Apple's Pledge: A Journey Beyond the Value Chain
Apple's 2030 carbon-neutral pledge isn't just about their products. With over 300 suppliers transitioning to renewable energy, Apple's commitment is influencing a global shift beyond their immediate value chain
Apple's commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030 is not just about their products. It's a ripple effect that extends beyond their immediate value chain, influencing suppliers globally.
Apple's recent announcement of their progress towards a carbon-neutral footprint by 2030 has been making waves in the tech industry. But this isn't just about Apple products being green. It's about a commitment that extends far beyond their immediate operations.
“At Apple, we’re proud that so many of our suppliers are taking action as we drive progress toward a carbon neutral future.”
Sarah Chandler, Apple’s vice president of Environment and Supply Chain Innovation.
In 2020, Apple promised to bring its entire carbon footprint to net zero by 2030 — through innovations in materials, clean energy, low-carbon shipping, and restoring natural ecosystems. Fast forward to today, and they're not just on track; they're influencing their entire supply chain to follow suit.
Apple's Supplier Clean Energy Program is a testament to this commitment. With over 300 suppliers now transitioning to renewable energy for Apple production, the tech giant is ensuring that its pledge is not just a corporate promise but a global initiative. This move is significant. It means these suppliers are not just greening up Apple's footprint, but there's a knock-on effect across all their operations, benefiting other clients and the planet.
Moreover, Apple's new Watch is their first carbon-neutral product, showcasing their dedication to eco-design. This ethos is also evident in their latest iPhone models, which incorporate sustainable materials and practices.
Dig into the detail
Apple is already carbon neutral for its global corporate operations since 2020, Apple’s 2030 strategy is centered on the science-based target of reducing emissions by 75 percent by the end of the decade.
Since 2015, Apple has worked in close partnership with its global suppliers to address the electricity used to manufacture Apple products. Manufacturing is the single largest source of emissions in the company’s carbon footprint, and powering it with 100 percent clean energy is a key driver in making all Apple products carbon neutral — like those in the new Apple Watch lineup.
Suppliers operating in 28 countries have committed to bringing over 20 gigawatts of renewable energy online through Apple’s Supplier Clean Energy Program.
Newly committed partners in advanced manufacturing technologies include Skyworks Solutions, Analog Devices, Cirrus Logic, and more in the U.S., and Renesas Electronics in Japan. The number of participating Korean suppliers has grown nearly 30 percent this year, to 23. In China, 14 more companies have pledged to use clean energy since April 2023, including Jingmen GEM, a supplier of key recycled material used in Apple products. Across Europe, companies including Sappi Limited, LeMur, and Schoeller Textil AG have recently joined, bringing the total to 34 suppliers.
Apple has been tracking yearly progress on suppliers reducing their Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, and in the fall of 2022, the company called on suppliers to decarbonize their Apple production by 2030. In 2022, the 13.7 gigawatts of renewable electricity online in Apple’s supply chain avoided 17.4 million metric tons of carbon emissions — the equivalent of removing nearly 3.8 million cars from the road.
With support from Apple to identify sources of high-quality renewable energy, many suppliers have also chosen to decarbonize beyond their Apple production.
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