Airtel and IDEMIA Introduce Recycled PVC SIM Cards to Reduce Environmental Impact

In a significant move towards sustainability, Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), one of India’s leading telecommunications service providers, has joined forces with IDEMIA Secure Transactions to introduce recycled PVC SIM cards. This pioneering initiative marks a shift away from virgin plastic and underscores Airtel’s commitment to promoting circular business practices.

IDEMIA Secure Transactions, a division of the IDEMIA Group renowned for its payment and connectivity solutions, collaborates with Airtel to pioneer this industry-first endeavor in India. By transitioning to recycled plastic SIM cards, Airtel aims to curtail the generation of over 165 tonnes of virgin plastic annually, resulting in a significant reduction of over 690 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions per year.

Pankaj Miglani, Director - Supply Chain at Bharti Airtel, expressed his enthusiasm about the initiative, stating, “We are delighted to announce yet another first as we continue to lead the Indian telecom industry. 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. Our collaboration with Idemia underscores our shared commitment to contributing to a sustainable future.”

Rahul Tandon, Senior VP - Connectivity Services, India, IDEMIA Secure Transactions, applauded Airtel’s proactive approach to sustainability, saying, “We congratulate Airtel for taking the lead in reducing the carbon footprint and providing green solutions to their subscribers in India. I would also like to thank all our R&D teams for making such innovations possible.”

Airtel’s commitment to environmental stewardship extends beyond this partnership, with ambitious targets set to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50.2% by FY 2030-31, using FY 2020-21 as the base year. The company also aims to slash absolute scope 3 GHG emissions by 42% over the same period. Key initiatives include promoting energy efficiency, embracing renewable energy sources, and enhancing resource efficiency and waste management across its operations.

By introducing recycled PVC SIM cards, Airtel sets a precedent for sustainable practices in the telecommunications industry, paving the way for a greener and more environmentally conscious future.