Airtel Introduces Recycled PVC SIM Cards to Combat Plastic Waste

In a significant move towards environmental sustainability, Bharti Airtel, in collaboration with IDEMIA Secure Transactions, has unveiled its transition from virgin plastic to recycled PVC SIM cards.
This transformation marks Airtel as the sole telecommunications service provider in India to embrace recycled plastic SIM cards. By making this switch, the generation of over 165 tonnes of virgin plastic will be curtailed, consequently reducing the emission of over 690 tonnes of CO2 equivalent within a year.

The initiative aligns seamlessly with Airtel’s overarching commitment to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and fostering circularity within its supplier network and stakeholder ecosystem. The aim is to catalyze waste reduction, recycling, and product reuse among partners.

Pankaj Miglani, Director of Supply Chain at Bharti Airtel, expressed the company’s dedication to adopting sustainable practices, stating, “As a brand, we endeavor to align our efforts to adopt various sustainable measures and contribute significantly towards India’s ambition to achieve net zero.”

Airtel has set ambitious targets to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its operations by 50.2 percent by FY 2030-31, with FY 2020-21 as the base year. Airtel aims to slash its absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 42 percent over the same timeframe, underlining its firm commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability.