Jackie Thompson
Apple, the technology giant, is making giant strides in becoming carbon neutral. It announced in March of 2020 that its suppliers were zero-waste certified. For testing back in 2018, Apple conducted 770 assessments of carbon neutrality in its 30 supplier countries and India. Apple currently manufactures its cell phones only in India and announced, as of March 2021, that all of its manufacturing, including in India and its suppliers, will be carbon neutral by 2030. Apple had previously announced that global operations were carbon neutral.
Suppliers Committing To Being Carbon Neutral By 2030
The statement by Apple was reinforced by Lisa Jackson, Vice-President for Apple, who said that Apple was proud to be associated with its many suppliers throughout the world which were committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Apple announced that 110 of its suppliers in these countries will have achieved 100% renewable and clean energy by 2030. This includes the present suppliers in India and will affect all of Apple’s products in India. The company also said that its partners had nearly 8 megawatts of clean energy ready by 2030. This will ensure that 100% of Apple’s products sold, all of its product lines will have zero climate impact by 2030. All of its new products sold in 2030 will be 100% recyclable.
As noted above, the company only manufactures its cell phones through partners like Foxconn and Wistron. Pegatron, a 3rd partner, is expected to begin manufacturing for Apple in the near future. Also, Apple expects to begin manufacturing its other products in India over time, through its partners. BYD, Apple’s iPad maker, is expected to move its operations to India. Xiaomi, a smartphone maker from China, expects to move its operations to India in a partnership with BYD.
Reduction In Retail Content Packaging
With Apple’s bold assertion that it would be carbon neutral by 2030 across all of its product line, it was 20 years ahead of the planning goal set by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC). In September of 2020, Apple reduced 70% of the contents in its retail package, including the Earpods and charging adapters. This reduction applied to not only its newest iPhone series, but to all of its series of iPhones, iPads, and watches sold since October 2020. This is real waste management.
This reduction helped Apple cut down on the environmental impact of manufacturing iPhones and components. It will mean the reduction in the mining of minerals and the reduction of a couple of metric tons of carbon annually. The company says all of the reductions being made will result in the saving of 15 million tons of CO2 annually. This will be the equivalent of removing 3.4 million cars each year from the streets and highways.
As suggested, Apple is working with its suppliers to help them become carbon neutral also. It provides specialized instructions on creating and utilizing renewable energy. This has helped them be a part of Apple’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. So far, the company has achieved about 40% of its goal of reaching carbon neutrality. It just might make its anticipated target; all of its products may be recyclable by 2030.