Apple today announced the release of its latest Environmental Progress Report. The Cupertino firm said that it has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 55% since 2015, as it works towards its 2030 carbon neutrality goal.
“The proof of Apple’s commitment to climate action is in our progress: We’ve slashed emissions by more than half, all while serving more users than ever before,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. “More hard work is ahead of us, and we’re focused on harnessing the power of innovation and collaboration to maximize our impact.”
Apple’s Environmental Progress Report provides details of the company’s efforts and innovations in clean energy, efficient recycling practices, and sustainable material usage that have contributed to this substantial decrease in emissions. Apple says the major reduction in emissions has been driven by the use of clean energy, as well as the integration of recycled materials across Apple’s product lines and improvements in energy efficiency throughout its global supply chain.
… Last year, 56 percent of the cobalt shipped in Apple batteries came from recycled sources, more than double the year before. That includes the MacBook Air with M3, the first-ever Apple product to be made with 50 percent recycled material. And in another first, 24 percent of the lithium shipped in Apple batteries last year came from certified recycled sources. For both lithium and cobalt, Apple is sourcing from post-industrial scrap and post-consumer scrap from end-of-life batteries. The company has also made strides with copper, using 100 percent recycled copper in key thermal applications in iPhone 15 and the 16-inch MacBook Pro, as well as the Taptic Engine and printed circuit boards across many product lines in the last year. The progress demonstrates real potential for recycling to help meet the growing demand for critical materials in the future.
Over 16.5 gigawatts of clean energy are now being produced as a result of Apple’s Supplier Clean Energy Program, which has been essential in reducing the carbon footprint of Apple and its suppliers. The program collectively saved more than two billion kilowatt-hours of electricity last year. The company is also removing plastics from its packaging, using fiber-based alternatives in its place.
For more information, see Apple’s full 2024 Environmental Progress Report.
