Trusted Connectivity Alliance publishes first methodologies to assess SIM and eSIM environmental impact
Trusted Connectivity Alliance (TCA) has published the first common lifecycle assessment methodologies to provide a consistent and reliable approach for determining the environmental impact of SIM and eSIM products. This will increase trust, transparency and informed decision-making by ensuring that environmental claims are supported by credible and objective methodologies that have been collectively developed and backed by industry players.
To enable mobile operators, connectivity providers and device manufacturers to realise ambitious sustainability goals and meet climate commitments, SIM and eSIM providers are innovating to deliver more eco-friendly products. Yet there are different ways of assessing the environmental impact of these products, which can limit transparency throughout global value chains.
TCA recognised that offering a consistent approach for assessing and communicating the environmental performance of SIM and eSIM products would help to address this challenge. In response, TCA partnered with SE Advisory Services – Schneider Electric’s global consulting practice experienced in the connectivity services industry – to define common lifecycle assessment methodologies for both SIM and eSIM products. The methodologies can be accessed by any industry participant.
The methodologies are guided by the principles of the European Union’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) Method to define Category Rules (PEFCR) for SIM and eSIM products. They assess the lifecycle of SIM and eSIM products from “cradle-to-grave” – which spans raw material extraction, processing, distribution, storage, use and disposal or recycling. While this provides a comprehensive framework, the methodologies have not been designed to compare the environmental performance of SIM and eSIM products, either from the same manufacturer or across different manufacturers.
Frédéric Moreira, the chair of the TCA Sustainability Working Group, comments: “As the connectivity industry continues to advance sustainability initiatives, the release of the TCA methodologies marks an important step forward – establishing a consistent and credible framework for assessing environmental impact that stands to promote increased trust and transparency throughout global value chains.”
Guido Abate, the chair of TCA Board, adds: “As a global industry association comprising the world’s leading SIM and eSIM providers, TCA has a proven record built over decades of promoting interoperability. Applying this expertise and experience to developing common lifecycle assessments will help to support more sustainable solutions and practices across the connectivity ecosystem.”
The publication of the methodologies follows the release of the latest TCA market monitoring data, which showed the SIM industry continued to make strong progress in its efforts to reduce plastic waste and associated emissions in 2025. 45% of all SIM volumes collectively reported by TCA members were in the half SIM format – up from 37% in 2024. In addition, over 40% of SIM volumes in Europe were manufactured using eco-friendly raw materials. The sustainability trend was also seen in emerging markets. For instance, across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), more than double the volume of SIMs were manufactured using eco-friendly raw materials in 2025 than in 2024, with half SIM format shipments also up by 40%.
Looking ahead, TCA is committed to evolving and enhancing the methodologies to proactively address market and regulatory developments. All organisations across the SIM and eSIM industry committed to climate leadership are encouraged to join TCA to play a proactive role in shaping their ongoing development. For more information, visit the TCA website.
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