Advancements in clean energy, materials, and recycling are pushing Apple closer to its environmental goals.
Apple announced today that it has decreased its overall greenhouse gas emissions by more than 55% since 2015. 2024 Environmental Progress Report. This achievement shows significant progress towards Apple's goal of being carbon neutral by 2030, aiming to reduce emissions by 75% from 2015 levels.
“Apple's dedication to combating climate change is evident in its progress: emissions have been reduced by over 50% while still serving a growing user base.” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. “There is still much work to be done, and we are committed to leveraging innovation and collaboration to maximize our impact.”
Teams at Apple and its global supply chain have played a part in Apple 2030, focusing on innovations in clean energy, materials, carbon removal, water conservation, waste reduction, and recycling. podcasts, booksApple is celebrating Earth Day with its customers around the world by offering environment-focused collections on its platforms and more, highlighting 10 innovations, partnerships, and activities that engage customers and advance global climate and environmental progress.
Leading the way in using recycled critical materials
Apple's efforts to utilize only recycled and renewable materials have led to innovations in sourcing and design and significant reductions in its carbon footprint. For example, last year, over half of the cobalt used in Apple batteries was from recycled sources, which is more than double the previous year.1 This includes the MacBook Air with M3, which was the first Apple product to be made with 50% recycled material. Additionally, 24% of the lithium used in Apple batteries last year came from certified recycled sources. Apple has made progress in using 100% recycled copper in key thermal applications in the iPhone 15 and the 16-inch MacBook Pro, as well as in the Taptic Engine and printed circuit boards in various product lines.
Significantly reducing emissions from manufacturing with suppliers
The shift to clean electricity in Apple’s supply chain has led to most of the emissions reductions. The Supplier Clean Energy Program now supports over 16.5 gigawatts of renewable energy worldwide. Over 100 supplier facilities, in collaboration with Apple, saved over 2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity last year. These facilities, along with other energy-saving measures, avoided nearly 1.7 million metric tons of carbon emissions, a 25% increase from 2022. Apple is also addressing the climate impact of industrial processes, such as the manufacturing of flat-panel displays, by working with suppliers to monitor and reduce emissions, particularly highly potent fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-GHGs).
Creating Designs to Eliminate Plastic
Apple's efforts to reduce plastic from its packaging are driven by creativity, using non-plastic materials made from fibers that still offer an exceptional unboxing experience for customers. Apple achieved a major milestone last year by introducing 100 percent fiber-based packaging for the new Apple Watch lineup and for Apple Vision Pro. Out of all the products Apple shipped last year, only 3 percent of the packaging was plastic. Teams are continuing to innovate — Apple recently released a new white paper with the University of British Columbia’s BioProducts Institute to examine the problems with current consumer packaging and explore more sustainable solutions using advanced fiber-based materials. Additionally, in collaboration with RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Apple announced the development of a fiber-based alternative to the protective foams commonly used in various types of packaging. University of British Columbia’s BioProducts Institute RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Partnering with Communities to Foster Change
As Apple intensifies efforts to combat climate change, the company is also dedicated to supporting initiatives led by communities that are disproportionately affected. Through its Strengthen Local Communities program, Apple is awarding new grants to organizations globally that are working to protect the health and well-being of their communities. In the U.S., Apple is supporting the expansion of Justice Outside’s Network for Network Leaders program to promote outdoor activities, environmental education, and environmental justice. Apple has also collaborated with the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya to aid in water harvesting and climate-smart agriculture by financing a rainwater catchment system at the Lewa school in Mutunyi and drip irrigation kits for farmers striving to promote more sustainable agricultural practices in their communities. This year, the company will further its support for Lewa’s community water access programs. In Australia, Apple will continue to fund the Karrkad Kanjdji Trust (KKT), an organization led by the traditional owners of Warddeken and Djelk Indigenous protected areas. Apple’s grant will facilitate KKT’s Indigenous Women Rangers Program and conservation activities across the protected areas.
Driving Industrywide Change with Reusable Filters
To fulfill its zero waste commitment, Apple has installed reusable air filters at all of its data centers around the world. This transition prevents 25 tons of dirty filters from being sent to landfills each year — enough to fill an entire football field — and reduces fan energy use by 35 percent. Starting in 2019 at Apple’s Reno data center, Apple and automotive filtration and technology company K&N collaborated to create and test 20 versions of a brand-new reusable filter design that meets high performance and efficiency standards. These reusable filters are now becoming the norm, not only for Apple but for the entire industry. These types of innovations have played a role in significant progress: Over the past five years, Apple increased the diversion rate from its data centers from 64 percent to 90 percent.
Creating new ideas for the future of recycling
Apple has developed brand new technologies to advance the field of electronics recycling — such as the disassembly robot Daisy, which can now take apart 29 models of iPhone into 15 separate parts, and recycling machines Dave and Taz, which are now in use with a recycling partner in China. This year, Apple introduced a new product sorter to its asset recovery center in California, with the aim of automating the process to enhance efficiency and productivity. Apple is dedicated to sharing the technology with recycling partners around the world as a cost-effective, time-saving solution. In addition, the asset recovery center now uses autonomous mobile robots to assist in transporting products and components around the facility. Through partnerships with academic institutions like Carnegie Mellon, the company is also working to further utilize artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and automation in recycling.
Constructing for a more environmentally friendly future
Apple’s dedication to design with the environment in mind goes beyond products and includes the construction of its buildings. Currently, over 100 of Apple’s retail stores, corporate offices, and data centers worldwide are certified through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), and Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), two internationally respected accreditation processes for sustainable buildings. The number continues to increase — at present, Apple is constructing over 18 million square feet of green building space globally. In 2023, a building in Apple’s Culver City, California, campus achieved LEED Platinum status, the highest possible rating, for significant energy and water savings, renewable power, and waste diversion. Additionally, the new Apple Battersea campus and retail store, located in London’s historic Battersea Power Station, diverted 99 percent of construction waste from landfill, while employing sustainable design elements and low-carbon materials.
Supporting Nature with High-Quality Carbon Removal Projects
In the effort to achieve its Apple 2030 climate goal, Apple is prioritizing direct emissions reductions across all operations and its supply chain. For remaining emissions that are difficult to avoid with today’s available solutions, the company is investing in high-quality, nature-based carbon projects, including through its innovative Restore Fund. Building on a strong portfolio of sustainable forestry projects in partnership with Goldman Sachs and Conservation International, Apple has initiated a new phase of the Restore Fund with Climate Asset Management, focused on developing a portfolio that combines regenerative agriculture projects with ecosystem conservation and restoration projects. This year, Apple suppliers TSMC and Murata joined the fund’s second phase with their own investment commitments. And today Apple is announcing the first set of regenerative agriculture projects the fund has invested in, which includes the development of olive and almond farms in Portugal, an almond farm in Spain, and a farm in Australia that is being converted from sugarcane to macadamias. The projects adhere to strict protocols to ensure water security and efficiency, and utilize proven measures to enhance soil quality and promote biodiversity.
Getting Customers and Employees Involved in Global Recycling
Last year, Apple sent around 12.8 million devices and accessories to new owners through AppleCare and programs like Apple Trade In — the highest number ever. As of today, iPhone 7 still has Trade In value. Apple will responsibly recycle products that no longer have value, and recover the valuable materials inside so they can be used in future products. There are many ways customers can help Apple reach its environmental goals, from returning old devices to Apple, to organizing a collection drive, to passing on an old iPhone to a family member. Customers can drop off their used Apple devices at any Apple Store location, or by visiting apple.com/recycle.
Marking Earth Day with Education and Action
Throughout Apple’s ecosystem, the company is providing opportunities for users to educate themselves on climate change and other environmental issues, take meaningful action in their communities, and celebrate Earth Day. On April 22, Apple Watch users can earn a special award by completing any workout of 30 minutes or more.
Customers can also participate in Today at Apple programming with environmental leaders and visionary organizations in select Apple Store locations worldwide. In all stores globally, Apple Retail will also host a Pop-Up Studio called Photograph Earth Like a Pro on iPhone, demonstrating features like macro photography and more on iPhone 15. This year, Apple will once again work with Dolores Huerta, social justice advocate and founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, as part of the Challenge for Change learning series. Learners of all ages can take part in the challenge Promote a Better World Through Environmental Justice, which provides thought-provoking discussion guides. And a new resource — 30 Creative Activities to Help the Environment — is designed to inspire new ways for people to take action in their communities.
On Earth Day and every day, Apple is dedicated to taking action to protect the planet and to inspire others — including Apple customers — to do the same. 1. All claims or references to battery cobalt and lithium are based on a mass balance allocation.
