The next wave of sustainable travel may not be about how we move, but how we connect. According to Holafly’s Travel eSIM Report – Summer 2025, more than one in three eSIM users (36.3%) already factor environmental impact into their choice of mobile connectivity. It’s a small but significant signal that travellers are beginning to link digital access with sustainability.
While cost and convenience still dominate, awareness is growing fast. Another 22.2% of respondents admitted they were unaware that connectivity options carry different environmental footprints — proof that education, not resistance, may be the main barrier to greener choices.
“Sustainability will become mainstream not because of regulation or industry pressure, but because tomorrow’s travellers already see it as part of the experience they want,” said Daniela Prado, Brand Director at Holafly, in the report. “Our role is to make it effortless for them to travel lighter — both digitally and environmentally.”
From plastic cards to digital clouds
Physical SIM cards may be small, but their impact is not. They require plastic manufacturing, packaging, and global shipping, all of which add up to a sizable carbon footprint. By contrast, eSIMs eliminate the need for physical materials and transport.
Research by Carbon Trust, cited in Holafly’s report, shows that eSIMs can reduce emissions by up to 87% compared to traditional SIM cards. Based on Holafly’s 13.6 million eSIMs sold to date, that’s the equivalent of avoiding 1,563 tons of CO₂ — roughly the same as taking 340 cars off the road for an entire year, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data.
The generational shift behind the trend
The sustainability shift is being driven by younger generations. The report reveals that nearly two-thirds of eSIM users who considered environmental impact are under 45, a demographic that grew up with both climate awareness and digital-first habits.
This group is redefining what “responsible travel” means — not just offsetting flights or choosing eco-hotels, but also rethinking the invisible infrastructure behind connectivity. For them, being online shouldn’t cost the Earth.
The paradox of greener travel
Yet, Holafly’s data also exposes a paradox: domestic travellers are more likely to consider sustainability (45.7%) than international ones (33.3%), even though long-haul trips carry a much heavier footprint. Practical concerns like reliability and access still outweigh environmental awareness when crossing borders — but the conversation has begun.
As the report notes, awareness is often the spark that drives systemic change. Once travellers understand that connectivity choices can be part of sustainable travel, the shift could accelerate fast.
From awareness to action
The rise of the “green connection” marks a new chapter in digital travel. eSIMs are no longer just a technological upgrade — they’re becoming a symbol of responsibility, aligning convenience with conscience.
As Holafly’s Brand Director Daniela Prado concludes, “Choosing an eSIM means more than staying online abroad — it means travelling lighter on the planet, too.”
