Airports Authority of India (AAI) believes in the philosophy which aims at ‘giving back to the community where we live and work’. Inspired by this sublime thought, and driven by the concept of promoting better practices for environment conservation, Kalyanmayee – the Women Welfare Association of AAI took up the initiative of establishment of the Paper Recycling Unit (PRU) in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. The primary aim was to promote use of recycled paper in a substantial manner as a pan organisational practice and as part of day-to-day business operations. The unit is a one of its kind model in India encouraging the use of recycled paper, saving energy, saving water, saving cost, creating jobs and reducing negative impact on the environment.
AAI’s Paper Recycling Unit (PRU) is one of the prime Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects of AAI and is an admirable instance amongst PSUs on integrating business practices and CSR. The PRU works on the grounds of viable waste-to-energy systems. The key features of the paper recycling unit are: energy conservation, conversion of waste into wealth by re-crafting / recycling, pollution free and eco-friendly finished products (the recycled paper are chlorine free, no de-inking, no colour, efficient to be reused) and countless personalised varieties for corporate stationary. The waste collected from various offices of AAI across the nation are recycled and used for various day-to-day stationery products requirements in its offices, which includes folders, visiting cards, envelopes, letter heads, corporate gifts, calendars etc.
The Paper Recycling Unit (PRU) of AAI promotes better practices for environment conservation by reducing carbon emission and provides livelihood to marginalised communities of the society. AAI’s Paper Recycling Unit earned ISO 14001: 2004 Certification for ‘Recycling of paper and its utilisation’. AAI holds the distinction of being the first PSU to establish a PRU to support the concept – ‘GROW’ (Government Recycled Office Waste). The PRU has also earned laurels for AAI through meritorious and prestigious awards such as Golden Peacock Innovation Award 2012, Times of India – Teflas CSR Award 2012 and Asia’s Best CSR practice award 2013. AAI PRU has also signed an agreement with Ministry of Finance for use of recycled paper.
The use of recycled papers has brought in a perceptible change in the corporate culture within the organisation – inculcating and promoting resource minimisation, recycling and reuse of waste paper and contributing to environment conservation in a meaningful way. Furthermore, it is a moment of happiness for AAI that the AAI Calendar – 2018 will be printed on the paper recycled at AAIs Paper Recycling Unit. AAI is well and truly treading the environment- friendly path.
