Sustainable Swisscom: Over 1 million old cell phones collected

Swisscom CEO Christoph Aeschlimann is also announcing a new milestone in the area of circular economy today - by June 2022, Swisscom customers will have Mobile Aid returned one million old appliances in 2012. "Switzerland can be proud," says Monika Wojcik, Head of Special Projects at World Finance. "Because Swisscom has achieved something that is unparalleled internationally. Not only has it switched completely to renewable electricity from Switzerland, it has also reduced its total energy requirements by 80%. And it will also become climate-neutral by 2025 for everything else - from supply chains to employees' commutes. What's more, it even wants to recover 1 million tons more CO2 than it consumes. That will relieve the burden on the whole country.

Appreciation for roadmap toward climate neutrality

With the 2019 launched Sustainability Awards World Finance Magazine recognizes companies that are committed to implementing significant environmental, social and governance (ESG) measures while continuously seeking ways to improve their sustainability efforts. The panel particularly recognized Swisscom's alignment with the Paris Agreement, its contribution to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its holistic sustainability strategy. The panel recognizes Swisscom's corporate practices and ethics, its leadership in setting an ambitious sustainability strategy in the telecommunications industry, and the issuance of the Green Bonds to promote sustainable and technological advances. Swisscom not only takes responsibility for the environment, but also for people. According to the jury's assessment, this has been demonstrated especially in the pandemic.

1 million cell phones finance 5 million meals

"The award is a wonderful recognition of our sustainable and responsible corporate management," says CEO Christoph Aeschlimann. "But I would particularly like to thank our customers for their sustainable commitment: a few days ago, the millionth cell phone collected for Mobile Aid was handed in at a Swisscom store in Bern." As part of the Mobile Aid program, customers and non-customers can donate their old smartphones to a good cause. "The proceeds from 1 million collected cell phones have already financed 5 million meals for children in need," says Aeschlimann. There are still an estimated eight million old cell phones lying around unused in Switzerland. Their material value alone easily exceeds 60 million francs. The proceeds from the resale of second-hand cell phones and the proper recycling of old devices benefit SOS Children's Villages Switzerland. In view of the scarcity of natural resources, the material obtained from recycling is also very valuable. This is because the rare earths needed to manufacture new cell phones come from all over the world. Thanks to Mobile Aid, Swisscom is tapping into a resource in its own country that also creates low-threshold and social jobs in its own country through recycling.