprint by providing eSIMs.
In addition to the obvious environmental benefits, eSIM opens up new opportunities for users and operators:
Although the problem of plastic pollution requires global change, personal actions count. For instance, change behavior by not using disposable plastic products where possible at all. Whenever it is necessary to use goods made of plastic, one should try to reuse or recycle them before they get damaged, and only then they should be recycled or disposed of. Make sure to take reusable bags when going to the grocery store and, as much as possible, choose locally grown and in-season foods that do not need much plastic wrapping and shipping.
Moving to eSIM is not only a technical change but also a deliberate decision of every user. Here's how you can support the environmental change:
With the help of eSIM technology, the mobile industry may become more environmentally friendly and minimize the waste generated by plastic packaging and carbon emissions. Besides, the eSIM service has advantages for the environment, as well as convenience and usefulness for customers across the globe. The more people and organizations start using it, the better for the Earth this technology will be. So go ahead and make that better decision today in order to ensure that tomorrow’s world will be a cleaner and greener place.
