Apple today announced its first-ever “Carbon Neutral” products in the all-new Apple Watch lineup. This milestone marks a major step in the company’s journey toward its “Apple 2030” goal to make every product “Carbon Neutral” by 2030, including the entire global supply chain and the lifetime use of every device Apple makes.
As part of “Apple 2030” and the company’s broader environmental efforts, Apple has also ended the use of leather across all of its product lines, announced its first entirely fiber-based packaging for the new Apple Watch lineup, and continued to expand the use of recycled materials in iPhone. The company also introduced a new tool in the Home app called “Grid Forecast,” which helps inform users when their power grid has cleaner energy available, so they can decide when to use electricity.
“At Apple, we have a longstanding and proven commitment to leading the fight against climate change. Our focus on renewable energy and low-carbon design has already driven industry-leading emissions reductions, and we’re not slowing down,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, in a statement. “We’ve achieved an important milestone in making the world’s most popular watch carbon neutral — and we will keep innovating to meet the urgency of the moment.”
Apple’s approach to product decarbonization prioritizes reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the three biggest sources across the product life cycle: electricity, materials, and transportation. Only after Apple steeply cuts product emissions, will the company apply “high-quality carbon credits” from nature-based projects for carbon dioxide emissions that cannot yet be avoided or reduced with existing solutions.
Each “Carbon Neutral” Apple Watch model meets the following criteria: 100 percent clean electricity for manufacturing and product use, 30 percent recycled or renewable material by weight, and 50 percent of shipping without the use of air transportation. These combined efforts result in at least a 75 percent reduction in product emissions for each model. The company will use “high-quality carbon credits” to address the small amount of remaining emissions, resulting in a carbon neutral product footprint. Every “Carbon Neutral” Apple Watch — which includes any aluminum Series 9 and SE models when paired with a new Sport Loop, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 when paired with a new Trail Loop or Alpine Loop — is certified by SCS Global Services, a leader in environmental standards and certification.
Apple’s first “Carbon Neutral” products are the result of years of work across the company and its global supply chain. They also represent the latest step on a journey that began over a decade ago.
In 2020, Apple announced “Apple 2030,” a strategy to be “Carbon Neutral” across its entire value chain by 2030. Apple’s plan centers on an aggressive 75 percent reduction in overall carbon emissions from 2015 levels. By avoiding activities that generate carbon dioxide, significantly expanding renewable energy across the company’s corporate operations and supply chain, and designing with recycled and renewable materials, Apple has so far reduced total emissions by over 45 percent since 2015, while still growing revenue by over 65 percent in the same period.
As Apple accelerates efforts to “decarbonize its value chain,” every product represents an opportunity to reduce emissions — from the electricity used for manufacturing and charging devices, to materials and shipping.
All manufacturing for the “Carbon Neutral” Apple Watch models is powered by 100 percent clean electricity through investments and sourcing by Apple and its suppliers. Additionally, every supplier that manufactures parts and components for these models has committed to 100 percent renewable electricity for all of their Apple production by the end of the decade. Apple also works with manufacturing partners around the world to advocate for policies that support wider deployment of clean energy solutions.
Apple began building and investing in large-scale solar and wind farms to power its data centers and offices over a decade ago. In 2015, the company started working with its manufacturing partners to help them create and invest in their own solar and wind projects, and source renewable energy for all Apple production. Since 2018, all of Apple’s corporate offices, data centers, and retail stores worldwide have been powered by renewable electricity.
Apple and its global suppliers support more than 15 gigawatts of clean energy around the world today — enough to power over 5 million American homes. Across all product lines, more than 300 global suppliers — representing over 90 percent of Apple’s direct manufacturing spend — have now joined Apple’s Supplier Clean Energy Program, committing to 100 percent renewable electricity for all Apple production by the end of this decade.
Electricity for manufacturing and charging devices represents the largest source of Apple’s carbon dioxide emissions across all product lines. To address the latter, Apple has committed to invest in large-scale solar and wind projects around the world. For the “Carbon Neutral” Apple Watch models, the company will match 100 percent of customers’ expected electricity use for charging.
Innovating in Low-Carbon Design
Apple has pioneered the use of many key recycled materials in its products through world-class product engineering, extensive design qualification, and supply chain expertise. The new products announced today build on these achievements.
Apple is ending the use of leather across all of its product lines, including iPhone accessories and Apple Watch bands, in order to “to further reduce impact on the planet,” the company says. Apple will replace leather with a new textile called FineWoven, a twill weave made from 68 percent post-consumer recycled content. Apple claims FineWoven offers “a subtle luster and a soft, suedelike feel.” It is available on iPhone MagSafe cases and wallets as well as the Magnetic Link and Modern Buckle Apple Watch bands.
As recycled and renewable materials often have a lower carbon dioxide footprint than primary materials, Apple’s industry-leading progress in the use of recycled content also advances the company’s Apple 2030 goal. The company says that the “new FineWoven material has significantly lower emissions compared to the more carbon-intensive leather,” and both the new iPhone 15 and the Apple Watch lineups advance progress toward the company’s 2025 targets for the use of 100 percent recycled metals in key components. This includes 100 percent recycled rare earth magnets and the company’s first use of 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery of iPhone 15, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Additionally, the popular Sport Loop has been redesigned with 82 percent recycled yarn, which includes material from discarded fishing nets. Customers looking to upgrade to the new carbon neutral Apple Watch models can take advantage of Apple Trade In, and Apple will refurbish the device for a new owner, or recycle it for free.
Apple is also accelerating progress toward plastic-free packaging by 2025. In addition to achieving the first 100 percent fiber-based packaging for the new Apple Watch and band lineup, the packaging for every iPhone 15 model is over 99 percent fiber-based.
Transporting products around the world makes up about 9 percent of Apple’s comprehensive carbon dioxide footprint. The company is shifting more product volume to shipping modes that emit less carbon dioxide than air transport, such as ocean or rail. Apple’s footprint methodology shows that shipping the same product by ocean emits 95 percent fewer emissions than by air.
For the “Carbon Neutral” Apple Watch models, including watches and bands, the company will ship at least 50 percent of the combined weight using non-air modes, cutting total transportation emissions nearly in half. Additionally, the packaging of all Apple Watch Series 9 and SE models has been redesigned for compactness, with a new, smaller shape that allows for 25 percent more devices per shipment.
At the same time, Apple is committed to supporting broader efforts to decarbonize shipping industries, such as by being a member of the First Movers Coalition, and by supporting analysis to identify pathways for developing sustainable aviation fuels. The company also seeks out technical innovations — including the use of alternative fuels and electric vehicles — and selects vendors that offer low-carbon options to help further drive decarbonization in the industry.
After achieving steep reductions in product emissions, Apple plans to cover residual emissions with “high-quality carbon credits” primarily from nature-based projects that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, like restoring grasslands, wetlands, and forests. Apple said in a statement, “Carbon removal is critical to addressing climate change and achieving global climate goals, as leading scientific bodies like the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have emphasized.”
Apple defines “high-quality carbon credits” as those from projects that are real, additional, measurable, and quantified, with systems in place to avoid double-counting, and that ensure permanence. Apple has helped advance natural carbon-removal solutions that meet this definition by creating the Restore Fund, which currently supports projects in Latin America. The company uses credits from projects that are “certified to international standards” such as Verra; the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards; and the Forest Stewardship Council.
For the “Carbon Neutral” Apple Watch models, the “high-quality carbon credits” used to compensate for the remaining emissions will come from projects like the Restore Fund’s investments with Arbaro Advisors and BTG Pactual Timberland Investment Group, which are helping to restore and protect high-quality working forests and native ecosystems in Paraguay and Brazil.
Introducing Grid Forecast
As Apple decarbonizes its value chain, the company is also committed to engaging with customers and creating technology that helps them understand and address their environmental impact.
Grid Forecast is a new tool in the Home app on Apple devices that shows when a user’s electrical grid has relatively cleaner or less clean energy sources available. For example, there are times when wind and solar projects produce more energy than the grid can use, leading to some of it being wasted. There are also times when electricity is being generated with lower emissions. By using electricity during these cleaner times, customers may lower the climate impact of the electricity they use at home.
Apple uses data that combines grid, emissions, and weather information into one, easy-to-follow signal. This can help people make decisions about the best time to run large appliances and charge electric vehicles or devices throughout the day. In the contiguous United States, “Grid Forecast” is available in the Home app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, and can be added as an iOS widget or a watch face complication. As additional data becomes available through ongoing industry collaboration, Apple will continue refining “Grid Forecast” to maximize impact.
Beyond its 2030 goal, Apple is also working toward a 90 percent reduction in emissions by 2050 — which requires advocating for collective action from governments, businesses, and individuals to accelerate global progress in the fight against climate change.
MacDailyNews Note: For more information on Apple’s 2030 climate goal and the environmental impact of Apple products, visit apple.com/2030.
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Imagine, Apple shareholders, if the company spent even half the time, money, and energy that they spend on this hooey on developing a 5G modem.
amen
Yes, killing Airport was plain stupid. Another REVOLUTION from Apple under the great one!
The amazing and master showman Steve Jobs when keynotes were awe inspiring MAGIC — now replaced by PREACHING green robots brand of elitist politics.
Who remembers the AMAZING “no wires” starts at 15:00 and Airport wireless router at 15:30. Enjoy…
Imagine the emissions from Lisa Jackson alone.
Apple is clearly in the throes of delusion. They’ve forgotten the basic truth: Garbage In, Garbage Out. The garbage is “climate data” from those looking for “climate change” grants.
May they someday jettison both Cook and his umpteenth bad hire Jackson and finally get a clue.
“Climate Change” wealth redistribution is socialism in disguise which is why this former Obama admin lackey Jackson is pushing it so hard.
Speaking of cows…
Does that mean Elon Musk (The biggest GOP stooge around) is in on the climate change “scam”?
You thinking Elon is a Republican explains why you also believe in manmade global warming. Reality is a challenge to some….
Can’t we all just breathe a little less?
George Floyd doing his part.
This carbon neutral product, is all the bits and pieces that are obtained to make this product, are all those mines, factories, plants, assembly lines, vehicles etc. also carbon neutral? Because if anywhere along the way, some third party vendor who provides some part toward the making of this product and is not carbon neutral, thus makes this Apple product not carbon neutral.
It’s like that brain dead Joe Biden and useless Democrats environmental playbook. Stop drilling for oil here in America and then go crawling to Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, etc. begging them for oil and asking them to increase their drilling. I’ll never understand how they think because drilling has stopped here, America’s environment is safe. As if, the pollution from Saudi Arabia and Venezuela will never effect the Earth’s environment.
Exactly. Are these products transported across the ocean and across the landscape on carbon neutral trucks/trains/planes?
Carbon neutral, my ass.
“Carbon neutral” is a concept that only libturds are stupid enough and gullible enough to believe, and boy they are easily suckered in.
A: There is no such thing as ‘carbon neutral’
2: It doesn’t matter anyhow….
Apple is a pragmatic company. It’s likely that its TOP leadership intentionally and dramatically appease the “climate change” people, while focused on being supremely profitable with unsurpassed success. Most customers don’t care as long as it doesn’t affect Apple’s core business of producing their shiny new stuff. They don’t watch every “keynote” with rapt attention. Apple will NOT pull a Bud Light or Target move, alienating a significant portion of customers. And Apple won’t anger social and climate change activists either. Because Apple is pragmatic, makes smart business decisions, and cares about increasing shareholder value.
Consider that those ”green” initiatives ultimately help Apple be more successful. They wouldn’t do something that does not help Apple’s button line long term. Producing energy to run Apple’s operations, relying less on unreliable and expensive energy from power grid, helps Apple. Recycling material used in products instead of buying new raw material helps Apple. Using synthetic “green” material is probably cheaper than leather and rubber, get Hermés and Nike to add some bonus cachet. Spin all that green stuff as positive PR. AND importantly, Apple has the scale of operations to implement the initiatives effectively as a net plus. The competition will be compelled to follow Apple’s green lead, but it’ll cost them. It’s one more major advantage for Apple the competition can NOT match.
Is there a dumber company than Apple right now, with Lisa Jackson leading their Product Design and Tim Cook spending hours developing his new weird accent, that eliminates any trace of his Southern heritage. This is one big group of freeloaders riding on the bits of legacy still left from Steve Jobs. Grifters all.
I forgot about the keynote today, first time in more than a decade, had something much more productive and inspiring to do. Based on the news bites I’ve read, this looks like a good time to stop wasting time on keynotes altogether. They’ve become boring, soulless, uber-corporate, prog perversity shows.
I stopped watching them a few years after Cook took over, ugh. Today’s Apple are lucky the alternatives are worse.
I’d like to know how tainting the landscape with millions of solar panels is environmentally friendly? Plus…carbon neutrality is a myth.
Yeah, an opencast coal mine looks much better.
ONE small nuclear reactor would replace all of them…and be efficient and reliable.
Where were all of those panels made?
How are solar panels recycled once the reach end of life?
Are the solar panels themselves “carbon neutral”?
Do solar panels damage the environment?
Maybe Apple can film a short skit to address the above.
Carbon neutral? Now what the heck are all the plants supposed to eat Timmy?!
As usual, the Fox infested, science rejecting, Trump cult responses on MDN are classic. Also, the comments on one’s physical appearance fits in with this group of deplorables MO.
Nobody actually commented on anyone’s physical appearance in the comments to date, but you came the closest to doing so with your projection, bless your heart.
Poor Kevin. He’s either very gullible, extremely malleable, or just plain stupid.
If you keep watching establishment corporate media, Kevin, you’re just going to be manipulated further and/or get even stupider.
STFU you soy milk drinking-beta male or whatever stupid pronoun you use for not being offended.
Awe…someone got triggered. 😂
Ah.. Finally libturd stupidity raises its head….
Libturd stupidity has caused:
-Lying, corrupt, racist, pedophile, dementia patient and whore installed in the White House
–complete unquailed VP who is unable to form a single sentence
-two completely unqualified judges on the Supreme Court place there because of their race and sex instead of qualifications.
-Burning cities
-Occupy movement
-Doubled gas prices
-Gas pipeline shut down
-US emergency oil stockpiles drop to lowest level since 1983
-Unaffordable healthcare insurance
-Legalization of marijuana
-Baby killing
-Wants to ban gas stoves to save children but has no problem killing unborn children
-Destroyed economy
-Crashed stock market
-Upcoming recession
-Highest inflation in 40 years
-Weaponized IRS
-Destroyed school system
-Open border crisis
-Illegal aliens getting drivers licenses
-Illegal aliens getting free medical insurance
-Illegal aliens getting tax-payer money
– National Guard pay delayed after congress celebrates itself for spending $1.7 Trillion
-Trading a useless, athlete for a notorious arms dealer (Merchant of Death), while leaving behind a USMC veteran, because she is an anti-American, black lezbo.
-Releasing a notorious arms dealer (Merchant of Death) while trying to deprive Americans the right to defend themselves with gun control so we can protect ourselves from violent libturds
-Red flag laws
-Voter fraud enabling
-No voter ID
-Illegals allow to vote
-Illegals given drivers licenses
-Labeling all non-libturds as domestic terrorists
-Labeling all non-libturds as racist
-“Extremists” used to be real terrorists, now it people who want to secure the border or keep pornography out of elementary schools
-Electric car mandates during electric crisis
-Woke bullshit
-“Identify as” bullshit
-“Inclusion” but only what libturds want to include
-Kneeling for National Anthem
-Woke hirings preferred over actual competence
-Obese, mentally ill person installed as head of health
-Mentally ill, genderfluid ‘puppy’ thief installed at Department of Energy
-Jill Biden gives biological male “Women of Courage” award
-320 genders
-It/that, them/they, and WTF pronouns
-Misgendering bullshit
-Epstein client list hidden
-Russia collusion bullshit
-Destruction of free speech
-Transgender perversion forced on children
-Drag queen story hours
-Boys in the girls’ bathrooms.
-Tampon dispensers in the men’s room
-Boys in girls’ sports
-Mentally ill man pretending to be a woman on a beer can
-Mentally ill man being a model for women’s underwear-
-Cancel culture in the name of “tolerance”
-Not OK for a child to pretend to be an Indian for a game, but OK for a man to pretend to be a woman in real life
-Men can get pregnant
-Record underemployment
-Defund police
-Soft on crime policies
-Zero bail laws
-Record high crime
-Obese, ugly men winning female beauty pageants
-Food shortages
-Corruption of Legislators
-Corruption of Judges
-Corrupt FBI
-Corrupt CIA
-Corrupt media
-Corrupt social media
-Acceptance of Socialism and rejection of Capitalism
-Election and reelection of incredibly stupid, mentally unfit politicians: AOC, racist Omar, We have to pass it to find out what in it, Pelosi, Guam will tip over Hank Johnson, brain damaged Fetterman, Dementia Joe—just to name a few.
-Ukraine gets: $200 billion, Congress gets: 41% pay increase, Taliban gets: $85 billion, Iran gets: $200 billion, American get: $7 eggs, $4 gas, 50% increase on electricity, free crack pipes, open
borders, fentanyl crisis, toxic spills
-The list goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and…
And you are so fucking stupid that you think you are the smart ones!
You want to start a revolution, but you can’t even start a lawnmower.
The next civil war will be fought between Americans and libturds. One side has 300 million firearms and trillions of rounds of ammunition, the other has strap-on dildos and toilet plungers.
Fuck Joe Biden. Fuck libturds
Spoken, rather written, by a brainwashed Trumpite. The amount of willful ignorance of these deplorables is staggering. But no, it’s not a cult at all, is it?
Where is the lie?
Take note of Apple’s “Meeting with Mother Nature.”
So CO2 (carbon dioxide) is bad?
What happens if you eliminate all CO2?
All plant life dies. The end.