MicroSIM - disgusting waste of plastic

[matthewHUB]

Hi all,

I was just thinking that despite the small size of the microSIMs, they still come onboard a credit card sized plastic which is a HUGE waste of plastic at a dear cost to the environment. WHy do they need to be supplied like this? Just think how much redundant plastic will be thrown away at the end of this month when the 3g comes out. ugh i'm not usually so earth loving but this really makes me sick. We should petition to ATT.

M

 

[Simgar988]

and what's this have to do with the ipad? And how is it the same size of a cc

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

wow when i read this tittle i thought this thread was going to be about how stupid it was for them to use a micro sim because now we cant use it in our iphones or vs versa but then its about the environment WOW come on GOSH! this guy is a Hippy

 

[striatedglutes]

Then I won't remind you of all the excess plastic used to sell SD cards and the like...

 

[matthewHUB]

pic

 

[striatedglutes]

and what's this have to do with the ipad? And how is it the same size of a cc

The cards are shipped in bigger "mother" cards that you then break the SIM out of. It would be very hard to keep track of them otherwise. I'd show you a picture but I'm on my iPhone.

Edit:beaten

 

[matthewHUB]

Then I won't remind you of all the excess plastic used to sell SD cards and the like...

Yeh you're right. But at lest there are efforts to reduce the packaging now by amazon and people. There could be a million orders of microsims in the first month - that's a lot of plastic. It just seems unlike Apple to let ATT supply them like that when they're such an "eco-friendly" company.

And as I said, i'm not usually like this. Just saw the pic above and thought "wow".

 

[iKwick7]

I'd say it's a fair point. I hate the amount of waste most products come in that are entirely not needed. I agree with the OP.

 

[matthewHUB]

The cards are shipped in bigger "mother" cards that you then break the SIM out of. It would be very hard to keep track of them otherwise. I'd show you a picture but I'm on my iPhone.

They could ship inside a cardboard packet instead? or the ones bought "in-store" could come multiple SIMs on a single card and the ATT person just snaps one off for you.

 

[nwxtl88]

How about all the electricity hat has been wasted by this message thread, caused by the supposedly environmentally minded person who posted this message?

 

[troop231]

I agree, it's a waste of plastic, why can't they just put QR codes onto the back of the microSIM itself?

 

[ct2k7]

How about all the electricity hat has been wasted by this message thread, caused by the supposedly environmentally minded person who posted this message?

That is minute compared to the plastic wasted.

 

[matthewHUB]

I agree, it's a waste of plastic, why can't they just put QR codes onto the back of the microSIM itself?

Well glad to hear someone in this thread has some sense. I reckon you could get 9 SIMs on that same size plastic, or produce SIMs on a card 1/9th the size of the credit card. This would mean an 89% reduction in the amount of plastic required per card, an overall reduction of 89% of the molten plastic too. That's quite substantial.

I'm sure the reason for the huge card is to prevent the card from being lost. It does seem relatively wasteful, but in the grand scheme of things wasteful it's tiny.

being lost? Only until they reach the end user. SD cards don't get lost and they now come with eco friendly packaging. They could package them in cardboard.

 

[r0k]

I'm sure the reason for the huge card is to prevent the card from being lost. It does seem relatively wasteful, but in the grand scheme of things wasteful it's tiny.

 

[samcraig]

I don't really understand how you could argue against or find it silly to have less waste when it comes to the sims AND microsims.

You don't have to be a hippie to care about the environment or waste - no matter how big or small. There's a reason why Think Globally, Act Locally is an expression and cliche. Everything adds up

 

[troop231]

Well glad to hear someone in this thread has some sense. I reckon you could get 9 SIMs on that same size plastic, or produce SIMs on a card 1/9th the size of the credit card. This would mean an 89% reduction in the amount of plastic required per card, an overall reduction of 89% of the molten plastic too. That's quite substantial.

Yeah no lie, each mother card has two bar codes on the back though I think, so they could just print QR codes onto the backs of the microSIMS and get a couple hundred in a zip-lock baggie lol (not sure how professional a zip-lock bag would be)

 

[matthewHUB]

You don't have to be a hippie to care about the environment or waste - no matter how big or small. There's a reason why Think Globally, Act Locally is an expression and cliche. Everything adds up

.

Exactly. Thanks for the support. And it just strikes me as particularly odd how Apple tries so hard to be eco-frienly and yet doesn't make stipulations with ATT regarding these SIMs, or paperfree billing signup through iTunes upon activation etc.

They could try a lot harder.

 

[bytethese]

Cool that you have a thought on the plastic and all. Not saying I agree with your position tho but what exactly does this have to do with the iPad?

 

[troop231]

but what exactly does this have to do with the iPad?

The iPad 3G will use microSIM cards is why it's relevant

 

[matthewHUB]

Cool that you have a thought on the plastic and all. Not saying I agree with your position tho but what exactly does this have to do with the iPad?

Not much really. But it is pertinent because a million of these SIMs could ship easily by the 2nd week of May. Apple reduces their waste so much and ATT does nothing.

 

[r0k]

being lost? Only until they reach the end user. SD cards don't get lost and they now come with eco friendly packaging. They could package them in cardboard.

Right. I meant being lost before they reach the end user. And yes I agree it would be better to find a way to use cardboard for the "carrier" portion.

 

[bytethese]

Not much really.

So you posted it here because?

 

[matthewHUB]

Right. I meant being lost before they reach the end user. And yes I agree it would be better to find a way to use cardboard for the "carrier" portion.

the vast majority of the cards are also used for subscriptions too. like contracts etc. So they don't even need to be individually packaged. They could package a percentage of them individually to sell SIM only for pay as you go and put them on the shelves, but the majority - contract ones - could just be sent to the stores in a bunch and then the ATT staff just scan them.

So you posted it here because?

because it's more pertinent to the iPad forum than to any of the others. Plus, it's interesting to hear potential users of microSIM's views. In another forum, like in "Mac community", the target reader will probably not have use for a microsim.

 

[bytethese]

because it's more pertinent to the iPad forum than to any of the others. Plus, it's interesting to hear potential users of microSIM's views. In another forum, like in "Mac community", the target reader will probably not have use for a microsim.

I think you'd have a better forum in a wireless carrier's forum, where many other devices use the MicroSIM instead of one Apple product that happens to do so.

 

[stealthman1]

Any one heRe buy bottled water?