Vodafone has announced a global partnership with WWF that they say will support its goals to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2040, eliminate e-waste and encourage a more circular economy for mobile phones.
The partnership launches with a new programme, one million phones for the planet, which Vodafone says will help accelerate and refine its circular economy strategy by increasing the number of traded-in, refurbished and recycled devices.
Vodafone says it aims to reduce its environmental impact to reach net zero carbon emissions across its full value chain by 2040 while helping business customers reduce its carbon emissions by 350m tonnes by 2030.
The telecommunications company says it is Vodafone is also working to reduce device waste and progressing against its target to reuse, resell or recycle 100% of its network waste.
The programme aims to encourage Vodafone’s customers in Europe and Africa to hand in their old devices as part of a trade-in, for a donation to social causes, or to be recycled responsibly. Starting from 22 November 2022, Vodafone says every phone collected during the programme will see £1, or the local equivalent, donated by Vodafone to WWF conservation projects across the world.
WWF and Vodafone strongly believe that we can all make greener choices about how we use technology.
Vodafone’s three-year partnership with WWF will see “strategic initiatives” launched across Vodafone markets in Europe and Africa. The phone company says these will include apps to help Vodafone customers make more sustainable choices, as well as projects in South Africa, Germany, and the UK that use mobile technology to help address conservation and sustainability challenges.
The one million phones for the planet programme will run alongside existing device campaigns including Germany’s One For One appeal and Vodafone UK’s Great British Tech Appeal.
Commentating on the partnership, Vodafone Group Chief Executive, Nick Read, said: “WWF and Vodafone strongly believe that we can all make greener choices about how we use technology.
“Our partnership with WWF will create new initiatives to encourage our customers to take actions that could help reduce their carbon emissions and reduce pressure on the planet’s natural resources.”