Eco SIM and sustainability, making mobile technology greener

Telecel Ghana has unveiled its first Eco SIM, a biodegradable card that requires 90 percent less plastic than traditional SIM cards. Despite offering the same voice, data, and MoMo services, the Eco SIM boasts a lighter environmental footprint. Globally, approximately 3.5 billion SIM cards were manufactured in 2025, translating to about 292 million cards per month, 67 million per week, 9.6 million per day, and 111 every second.

Manufacturing SIMs in 2023 alone generated nearly 16,000 tonnes of plastic and around 500,000 tonnes of CO₂, with roughly 4 grams of plastic per card. Ghana produces an estimated 1.1 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with only 5 percent being collected for recycling. Consequently, the remaining waste often ends up in water bodies and drains.

With over 43 million active mobile SIMs in the country, every Eco SIM issued prevents roughly 3.8 tonnes of plastic from entering the ecosystem. Customers can expect no learning curve, unchanged quality, and effortless climate action, as the Eco SIM functions identically to regular SIM cards while reducing plastic usage. The Eco SIM is not just an isolated initiative but part of Telecel's broader sustainability efforts, which include shifting 16 network exchanges to solar power and planting over 40,000 trees.

Other telcos, like MTN Ghana, are also rolling out biodegradable SIMs. By making environmental considerations a default option, telcos can positively influence consumer behavior and drive widespread sustainability. To maximize the impact, Eco SIMs should be the default offering at all telecommunications outlets, with quarterly reports on Eco SIM shipments and the reduction of plastic waste.

Furthermore, mechanisms for collecting old plastic SIM cards should be established to create a closed-loop system. The mobile industry, which reaches more households than any other sector in Ghana, holds significant potential to influence behavior change and combat plastic pollution.