Airtel Switches To Recycled PVC SIM Cards

This initiative aims to curtail the production of more than 165 tonnes of new plastic, resulting in a decrease of approximately 690 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions within a year.

Gurugram: Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), a prominent telecommunications service provider in India, has partnered with IDEMIA Secure Transactions to announce the transition from virgin plastic to recycled PVC SIM cards. This initiative aligns with Airtel’s commitment to promoting circular business practices. IDEMIA Secure Transactions, a division of the IDEMIA Group, specializes in providing payment and connectivity solutions to financial institutions, mobile network operators, and automotive manufacturers.

Airtel sets a precedent in India as the first telecommunications service provider to adopt recycled plastic SIM cards. This transition will curtail the generation of over 165 tonnes of virgin plastic, resulting in a reduction of more than 690 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions annually.

The switch to recycled plastic SIM cards underscores Airtel’s ongoing dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering circularity with its supplier partners and stakeholders. The goal is to encourage waste reduction, recycling, and product reuse throughout the industry.

Pankaj Miglani, Director of Supply Chain at Bharti Airtel, expressed enthusiasm for this milestone, affirming the company’s commitment to leading sustainable initiatives in the Indian telecom sector. He emphasized Airtel’s alignment with various sustainable measures, contributing significantly to India’s ambition of achieving net-zero emissions.

Rahul Tandon, Senior VP of Connectivity Services at IDEMIA Secure Transactions, commended Airtel for its proactive approach to reducing carbon footprint and offering eco-friendly solutions to subscribers. He credited the collaborative efforts of both organizations and their research and development teams for enabling such innovations.

Airtel has set ambitious targets to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50.2% by FY 2030-31, with FY 2020-21 as the baseline year. Additionally, the company aims to decrease absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 42% over the same period. Airtel’s initiatives include promoting energy efficiency, adopting renewable energy sources, and implementing climate-resilient networks and waste management practices.

Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) serves as a standardized metric to compare emissions from various greenhouse gases based on their global warming potential, expressed in terms of carbon dioxide emissions.