Water and waste management is a material topic
Environmental stewardship
We remain dedicated to minimising waste, conserving natural resources and embedding sustainable practices throughout our operations
Guided by our environmental and social management system (ESMS), we track our performance and align our practices with international standards. Through targeted initiatives, we monitor our water consumption, minimise non-hazardous waste and work towards eliminating hazardous waste across our operations. Together, these efforts strengthen our environmental performance and support our long-term commitment to responsible and sustainable operations.
Our focus areas
Elimination of hazardous waste from our operations
We continue to eliminate hazardous waste, particularly lead from batteries, by adhering to stringent disposal regulations and partnering with suppliers and accredited disposal firms.
Reduction in non-hazardous waste
We remain committed to the reuse and recycling of non-hazardous waste throughout our operations, expanding our waste management schemes and increasing our procurement of reusable and recyclable products and materials.
Protection of natural resources
We don't consume or pollute significant amounts of water through our operations. We take a proactive approach to water conservation, including integrating water-saving systems in all new and refurbished office buildings and applying occupancy-based estimation methods to measure consumption where meters aren't yet installed.
GRI framework
GRI 306-4 Waste diverted from disposal
GRI 306-5 Waste directed to disposal
GRI 301-2 Recycled input materials used
GRI 303-3 Water withdrawal
GRI 303-4 Water discharge
GRI 303-5 Water consumption

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Environmental stewardship is a commitment to future generations. Through responsible waste management, accelerated energy efficiency and dedicated conservation efforts, we’re not only reducing our environmental footprint but also helping to shape a more resilient and sustainable Africa.
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Ramakrishna Lella
Chief supply chain officer
Our approach to managing environmental stewardship
Through our ESMS, we monitor waste disposal, track resource use and assess environmental risks. We work closely with suppliers and vendors to ensure they adhere to our environmental and social performance standards. Our procurement contracts include e-waste management clauses to promote responsible recycling and disposal of network equipment.
Over the reporting period, we’ve embedded environmental and social management requirements for contractors into agreements with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and high-risk contractors and suppliers. Five TowerCos, four OEMs and six FibreCos have had their contracts updated with these requirements, ensuring consistent monitoring and reporting throughout our value chain. All high-risk contractors are required to comply with applicable national laws and our ESMS. This includes health, safety, environmental and social performance standards, risk assessments, and timely reporting of serious incidents.
Governance
Environmental stewardship is managed by our supply chain, network and sustainability functions, with oversight from senior leadership at both Group and OpCo levels. Our governance structure includes:
- Supply chain and procurement teams – ensure responsible sourcing, hazardous waste management and vendor compliance with environmental standards
- Network and technology teams – implement energy efficiency measures and phase out hazardous materials in operations
- Sustainability and compliance teams – oversee implementation of the ESMS, monitor environmental key performance indicators (KPIs) and ensure alignment with international standards
- Facilities teams in our OpCos – manage waste separation, recycling initiatives and awareness campaigns within our offices and retail outlets
Regular audits and compliance checks help ensure that our environmental policy is effectively implemented across all 14 OpCos.
KPIs
822.2
tonnes of total waste generated in 2025/26
(14.6% reduction vs 2024/25)
770.5
tonnes of total waste recycled in 2025/26
(13.6% reduction vs 2024/25)
531.7
tonnes of network equipment recycled in 2025/26
(17.5% reduction vs 2024/25)
125.0
megalitres of water consumption in 2025/26
(3% reduction vs 2024/25)
Progress update against our targets in 2025/26
Eliminating hazardous waste
We continued to make progress this year in reducing and eliminating hazardous waste. The replacement of lead-acid batteries with lithium-ion batteries is ongoing, with 116 end-of-life batteries replaced during the year. All end-of-life equipment continues to be disposed of through licensed vendors in each market. Our key OEM partners – Nokia, Huawei, ZTE and Ericsson – have reaffirmed their commitment to our material take-back scheme, ensuring end-of-life network equipment is reused, repaired, recycled or responsibly disposed. In 2025/26, a total of 532 tonnes network waste was recovered, reused or recycled with no electronic waste sent to disposal. The approach we have built into our operations aligns with a tightening of regulations in Kenya and Nigeria on battery and e-waste management.
Reducing non-hazardous waste through responsible consumption
We’ve made meaningful progress this year in specific markets and waste categories, particularly around general office waste and paper usage and waste.
The elimination of single-use plastic cups from our offices and headquarters has been extended to 80% of retail shops across all OpCos. We’re actively monitoring the rollout to prevent regression. We’re on track to fully embed this initiative in all shops across our footprint in 2026/27.
In Kenya, through our partnership with Taka Taka Solutions, 86% of the waste generated at our Parkside headquarters in Nairobi is now collected and recycled. A total of 14,310kg of waste was recycled during 2025/26, saving 25,071 tonnes of CO2.
As a business we use a significant amount of paper, so managing and reducing this remains a priority. Over the last 12 months, we’ve made significant progress in reducing printing across our operations through online document sign-off, contract management tools and digital workflow processes. These changes have reduced paper used for contract printing by 80%, a transformation that is now embedded into the way we work, rather than treated as a standalone initiative. And in Malawi, our collaboration with International Conservation and Cleanup Management achieved a recycling rate of over 80% of paper waste generated within our main office buildings. Rather than sending that waste to landfill, we’re repurposing it as raw material for manufacturing products including egg trays, organic manure and tissue paper – a strong example of circular economy principles in practice. In total, 30,931kg of paper was recycled in Malawi during 2025/26.
While we are making strong progress in key areas, we recognise the challenges that remain. Across some of our markets, technological limitations and the absence of strong regulatory enforcement make it difficult to manage certain waste categories consistently. As a result, our target to eliminate all non-hazardous waste by 31 March 2026 has not been fully achieved. We’re actively working to close this gap, exploring new recycling partnerships and aiming to expand our circular economy activities in the year ahead.
Total waste generated in 2025/26*
Waste directed to disposal
Waste directed from disposal
Waste category | Tonnes |
|---|---|
Waste directed to disposal (landfill or incineration) | 51.8 |
Waste diverted from disposal (recycled and reused) | 770.5 |
Total | 822.22 |
* This data does not include India, the Netherlands, UAE, UK and Channel Islands.
Note: Electronic waste collected by the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or certified waste recycle operators for reuse, recycling and/or material recovery. Only disposed waste is recorded and reported. Any waste held in our warehouses temporarily in not included (e.g., batteries and any other electronic waste scheduled for disposal).
Waste generated by type in 2025/26
Hazardous waste
Non-hazardous waste
Waste category | Tonnes |
|---|---|
Hazardous waste (network waste and batteries) | 531.7 |
Non-hazardous waste | 290.5 |
– paper, cardboard and wood | 105.4 |
– construction metals (kiosks, etc.) | 0.0 |
– other waste* (general office mix) | 185.1 |
Total | 822.2 |
* Other waste category includes mixed office building waste, such as pruned tree branches and other soil debris.
Water management
We do not consume or pollute significant amounts of water through our operations, but we take proactive management seriously. In 2025/26, we established conservation controls across offices and facilities. These include integrated water-saving systems – such as automatic flushing and push-on taps in all new and refurbished office buildings – and formalised a standardised measurement methodology across all 14 OpCos.
Our primary sources of water are municipal supplies and boreholes. Water consumption is measured using utility bills or meter readings where meters are installed. For water discharge, all cleaning water is channelled to municipal or local government wastewater sewer lines and classified as effluent discharge. In 2025/26, our total water discharged was 122.5 megalitres.
Chad, Kenya, Niger and the Seychelles are water-stressed zones within our operations, and we are strengthening our water management activities in these markets accordingly. We run awareness campaigns and display conservation signage in strategic locations across our offices to engage colleagues in responsible water use.
Looking ahead, we plan to introduce smart meters in our main facilities, starting with head offices and regional offices, to enable more accurate data collection. With reliable data in place, we aim to establish formal water consumption targets from 2026/27.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy
Energy costs across sub-Saharan Africa have risen sharply, driven by global fuel volatility and reduced rainfall affecting hydropower generation. This increases reliance on diesel and pushes operating costs up. Managing these pressures effectively is central to our environmental strategy.
Over the course of the reporting period, we’ve achieved a 95% lighting efficiency Group-wide and more than 50 new retail shops have been fitted with 100% LED lighting. Our facilities in Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, the Seychelles, Uganda and Zambia now use only energy-saving bulbs, and motion sensors are being installed as standard in all new facilities. In Zambia, where reduced rainfall has affected hydropower availability and national grid instability remains a significant challenge, 33 retail stores have transitioned to hybrid renewable energy sources to maintain operations. This resulted in the stores using 21% less energy than the previous year. These are practical, market-level responses to a continent-wide challenge.
Building the capability to sustain this progress is equally important. In 2025/26, 46 facilities managers received specialist training in digital transformation for facility management, covering data-driven solutions for optimising energy operations and digital approaches to advancing net zero energy access across African cities and industries.
Environmental and social management system
Our ESMS progressed significantly in 2025/26, with a focus on deepening implementation, strengthening contractor oversight and building internal capacity.
ESMS implementation reviews were carried out in Rwanda and the DRC in November 2025, with follow-up on identified gaps completed in January 2026. Contractor inspections – covering fibre installations and tower activities – were also conducted in Kenya and the DRC in June 2025. As part of the supplier onboarding process, new suppliers are now required to provide information on their environmental, health, safety and social policies, ensuring alignment with our sustainability and compliance objectives.
ISO 14001:2015 certification
This was a significant achievement this year. Following a certification audit conducted by TÜV Rheinland, an international certification body, from January 2026, two of our head office locations and four of our OpCos are now officially certified to ISO 14001:2015 – the international standard for environmental management systems. The certification journey began in April 2025 with the formation of a dedicated cross-functional workgroup, ensuring representation from across OpCos and functions. It included specialist training for 57 implementers and 48 internal auditors, comprehensive documentation to align our processes with ISO standards, Group-wide awareness sessions and rigorous internal audits ahead of the external assessment. Our next step is to expand certification to all remaining OpCos in 2026/27.
ISO 14001:2015 certification received for:
Airtel Africa Services (UK) Limited- Dubai Branch
Airtel Mobile Management Services FZ-LLC (previously Airtel Mobile Commerce B.V. (Dubai Branch))
Airtel Networks Nigeria
Airtel Networks Kenya
Airtel Uganda
Airtel Congo (RDC) S.A
Biodiversity and responsible environmental management
We’re increasing our focus on biodiversity, ensuring our operations are aligned with responsible environmental management. In collaboration with GSMA and industry partners, we continue to engage with emerging research on the impact that the telecoms sector has on biodiversity, with findings expected to inform future sustainability initiatives.
The latest GSMA report stresses the urgent need for the mobile industry to address biodiversity loss, noting that the accelerating decline of ecosystems and species threatens global stability. While telecoms operations can negatively impact biodiversity through infrastructure expansion and development, energy consumption and resource extraction, the industry also has unique opportunities to contribute positively.
By leveraging digital innovation such as biodiversity monitoring tools, wildlife tracking and conservation apps, and by fostering partnerships with NGOs, governments and communities, telecoms operators can play a vital role in protecting nature. Integrating internet of things (IoT), AI and connectivity into climate tech solutions further aligns biodiversity protection with climate resilience, positioning the mobile industry as both a responsible actor and an enabler of global conservation efforts.
Looking ahead, we plan to leverage these findings to refine and strengthen its sustainability strategy, with a particular focus on advancing biodiversity conservation practices in 2026/27.
Eliminating open waste burning
Efforts to address open waste burning in Africa are advancing. In Kenya and Malawi, air quality monitoring projects and waste recycling programmes are contributing to improved environmental conditions. We continue to participate in the multi-stakeholder initiative to end open burning across the continent, working alongside the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability), local governments and Engineering X, drawing on expertise and case studies from across the continent.
In November 2025, the initiative was registered under the UNFCCC Cooperative Climate Initiatives by non-state actors. This recognises that corporate climate action is integral to global progress beyond government commitments and is a clear example of how businesses can contribute to local climate solutions, particularly in reducing emissions and improving community health.
Environmental stewardship in action
Enhancing access to clean water in Kenya
Kenya faces significant water scarcity, with only 15% of the country’s water resources fully developed. In Northern Kenya, where rainfall is unpredictable and droughts are frequent, access to clean water remains one of the most pressing challenges for communities and livelihoods.
In August 2025, more than 450 households in Marsabit town, Northern Kenya, gained access to safe, clean and reliable water following the completion of the Karantina water project – a borehole initiative implemented by the Kenya Red Cross Society and funded by Airtel Money Kenya. Beyond drilling the borehole, the project included the construction of masonry tanks, extension of pipelines, building of watering troughs and kiosks, and the installation of prepaid meters to ensure sustainable water management for both households and livestock. The partnership also rehabilitated four water sources in Bendera, Lojorin, Loltulele and Loosuk in Samburu County, bringing the total number of households benefiting from improved water access across Northern Kenya to over 1,950.

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We trust that this borehole will be a source of health, opportunity and dignity for this community. Our commitment is not only to enable seamless financial transactions but also to empower communities.
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Anne Kinuthia-Otieno
Managing director, Airtel Money Kenya
Cultural embedding in action
Driving everyday impact across our workforce and communities
Environmental stewardship is embedded across Airtel Africa’s operations, supporting our ambition to grow responsibly while reducing our environmental impact. Alongside investments in energy efficiency and lower-carbon infrastructure, we continue to engage employees and communities to translate our commitments into practical, local action.
During the year, we marked key global moments to reinforce awareness and encourage participation. On World Earth Day, we highlighted the role of operational efficiency measures, including the transition to on-grid and solar-hybrid solutions and ongoing infrastructure upgrades – in reducing emissions and energy consumption.
On World Environment Day, activities across our markets focused on land restoration, waste management and reducing plastic pollution. Employees in the DRC participated in training on sustainable waste management and recycling, while teams in Kenya planted more than 1,500 trees to support local conservation efforts. In Zambia and Nigeria, employee-led clean-up initiatives targeted plastic waste in local markets, complemented by awareness campaigns promoting responsible disposal practices. In Nigeria, these efforts also included the distribution of reusable bags to encourage reduced reliance on single-use plastics, alongside e-waste collection initiatives delivered in partnership with specialist recycling partners.
These initiatives demonstrate how coordinated local action, supported by employee engagement, contributes to our broader environmental goals – reinforcing a culture where everyday decisions support long-term sustainability.


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Small actions across our markets create lasting impact: protecting our planet, restoring nature and building a more sustainable future for all.
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Oladimeji Olaniyan
Head of sustainability