Vodafone and WWF today announced a major global partnership that will support Vodafone’s goals to reduce carbon emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2040, help to 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 – to help accelerate and refine Vodafone’s circular economy strategy by increasing the number of traded-in, refurbished and recycled devices.

Purchasing a refurbished smartphone saves around 50kg of CO2e (Carbon Dioxide Equivalent) – making its contribution to climate change 87 per cent lower than that of the equivalent, newly manufactured smartphone – and removes the need to extract 76.9 kg of raw materials.

The programme will inspire 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, every phone collected during the programme will see £1(US$1.22), or the local equivalent, donated by Vodafone to WWF conservation projects across the world.

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.”

Chief Executive of WWF-UK, Tanya Steele said: “Every one of us has a role to play in helping to bring our world back to life, and the technology we use every day can play a major role in tackling the climate and nature emergency. Through our partnership with Vodafone, we will be exploring how everyone can reduce their environmental footprint using digital technologies and services, while also using mobile technology to drive forward key WWF conservation projects around the world. We look forward to working together on our shared vision for the planet.”

Vodafone’s three-year partnership with WWF will see strategic initiatives launched across Vodafone markets in Europe and Africa.  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.

Vodafone will harness WWF’s global network of expertise in environmental issues and international capability for leading the fight against the climate and nature emergency.  

One million phones for the planet will run alongside existing device campaigns including Germany’s One For One appeal and the Vodafone UK’s Great British Tech Appeal.

Vodafone’s circular economy plan for mobile devices               

One million phones for the planet will help accelerate Vodafone’s four-pronged approach for device circularity, announced in February 2022, to help the mobile industry move towards a more circular economy that minimises waste and further reduces carbon emissions2:

Trade-in – Vodafone will offer competitively priced trade-in offers, delivered through a new digital platform making it straightforward for customers to agree trade-in options for their existing phones.

Refurbish and resell – Through devices received via trade-in and other device partnerships, Vodafone expects to increase the overall number of high-quality, competitively priced refurbished smartphones that it can offer customers at retail.

Repair – To prolong the life of existing devices, Vodafone is rolling out a comprehensive and convenient suite of services for customers in Europe, including insurance, support, and repairs.

Recycle – Any redundant devices that Vodafone receives will continue to be recycled responsibly or repurposed for social or charitable causes whenever possible.

Vodafone believes business success should not come at a cost to the environment and is committed to reducing the impact of the company’s activities. Vodafone’s digital networks and technologies are a key enabler in helping to address climate change by saving energy, using natural resources more efficiently and creating a more circular economy.

Vodafone is working to reduce its environmental impact to reach ‘net zero’ carbon emissions across its full value chain by 2040, while helping business customers reduce their own carbon emissions by 350m tonnes by 2030.  Vodafone is also driving action to reduce device waste and progressing against its target to reuse, resell or recycle 100per cent of its network waste.

Vodafone was proud to be a principal partner for the COP27 UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm-el-Sheikh from 7-18 November 2022.  As Principal Partner for Communications, Vodafone worked alongside the Egyptian government to provide advanced telecommunications services connecting COP27 and its visitors. In addition, the company demonstrated how digital technology can address climate change, use energy more efficiently, deliver a more circular economy and increase food security.