What is eSIM and how to properly delete / transfer it when selling a phone?

E-waste: Why Device Buyback is the Best Thing You Can Do for the Environment

Modern society is living in the era of the Great Acceleration, where technological change is happening faster than ever. However, this progress has a dark side – E-waste. According to the latest data from “The Global E-waste Monitor,” over 60 million tons of e-waste are generated worldwide each year, and this number is increasing by 2.6 million tons annually. In this article, we analyze why device buyback and their return to the market is an important step in protecting the planet.

1. E-waste Toxicology and Environmental Damage

Electronic devices are not just collections of plastic and glass. They are complex chemical cocktails that, if improperly disposed of, can lead to irreversible processes in ecosystems.

• Hazardous Substances: An old phone or laptop hides heavy metals: lead (used in soldering), mercury (in screen lighting), cadmium, and beryllium. When they end up in landfills, these elements leach into groundwater.
• Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Plastic casings often contain Brominated Flame Retardants (BFR), which are bioaccumulative. This means they do not break down and accumulate in the tissues of animals and humans, causing endocrine system disruptions (Sthiannopkao & Wong, 2013).

2. Urban Mining: Why Buyback is More Efficient than Mining?

One of the most convincing arguments for device buyback is Urban Mining. The concentration of precious metals in electronic components is significantly higher than in natural ore.

3. Circular Economy and Recycling Benefits

Device buyback is the foundation of the Circular Economy. When you sell your old device to a buyback platform, one of two processes occurs:

• Life Extension: The device is repaired and returned to the market. This is the best-case scenario, as it avoids the Carbon Footprint of producing a new product.
• Closed-loop Recycling: If the device is irreparable, specialized recyclers separate rare earth metals, which are reused in the production of new batteries or processors.

What is eSIM and How to Properly Manage It When Selling Your Phone?

As we approach 2026, physical SIM cards are becoming a technological relic. The first smartphones in the US market (e.g., iPhone 14 and later models) do not have a physical slot. The transition to eSIM (embedded SIM) technology offers convenience but also requires new knowledge about data security when selling a device.

1. What is eSIM? Technical Basis

eSIM is not software – it is a physical chip called eUICC (embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card), soldered to the device’s motherboard.

• Remote SIM Provisioning (RSP): Unlike a physical card, eSIM settings are written to the chip remotely using an SM-DP+ server.
• Multiple Profiles: eSIM allows multiple carrier profiles on one device, but typically only one or two are active at a time.

2. How to Properly Delete eSIM When Selling Your Phone?

Most users mistakenly believe that a Factory Reset automatically deletes everything. This is a dangerous myth.

3. eSIM Transfer to a New Device

The standard for 2025/2026 is eSIM Quick Transfer. In the iOS environment, the profile is transferred via Bluetooth, while Android uses QR codes or direct connection. Important: Delete eSIM only after the new device has successfully activated your number.

“Device buyback is a critical step in the Circular Economy, allowing for a drastic reduction in carbon footprint and conservation of the planet’s rare resources.”

– E-waste Monitor Review

Sources

• Forti, V., et al. (2020). The Global E-waste Monitor 2020: Quantities, flows and the circular economy potential. United Nations University (UNU).
• Sthiannopkao, S., & Wong, M. H. (2013). Handling e-waste in developed and developing countries: Initiatives, practices, and consequences. Science of The Total Environment.
• GSMA Technical Specification (2024). SGP.22: eSIM Architecture and Remote Provisioning for Consumer Devices.
• Cucchietti, F., et al. (2011). Sustainable ICT: The role of e-waste recycling and buyback programs. IEEE Xplore.
• Zheng, J., et al. (2021). Security and Privacy in eSIM Technology: A Comprehensive Survey. Journal of Network and Computer Applications.