Apple today announced a new carbon neutrality goal in a press release. It is bold and remarkable.
Apple has been carbon neutral for over two years. This not only earned the company a lot of prestige but also an award from the UN. But the Cupertino-based company has much higher goals. Apple has now committed to making its entire supply chain 100% carbon neutral by 2030. According to the company, this also includes the increased use of recycled materials and the recycling of discarded products. Accordingly, climate neutrality would apply to the entire life cycle of all Apple products (iPhone & Co.). The company has also presented a roadmap for this:
Apple's 10-year roadmap
Apple today unveiled its plan to become carbon neutral by 2030 across all of its operations, supply chain and product lifecycle. The company is already carbon neutral in the ongoing operations of its global facilities and this new commitment means that by 2030, every Apple device sold will have zero climate impact. Apple's 10-year roadmap will reduce emissions with a range of innovative measures, including:
- Low-carbon product design: Apple will continue to expand the use of low-carbon and recycled materials in its products, introduce innovations in product recycling, and make products as energy efficient as possible.
- expansion of energy efficiency: Apple will identify new ways to reduce energy consumption at its corporate sites and support its supply chain in making the same transition.
- Renewable energy: Apple will continue to use 100 percent renewable energy and focus on developing new projects and converting the entire supply chain to clean energy.
- Innovations in manufacturing processes and materials: Apple will continue to reduce emissions through technological improvements in the manufacturing processes required for its products and the materials used.
- removal of carbon“Apple is investing in forests and other nature-based solutions worldwide to remove carbon from the atmosphere.”
“Climate protection can be the basis for a new era of innovation”
Each of these points provides further details on the topic. Apple also unveiled its latest recycling innovation—a robot the company calls "Dave." Dave disassembles the iPhone's Taptic Engine to better recover key materials like rare earth magnets and tungsten, while also enabling steel recycling. The press release continues:
“Businesses have a tremendous opportunity to help build a more sustainable future, born out of our shared care for our planet,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The innovations that drive our environmental efforts aren’t just good for our planet—they’ve helped us make our products more energy efficient and bring new sources of clean energy to the world. Climate action can be the foundation for a new era of innovation, create jobs, and contribute to lasting economic growth. With our commitment to carbon neutrality, we hope to be like a stone thrown into a pond, creating ripples that create much bigger changes.
Separately, Apple told BBC News that any company wishing to become a supplier would have to commit to being "100 percent renewable for its Apple production" within 10 years. If you'd like to read the full announcement, you can find it in German. here.
