We’re proud to announce that Vodafone Germany and Closing the Loop have won the 2025 Sustainability Award at the World Communication Awards — one of the telecom industry’s most respected recognitions.
The Sustainability Award highlights organisations advancing energy reduction, renewable integration, traceability, analytics, and Net Zero strategies. As sustainability becomes a board-level priority across telecoms, this category has become one of the night’s most meaningful indicators of real, measurable progress.
This year’s finalists included four powerful innovations driving the sector forward:
• Airtel & Ericsson – AI-based software enhancements for network sustainability
• Ericsson – 5G Advanced Automated Energy Saver
• KT – AI-based ES Orchestrator
• Vodafone & Closing the Loop – the award-winning One for One program
Yesterday’s recognition reflects the impact of Vodafone’s One for One program.
Launched in mid-2022 as part of Vodafone’s circular promise, One for One offers customers a simple promise: for every new phone sold, a broken one is collected and responsibly recycled from countries lacking proper waste management infrastructure.
In just 2.5 years, the initiative has grown into a globally recognised circularity success story, winning four prestigious awards for its communication and impact, including the SABRE Award for Best DACH Campaign in 2025. Since the beginning of the partnership, together with Vodafone, Closing the Loop has collected over 2.7 million scrap phones!
This amounts to 154 tonnes of electronic waste collected, from which more than 90% of precious metals are recovered, totalling more than 8kg of gold, 57kg of silver and 10,600kg of copper.
The power of human storytelling
Next to the impact results the program generates, Vodafone has also created an award-winning campaign, which made circularity an understandable and engaging customer story. Exemplified by their documentary from Ghana, this is proof that simplicity, tangible results, and human stories at the forefront are a powerful way to connect with your customers.
Business & Circularity
Last night’s announcement is not just a win for us — it’s a signal that circular procurement is becoming integral to the tech industry. And we’re excited to contribute to that shift.
Our co-founder & CEO Joost de Kluijver joined industry leaders in London to celebrate the finalists and highlight why simple, scalable solutions matter in making circularity real.
A huge thank you to Vodafone Germany and to the WCA organisers. Congratulations to all the finalists pushing the telecom industry toward a future where circularity goes hand-in-hand with business.
