Everything You Need to Know About eSIMs and the Environment

While technology has undoubtedly done a lot to transform how we live our lives in a positive way, it doesn’t come without a price. Despite the innovations, technology makes up a large chunk of the world’s total waste. In fact, global e-waste has grown by 21% in the last five years.

Considering the current state of the environment and the ever looming climate crisis, technology has to become more sustainable and more environmentally friendly. Luckily, there are innovations that address this very problem. And while there is a slew of different developments we can talk about, one of the most impactful innovations is embedded SIM or simply eSIM. If you want to learn more about the eSIM, then we’ve got just the thing for you. Here’s everything that you need to know about eSIMs and the environment.

What Is an eSIM?

We’re sure that you’re all familiar with SIM chips as you basically make use of them whenever you use your smartphones. The eSIM isn’t that different from the regular SIM. An eSIM is a SIM card built directly into the device, so there’s no need to swap cards in and out to enable data connectivity. eSIMs basically allow you to set your wireless carrier and data plan in digital ways. Unlike physical SIMs that have to be replaced, eSIMs allow you to change your carrier or plan via a secure menu or by simply scanning a QR code.

Why Are eSIMs Good for the Environment?

There is a variety of benefits to using an eSIM instead of a traditional SIM card. First, the amount of physical waste is reduced dramatically. Thousands of tons of SIM plastics annually. To add to this, the overall carbon emissions are greatly reduced, and the waste caused by the production process of the plastic SIM chips are eliminated.

Aside from what we already mentioned, here are a few other environmental benefits that come with eSIMs:

• There are minimal raw materials used with eSIMs. eSIMs don’t require any plastic, as the SIM chips are built into the device directly.

• The eSIMs don't produce packaging waste as they already come with the smartphone.
  
• Aside from the production waste of regular SIMs, materials are also taken to production sites, and plastic SIM chips are distributed across the world, mostly by air. This entire process puts a heavy load on the environment. With the eSIM, physical logistics are eradicated.

• eSIM users don’t need to waste energy and time – and the associated gas emissions – to go visit a shop to get a SIM Card or wait for it to be sent by mail.

How Will eSIMs Impact the Environment?

eSIM is already in 1.5 billion devices and is expected to support over 3.5 billion devices by 2025. It’ll eventually become a default feature of all mobile devices, like Bluetooth. This is good news as this will result in reduced waste and CO2 emissions. This is a trend that will surely continue as consumers around the world are seeking companies that are more environmentally friendly. The growing global demand for environmentally friendly companies will surely lead to more innovations down the line.

Conclusion

We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to helping you better understand the positive effect that eSIMs will have on the environment. While it may seem like a minute change, eSIMs will reduce millions of tons of physical waste that comes with regular SIM chips.

Are you looking for a programmable eSIM? As the world's 1st digital-only cellular data platform, CELITECH enables travel-related businesses and apps to offer co-branded eSIM service, better engage with mobile customers, and unlock new revenue.

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