April 18, 2024
renew
Apple cuts greenhouse gas emissions in half
Innovations in clean energy, materials and recycling are driving Apple’s ambitious environmental goals
Apple shared today in its 2024 Environmental Progress Report that Apple’s total greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by more than 55% since 2015. The milestone marks important progress on Apple’s road to 2030, the company’s ambitious goal to become carbon neutral across its entire value chain by the end of the decade. The goal is to reduce emissions by 75% compared to 2015 levels.
“Our progress demonstrates Apple’s commitment to climate action: We’ve cut emissions by more than half while providing access to more users than ever before,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives. Serve. We have more hard work to do and our focus is on harnessing the power of innovation and collaboration to maximize our impact.
Teams at Apple and across its global supply chain contribute to Apple 2030 and the company’s environmental efforts, driving innovation in clean energy and energy efficiency, materials, carbon removal, water management, zero waste and recycling. As Apple celebrates Earth Day with customers around the world, including a curated series on the environment through podcasts, books, and more, here are 10 innovations, partnerships, and partnerships that are engaging customers and driving progress on climate and the environment around the world. Activity.
Paving the way for recycling critical materials
Apple’s commitment to using only recycled and renewable materials to manufacture its products has spurred innovation in sourcing and design while significantly reducing the company’s carbon footprint. This includes materials critical to the clean energy transition. Last year, 56% of the cobalt shipped in Apple batteries came from recycled sources, more than double the previous year.1 This includes MacBook Air with M3, the first Apple product to be made from 50% recycled materials. Last year, 24% of the lithium in Apple batteries came from certified recycled sources, another first. For both lithium and cobalt, Apple sources them from post-industrial scrap and post-consumer scrap from end-of-life batteries. The company also made strides in copper last year, using 100% recycled copper in critical cooling applications for the iPhone 15 and 16-inch MacBook Pro, as well as in Taptic Engine and printed circuit boards across many product lines. This development shows the true potential of recycling to help meet the growing demand for critical materials in the future.
Work with suppliers to cut manufacturing emissions
The ongoing transition to clean electricity throughout Apple’s supply chain has driven the majority of emissions reductions to date, with Apple’s Supplier Clean Energy Program now supporting more than 16.5 gigawatts of renewable energy globally. By working with Apple to prioritize energy efficiency, more than 100 supplier factories achieved more than 2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity savings last year. Together with additional energy savings primarily related to heat, these facilities avoided nearly 1.7 million tons of carbon emissions, a 25% increase from 2022 levels. Highly efficient fluorinated greenhouse gas (F-GHG). Each display supplier is committed to high standards of F-GHG emissions reduction, and Apple is working with them to track emissions and deploy state-of-the-art emission reduction equipment in manufacturing facilities.
Designed to remove plastic
Apple’s journey to remove plastic from packaging is driven by innovation, using fiber-based plastic alternatives that still provide customers with an unparalleled unboxing experience. Last year, Apple reached a milestone by introducing the first 100% fiber packaging in its new Apple Watch lineup and Apple Vision Pro. For every product Apple launched last year, only 3% of its packaging was made of plastic.The team continues to innovate this week, as Apple and the University of British Columbia’s Institute for Biological Products release a new white paper The report analyzes current challenges facing consumer packaging and explores solutions for a more sustainable future through the use of advanced fiber materials.and with partners Swedish RISE InstituteApple announced the development of a fiber-based alternative to the protective foam widely used in many types of packaging.
Working with communities to drive change
As Apple accelerates its efforts to combat climate change, the company is also committed to supporting the efforts of leaders in communities that have been disproportionately affected. Through its Strengthening Local Communities program, Apple is offering a new series of grants to organizations around the world that take action to protect the health and well-being of their communities. In the United States, Apple also supports the development of the Justice Outsides Network for Network Leaders program to promote outdoor activities, environmental education and environmental justice. Apple is also working with the Lewa Wildlife Sanctuary in Kenya to fund a rainwater harvesting system at Lewa School in Mutuni and provide farmers with drip irrigation kits to support water harvesting and climate-smart agriculture to encourage communities to adopt more sustainable agriculture practice. This year, the company will build on this foundation to provide new support for the Lewas Community Water Supply Scheme. In Australia, Apple will expand funding to the Karrkad Kanjdji Trust (KKT), an organization led by the traditional owners of the Warddeken and Djelk Aboriginal reserves. Apple’s grant will support KKT’s Indigenous Women Ranger Program and conservation activities across the reserve.
Spurring industry-wide change with reusable filters
As part of the company’s zero-waste commitment, last year Apple completed the installation of reusable air filters in each of its data centers around the world. This switch avoids sending 25 tons of dirty filters to landfill each year, enough to fill an entire football stadium, and reduces fan energy consumption by 35%. Beginning in 2019, Apple worked with automotive filtration and technology company K&N at the Apple Reno Data Center to prototype and test 20 versions of a new reusable filter design to meet high standards of performance and efficiency. Today, reusable filters are quickly becoming the standard, not just for Apple but across the industry. Such innovations have resulted in significant progress: Over the past five years, Apple has increased its data center migration rate from 64% to 90%.
Innovating for the future of recycling
Apple has designed new technologies to advance the field of electronics recycling, including disassembly robot Daisy, which can now dismantle 29 iPhone models into 15 discrete components, and recycling machines Dave and Taz, which are currently working with recycling partners in China Deploy together. This year, Apple introduced a new product sorting machine at its asset recovery center in California, with the goal of automating the process to increase efficiency and productivity. Apple is committed to sharing this technology with recycling partners around the world as a low-cost, time-saving solution. To further increase efficiency, asset recovery centers now employ autonomous mobile robots to help transport products and components around the facility. Through academic collaborations with institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University, the company is also working to further harness the power of artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics and automation in the recycling field.
Create a green future together
Apple’s commitment to environmental design extends beyond its products to include the construction of its buildings. Today, more than 100 Apple retail stores, corporate offices and data centers around the world are certified by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), two internationally recognized sustainable building certification processes. . That number continues to grow, with Apple developing more than 18 million square feet of green building space worldwide. In 2023, a building at Apples’ Culver City campus in California earned LEED Platinum certification, the highest possible rating, for significant energy and water savings, renewable energy and waste diversion. The new Apple Battersea campus and retail store, located in London’s historic Battersea Power Station, diverts 99% of construction waste from landfill while incorporating sustainable design elements and low-carbon materials.
Invest in nature with high-quality carbon removal projects
In its roadmap to achieve Apple’s 2030 climate goals, Apple is prioritizing direct emissions reductions across all operations and its supply chain. For residual emissions that are difficult to avoid with today’s available solutions, the company is investing in high-quality, nature-based carbon projects, including through its innovative Recovery Fund. Apple has partnered with Goldman Sachs and Conservation International to launch a new tranche of its Climate Asset Management Restoration Fund, building on a strong portfolio of sustainable forestry projects to focus on creating a program that combines regenerative agriculture projects with ecosystem protection and restoration projects investment portfolio. This year, Apple suppliers TSMC and Murata Manufacturing Co. joined the fund’s second tranche and made their own investment commitments. Today, Apple announced the fund’s first regenerative agriculture projects, which include the development of an olive and almond farm in Portugal, an almond farm in Spain, and a farm in Australia that will convert sugar cane into macadamia nut production. The projects adhere to strict protocols to ensure water security and efficiency, and implement proven measures to improve soil quality and promote biodiversity.
Engage customers and employees in global recycling
Last year, nearly 12.8 million devices and accessories were shipped to new owners through programs like AppleCare and Apple Trade In, more than ever before. As of today, iPhone 7 still offers trade-in value. Apple will responsibly recycle products that no longer have value and recycle the valuable materials inside so they can find a new life in future products. From repackaging and sending old devices back to Apple, to organizing collection events, to simply passing on old iPhones to family members, there are many ways customers can contribute to Apple’s environmental goals. Customers can drop off used Apple devices at any Apple Store location or by visiting apple.com/recycle.
Celebrate Earth Day through education and action
Across Apple’s ecosystem, the company provides users with opportunities to learn about climate change and other environmental issues, take meaningful action in their communities, and celebrate Earth Day. On April 22, Apple Watch users will receive limited-edition rewards when they complete any workout of 30 minutes or more.
Customers can also participate in Today at Apple programming hosted by environmental leaders and forward-thinking organizations at select Apple Stores worldwide. Apple Retail will also hold a pop-up studio called “Photograph the Earth Like a Pro on iPhone” at all retail stores around the world to demonstrate features such as macro photography on iPhone 15. In collaboration with Dolores Huerta, founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, as part of the Change Challenge Learning Series. Learners of all ages can participate in the Creating a Better World Through Environmental Justice challenge, which offers thought-provoking discussion guides. A new resource, 30 Creative Things to Do to Save the Environment, aims to inspire new ways for people to take action in their communities.
On Earth Day and every day, Apple is committed to taking action to protect the planet and inspire others, including Apple users, to do the same.
1. All cobalt and lithium in battery claims or references are assigned on a mass balance basis.
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