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Q&A with Meaningful Planet Best Buy Label Holder

Meaningful Planet is a Best Buy Label holder in our guide to ethical mobile phone networks. 

In this article we sit down with them to find out what makes Meaningul Planet ethical. 

All about Meaningful Planet

Ethical Consumer: Tell us about Meaningful Planet

Meaningful Planet: Meaningful Planet is a mobile network on a mission to restore the wild – starting right here in the UK. We know so many people care deeply about nature and the world around us, and are rightly concerned about climate change. But it can feel overwhelming to know where to start.

We wanted to do something about that – by making it easier for people to take meaningful action and feel part of driving tangible change. So we launched a mobile network that puts nature restoration at its core, combined with fair pricing, great coverage, and real human support.

We invest 10% of customer revenue directly into UK wildlife and habitat restoration projects. Customers can choose which projects to support through our app.

From rewilding the British countryside to restoring seagrass meadows off our coasts, our customers are helping to restore the wild in the UK.

EC: What separates you from other mobile phone networks?

We exist to help restore nature, not just sell SIM cards – and that’s baked into our business model from day one.

We partner with accredited environmental organisations to support high-impact, local projects. And we combine that with fair, transparent pricing, and the best UK coverage according to independent ratings (we run on EE’s network), and free EU roaming – all while helping to protect and restore British nature.

EC: Do you see a growing demand for more sustainable and ethical mobile network options?

Absolutely. More and more consumers are conscious of how they spend their money and the impact it has. That’s a really positive shift.

Everyone needs a mobile phone, but most people aren’t especially fond of their mobile phone network. Confusing pricing, hidden fees, poor customer service and a lack of climate action have become all too common. That frustrated us too. So we built something better.

It turns out we’re not alone. One of the real joys of this journey has been connecting with customers who care, who want to make a difference, and who’ve had a genuinely positive experience from joining us.

EC: Why do you think you received our Best Buy Label? What separates you from other similar ethical businesses?

We think it’s because we’ve embedded environmental impact directly into how our business works. It’s not a pledge – it’s a principle.

We’re transparent about where the money goes, and our customers can see their personal impact through our app, and even visit the nature reserves they’re supporting.

We’re also committed to great service. We want every part of the experience, from pricing to performance to support, to be something we’d rave about ourselves. Choosing an ethical service shouldn’t mean compromising on quality.

EC: Have you ever had to make a business decision that challenged your ethical standpoint?

Yes – we’ve turned down partnerships and even investment offers that didn’t align with our values.

We’re ambitious and want to grow our impact, but we believe in doing it the right way. That means working with organisations that share our commitment to genuine, meaningful change; not just profit for profit’s sake.

Where would you like to see Meaningful Planet in the next 5 years?

By 2030, we want to be helping restore hundreds of thousands of hectares of British habitat each year, powered by the collective choices of our customers.

We’re also planning to expand beyond mobile into other areas where we can offer better, planet-positive alternatives – starting with broadband. Ultimately, we want to create a full suite of services that help people do good, just by going about their day.

EC: If you had to sum up the ethos of Meaningful Planet in two sentences, what would it be?

We already have the tools to change direction on the climate – we don’t need to wait for a miracle breakthrough.

Our mission is to take the services people already use, and turn them into powerful tools for environmental impact. 

EC: What big change would you like to see in the telecoms industry?

We’d love to see the industry embrace environmental responsibility as standard, not just a marketing angle. That means transparent supply chains, emissions tracking, and real contributions to biodiversity, not just carbon offsets.

There’s huge potential for telecoms to be part of the solution if we change our approaches.

EC: What is your advice to consumers?

Start where you are. You don’t have to go zero-waste or quit flying tomorrow. But if you can make one simple switch - like changing your mobile network - and in doing so help protect otters, owls and ancient woodlands, why wouldn’t you?

Small actions, multiplied by many people, can have a huge impact. Small changes add up when they’re made by many.

EC: Where can consumers find your products?

You can sign up online directly at www.meaningfulplanet.co.uk and purchase an eSIM or Physical SIM today. It’s quick and easy to switch - you’ll be set up in no time, and you can even keep your existing number.

Plus, Ethical Consumer subscribers can get a lifetime discount off a plan with Meaningful Planet. Sign in and go to your account area to find the discount code. 

Guide to mobile phone networks

Ethical and environmental ratings of 20 mobile networks with recommended brands and what to avoid.

Mobile phone users have lots of choice of mobile service provider, with some high scoring brands and some scoring almost nothing. 

Guide to mobile phone networks