The Mileage Company
The UK experts in designing, developing and managing reward & loyalty schemes
Press releases
Airmiles members swap mobiles for miles
Airmiles offers members the opportunity to recycle their mobile phones and collect Airmiles
Monday 10 August 2009 - Airmiles, the UK's leading travel reward scheme operated by The Mileage Company, today launches a mobile phone recycling programme allowing members to collect miles by disposing of their mobile phones in an eco-friendly way.
The average UK consumer replaces or upgrades their mobile phone every 18 months and research* suggests that each person has at least one spare phone. Now Airmiles is offering its members a way to put their redundant handsets – working or broken – to good use by turning them into Airmiles and helping the environment by recycling.
Members can calculate the miles they will collect from their mobile phone on the dedicated area of the Airmiles' website (www.airmiles.co.uk/recycling), then simply send in their handsets to collect up to 750 Airmiles, enough for a free return flight to destinations including Paris, Amsterdam or Brussels or a return Eurostar journey to Paris or Brussels.
The scheme will be managed in partnership with ShP Limited, a leading e-waste recycling company which operates mobile phone recycling programmes. All phones received will be safely and securely reconditioned to be reintroduced into developing markets or recycled for their components.
Andrea Burchett, Director of Relationship Marketing and Insight, The Mileage Company says:
"We know that Airmiles' members want to boost their miles balance in ways that fit into their lifestyles and match their values. We're pleased to offer this new collection opportunity which rewards our members for avoiding unnecessary waste."
ShP Marketing and Sales Director, Simon Walsh says:
"ShP is delighted to partner with The Mileage Company on this recycling initiative. Not only will it reward Airmiles' members with miles, it will also help reduce the UK's e-waste by preventing mobile phone handsets ending up in landfill."
As well as rewarding members' green behaviour, The Mileage Company is re-investing all profits from this recycling programme into environmental projects approved by the **United Nations.
-- Ends --
Notes to Editors:
* Research from Ofcom published in 2007 outlined that there were between one and two mobile phones in every household.
** All profits from the mobile phone recycling programme will be reinvested into three United Nations approved carbon offset projects that Airmiles and its shareholder, British Airways, support.
All working phones are factory reset and their memory erased. Any SIM cards received are destroyed safely. The phones are then reconditioned and given cosmetic changes, following which, they are then reintroduced into the global market to satisfy demand and benefit others who may not have access to a phone in regions where landlines are unavailable.
Even if a handset is beyond economical repair and non-working, it can still be put to good use and recycled for its precious metals including, gold, silver, copper and other compounds that can be used for multiple things including the production of new mobile phones parts or replacing new elements that would have otherwise been sourced.
The Mileage Company www.themileagecompany.com
The Mileage Company is the UK expert in running reward schemes. In the last year alone, four million people have collected or redeemed miles with one of The Mileage Company's schemes, from the global BA Miles currency to UK-based Airmiles.
The Mileage Company works with over 200 brands through the UK's largest travel and leisure reward schemes.
Building long-standing partnerships, the business adds value and enables our partners to drive customer engagement and loyalty with compelling rewards.
Airmiles www.airmiles.co.uk
The UK’s longest running and most rewarding scheme of its kind, Airmiles members collect and use Airmiles for travel and leisure rewards.
A pioneering scheme, it is synonymous with offering value – for members and collection partners.
Airmiles' collection partners include Lloyds TSB, Tesco, Shell and over 200 popular online brands when accessed via airmiles.co.uk eStore – including johnlewis.com, debenhams.com, Apple store, eBay.co.uk, Comet, Currys, Boden, hmv.com and Waterstone's.
Millions of members collect Airmiles on their everyday spending and use them for completely free flights that include all airline taxes, fees and surcharges, Eurostar journeys, hotel accommodation, tour operator holidays, car hire, travel insurance and special days out including LegoLand, Alton Towers and English Heritage Annual Passes.
ShP Limited www.shp.co.uk
ShP Limited is the leader in the UK mobile phone recycling market, committed to providing excellence at every stage of the recycle process. Established in 2001, the company has evolved from purely business-to-business handset recycling to offering an unrivalled mobile phone recycling service to many groups: from phone networks and government bodies, through to the general public throughout the UK, Europe and other parts of the world.
For further information, images or to arrange interviews please contact:
Susan Barber
Head of Corporate and Consumer PR
The Mileage Company
Tel: +44 (0) 1293 722 252
Email: susan_barber at themileagecompany dot com
Other press releases
January 2012
- The Mileage Company awarded Green Globe certification
- The Mileage Company gives support to charitable causes
December 2011
November 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
- Butterfield launches British Airways Visa® Business Card
- British Airways Barclaycard offers more BA Miles for UAE customers
December 2010
November 2010
- Safer shopping this Christmas - and more Airmiles
- Bigger rewards for shoppers this Christmas
- Master-Bank joins British Airways Executive Club
October 2010
- Sophie Harding wins Team Leader of the year
- Illusionist walks on air at Heathrow Airport
- A new way to collect Airmiles
September 2010
- American Express® Membership rewards in Canada joins British Airways
- American Express® launches Bonus BA Miles rewards
- 10% off flights to London for Platinum cardholders
- BA Executive Club gets bonus miles with Travelex
August 2010
July 2010
- The Mileage Company teams up with Rainforest Concern
- Travelex partners with Airmiles to reward holidaymakers
- Who wants to be an Airmiles Millionaire?
April 2010
March 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
August 2009
- British Airways & American Express renew strategic partnership
- Airmiles members swap mobiles for miles