Apple highlights strides toward limiting environmental impact in annual Environmental Progress Report

Ahead of Earth Day 2023, Apple has updated its environmental page documenting its progress toward becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

As it does every April, Apple has released its yearly Environmental Progress Report, a document detailing the steps Apple takes to lessen its environmental impact.

This year, it also provided a refreshed interactive website that highlights the most important strides the company has made over the past year.

The ultimate goal for Apple is to become carbon neutral in only seven short years. Apple CEO Tim Cook has called it an "immense challenge," but also notes that the company is equally determined to meet it.

"We are closer than ever to achieving our vision of Apple 2030 — our ambitious goal to make every product carbon neutral by 2030 — and we are thrilled to celebrate the tremendous progress with our customers this Earth Day," Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives said in a statement.

"Our customers can use their Apple devices knowing they are made with the environment in mind — that means more clean energy, more industry-leading durability, even greater efficiency, and more recycled and low-carbon materials than ever before."

As always, recycling is big for Apple. In 2022, 20% of all materials shipped in products came from recycled sources, which Apple points out can lower the carbon impact of its products.

Apple utilizes 100% recycled rare earth elements in its magnets and 100% recycled tin in the solder of some printed circuit boards. In addition, in the iPhone 14, Apple uses 100% recycled gold when plating multiple circuit boards and the wire of all iPhone 14 cameras.

As always, Apple highlights its team of disassembly robots, currently comprised of Daisy, Dave, and Taz. The robots are designed to disassemble iPhones and recover crucial materials like gold, cobalt, tungsten, and rare earth elements.

Additionally, 70% of the iPhone 14 product packaging is made with recycled wood fiber.

Image Credit: Apple

Apple has taken new steps to reduce the energy its products use. In 2022, all eligible Apple devices received an Energy Star rating, denoting superior energy efficiency. Much of this was due to the transition to Apple Silicon in Mac products.

In addition to reducing the amount of power Apple products consume, Apple continues transitioning to clean energy in its manufacturing process.

In 2022, utilizing renewable energy removed 17.4 million metric tons of carbon emissions from Apple's carbon footprint. And 250 of Apple's suppliers have committed to transitioning to 100% renewable electricity for Apple production.

Apple also provides consumers with ways to help out, encouraging them to participate in the Apple Trade In program rather than keeping or incorrectly disposing of their old Apple products.

The 2023 Environment Progress Report is available to download from Apple's website.