Apple Sustainability - SustainabilityTracker.com

Designing for low carbon

We’re making products with more recycled materials and working to reduce the amount of energy these devices use.

Increasing energy efficiency

We’re using energy more efficiently across retail stores, offices, data centres and manufacturing sites.

Using renewable energy

We’re committed to transitioning our entire manufacturing supply chain to 100 per cent renewable electricity generated from solar, wind and other renewable projects.

Avoiding direct emissions

We’re innovating the processes in our facilities and supply chain to avoid greenhouse gas emissions.

Investing in nature-based solutions

We’re investing in working forests and ecosystem restoration in ways that respect communities and remove carbon from the atmosphere.

Climate solutions can help dismantle systemic barriers

Communities of colour around the world often bear the greatest impact of climate change. But environmental solutions can help advance equity for these communities. Apple’s Impact Accelerator supports Black- and Brown‑owned businesses and innovations that can also drive positive outcomes in our supply chain. The Impact Accelerator is part of our Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI). It focuses on efforts that address education, economic equality and criminal justice reform in the United States. REJI’s Impact Accelerator can help bring opportunity to Black and Brown businesses while creating innovative solutions to climate change.

Energy-saving products reduce our carbon footprint. And yours.

Product energy use makes up 19 per cent of our carbon footprint and affects the carbon footprint of each customer. Designing products that require less energy is one of the major ways we can lower their carbon impact, even as they’re being used. Innovations in energy efficiency in one product can influence another. When you multiply these improvements by all the Apple devices in the world, you’ll see the difference it can make.

Nature can help us get to neutral

Apple strives to bring our emissions down as low as possible. But there are some emissions we can’t yet avoid. To remove unavoidable carbon emissions from the atmosphere, we are looking to nature‑based solutions. With Conservation International (CI) and Goldman Sachs, we have created the US$200 million Restore Fund to make investments in natural climate solutions while seeking to generate a financial return. The world’s forests, wetlands and grasslands have an important role to play in achieving global climate targets. We’re already working with CI to naturally restore the degraded savannas of the Chyulu Hills in Kenya, demonstrate innovative new models with mangroves in coastal Colombia, and protect more Amazon rainforest from loss in the Rio Nieva Reserve Zone of northern Peru. All of these efforts combined will help sequester carbon and restore ecosystems while helping us along the way to our 2030 goal of carbon neutrality.

Apple services are powered by renewable electricity.

Our data centres are filled with servers that help run your favourite Apple apps and services like Siri, iMessage and iCloud. These facilities also represent our largest corporate energy loads, which is why we use 100 per cent renewable electricity to power them. So no matter how many questions you ask Siri, every answer will be as clean as the last.

100% recycled aluminium. 1000% here for it.

Using recycled aluminium in device enclosures lowers their overall carbon impact.

Clean energy works best when shared.

Now that Apple Inc. runs on 100 per cent clean energy, we’ve turned our efforts to democratising access to renewable electricity around the world. Since 2019, our Power for Impact program has funded projects with clear carbon, ecological and social benefits. Solar projects in the Philippines, Thailand and South Africa help provide cost-effective clean energy to us and to communities facing energy access challenges. And this year we announced our investment in the world’s largest onshore wind turbines in Denmark. We’re powering people and progress one renewable energy project at a time.

Apple Inc. Officially in the green.

Since 2018, Apple’s stores, offices and data centres have run on 100 per cent renewable energy. Today all our operations are carbon-neutral too.

Using water wisely, wherever we are

Water is a precious resource. It’s also a community resource, which is why we’re committed to reducing, reusing and returning as much water as possible to the local environments where we work. Our operations use water in many different ways, from relatively low‑impact retail stores to data centres and suppliers’ manufacturing facilities, which rely more heavily on water for cooling and processing. We’re taking several steps to reduce our water impact, starting with selecting the right sites and designing for water efficiency and reuse. We’re also expanding our use of alternative water sources like recycled water, rainwater and condensate. Finally, we are engaging with external stakeholders in the places we operate to ensure that our water stewardship plans meet local shared water challenges.

Trade it in. Help the planet out

With Apple Trade In, you may be able to exchange your old device for either credit towards your next purchase or an Apple Store Gift Card you can use at any time. If eligible, your device can have a second life with another owner. If not, we’ll recycle it free of charge. A win-win for you and the planet

Circular Economy

Our aim is to make products using only renewable resources or recycled material — so we prioritise, responsibly source and recover materials.

Smarter Chemistry

Apple has a rigorous program to ensure the safety of chemicals used in our products. Learn about Apple’s strict standards, diligent toxicological assessments and methodology for assessing chemicals of concern.

People and Environment in our Supply Chain

We hold ourselves and our suppliers to the highest standards for labour and human rights protections; health and safety in the workplace; environmental practices; and the responsible sourcing of materials.

Apple Sustainability Actions