BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gemalto, (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, announces the launch of a pilot of bio-sourced SIM cards by SFR, leading French operator with over 20 million mobile subscribers. The card body, made from plant-based bioplastics, is easily recyclable and compostable and can be incinerated without emission of toxic fumes. Gemalto has also supplied SFR with packaging made from recycled paper and plant-based inks. This program is the first trial of bio-sourced cards in the world.

This initiative is part of SFR’s longstanding policy to limit the impact of its activities on the environment. It highlights the operator’s commitment to both innovation and leadership in bringing to market new avant-garde products.

The bio-sourced SIM card is made from a new renewable material derived from corn, sugarcane or potato starch. This material is easily recyclable and compostable through small scale industrial units and reduces the global ecological footprint of the production process.

This card is part of the expanded portfolio of eco-friendly products that are available for banking, telecom and government customers worldwide. This portfolio underscores Gemalto’s long-standing commitment to develop innovative digital security solutions, which enhance and protect everyday digital interactions, including through production and logistics processes designed to reduce the company’s overall environmental impact.

“Gemalto and SFR share the same vision in bringing to the market new innovative products that respect the environment,” said Philippe Vallée, Executive Vice President, Telecommunication Business Unit, Gemalto. “The efforts toward sustainable practices and products are part of Gemalto’s overall belief in being a responsible global corporate citizen.”

In spring 2010, SFR will begin the distribution of bio-sourced SIM cards to its customers (via replacement SIMs for defective, lost or stolen cards or in order to access new services).

Visit the Gemalto stand, 8A102, at the Mobile World Congress, 15-18 February 2010.

More info: http://www.gemalto.com/telecom/packaging/index.html

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security with 2008 annual revenues of €1.68 billion, and 10,000 employees operating out of 75 offices, research and service centers in 40 countries.

Gemalto is at the heart of our evolving digital society. The freedom to communicate, travel, shop, bank, entertain, and work—anytime, anywhere—has become an integral part of what people want and expect, in ways that are convenient, enjoyable and secure.

Gemalto delivers on the growing demands of billions of people worldwide for mobile connectivity, identity and data protection, credit card safety, health and transportation services, e-government and national security. We do this by supplying to governments, wireless operators, banks and enterprises a wide range of secure personal devices, such as subscriber identification modules (SIM), Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) in mobile phones, smart banking cards, smart card access badges, electronic passports, and USB tokens for online identity protection. To complete the solution we also provide software, systems and services to help our customers achieve their goals.

As the use of Gemalto’s software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years.

For more information please visit www.gemalto.com.