Apple has published its 2022 Environmental Progress Report, providing new details about its increased use of recycled content across its product lines. The company has a goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2030.
Apple says nearly 20% of all material used in Apple products in 2021 was recycled, the highest-ever use of recycled content. The company introduced certified recycled gold and more than doubled the use of recycled tungsten, rare earth elements, and cobalt.
“As people around the world join in celebrating Earth Day, we are making real progress in our work to address the climate crisis and to one day make our products without taking anything from the earth,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. “Our rapid pace of innovation is already helping our teams use today’s products to build tomorrow’s, and as our global supply chain transitions to clean power, we are charting a path for other companies to follow.”
In 2021, 59% of all the aluminum Apple shipped in its products came from recycled sources, with many products featuring 10% recycled aluminum in the enclosure.
Apple has also made definite progress toward its goal to eliminate plastics from its packaging by 2025. Plastics accounted for just 4% of packaging in 2021. Apple has reduced plastic in its packaging by 75% since 2015.
The company also reports it used 4% certified recycled rare earth elements, 30% certified recycled tin, with all new iPhone, iPad, AirPods, and Mac devices, and 13% certified recycled cobalt in iPhone batteries. Certified recycled gold was used in the plating of the main logic board and wire in the front camera and the rear cameras of iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro.
The full report can be read here.
