Apple announced a series of environmental sustainability milestones, including revealing that it has surpassed a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the value chain from its 2015 baseline. The achievements were announced alongside the release of Apple’s annual Environmental Progress Report.
The 60% milestone marks significant progress towards Apple’s goal, set by the company in 2020, to become carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product life cycle by 2030. The goal envisions a 75% emissions reduction by 2030, with the application of high-quality carbon credits to address the remaining emissions.
One of the key factors contributing to Apple’s GHG emissions progress is the reduction in emissions from products manufacturing, which accounts for more than half of the company’s entire GHG footprint. According to the report, over the past four years, Apple has cut emissions from manufacturing nearly in half to 8.2 million tons in 2024, from 16.1 million tons in 2020, including a 13% reduction over the past year alone.
One of Apple’s key initiatives to reduce supply chain emissions is the increased use of renewable energy by suppliers. Apple’s Supplier Code of Conduct requires the company’s entire direct manufacturing supply chain to use 100% renewable electricity for all Apple production before 2030.
In the company’s report, Apple said that there is now 18.9 GW of renewable electricity capacity in its global supply chain, up 15% from the prior year, and with 17.8 GW currently online. The company added that the renewable energy procured by suppliers avoided 21.8 million metric tons of GHG emissions in 2024, with an additional 2 million tons avoided through the company’s work with suppliers to optimize their energy efficiency.
Apple outlined other sustainability achievements in its report, including surpassing 99% use of recycled rare earth elements in all magnets and 100% recycled cobalt in all Apple-designed batteries, suppliers redirecting 600,000 metric tons of waste from landfills through its Apple’s Zero Waste program in 2024, introducing a new MacBook Air with over 55% recycled content, and reaching a 42% average fresh water reuse rate by participating suppliers in its Supplier Clean Water Program.
Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, said:
“Today, we’re using more clean energy and recycled materials to make our products than ever before, we’re preserving water and preventing waste around the world, and we’re investing big in nature. As we get closer to 2030, the work gets even harder — and we’re meeting the challenge with innovation, collaboration, and urgency.”
Source: Apple Cuts Product Manufacturing Emissions in Half From 2020
