North Wake News

Apple has announced a significant achievement in its environmental efforts, surpassing a 60 percent reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2015. This accomplishment is part of Apple's commitment to reaching carbon neutrality across its entire footprint by 2030. The company made this announcement in its latest Environmental Progress Report.

Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, commented on the progress, stating, “We’re incredibly proud of the progress we’re making toward Apple 2030, which touches every part of our business.” She noted that Apple is using more clean energy and recycled materials than ever before.

Apple's strategy involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent from its 2015 baseline, while the remaining emissions will be balanced with carbon credits. In the past year, Apple's efforts avoided approximately 41 million metric tons of greenhouse gases, with a significant shift of its supply chain to renewable electricity.

Apple marked Earth Day with its contributors, offering a recycling initiative for users. The company highlighted the progress in renewable electricity usage, now amounting to 17.8 gigawatts globally. The transition to clean energy has helped avoid 21.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024.

Moreover, Apple is addressing the climate impact of industrial processes, such as semiconductor and display manufacturing, which emit fluorinated greenhouse gases. By 2030, 26 semiconductor suppliers committed to reducing 90 percent of such emissions. Apple's display suppliers have also made similar commitments.

On recycling, Apple continues to use more recycled materials, with over 99 percent of rare earth elements in magnets and cobalt in batteries being recycled. Apple’s focus on responsible sourcing and high environmental standards remains strong.

Through the Zero Waste program, suppliers redirected roughly 600,000 metric tons of waste in 2024, raising the total redirected waste to 3.6 million metric tons since 2015. Apple is also advancing product innovations with recycled materials, as seen in the recent MacBook Air and carbon-neutral Macs.

Apple's Supplier Clean Water Program saved over 90 billion gallons of freshwater since 2013, achieving a reuse rate of 42 percent last year. The company plans to replenish 100 percent of freshwater in high-stress areas by 2030, with ongoing projects in the U.S., India, and Africa delivering significant water benefits.

To commemorate Earth Day, Apple offers users recycling options, a 10 percent discount on Apple accessories for recycled items, and the chance to earn an Earth Day award on the Apple Watch. The Apple TV app highlights environmental content, and a collection on the Tips app helps users engage in planet-friendly actions through iPhone features.

For more details on Apple’s environmental initiatives, information is available on their website.